Advertisment

Sport

11 July, 2024

Blockbuster for Magpies

There might not be a need to tell you how big Maryborough’s A reserve clash with Gisborne is this weekend, given the enormity of what is at stake. With a six-point cushion over Sandhurst, and a two-game gap over Kangaroo Flat, the Magpies will...

By Michael Thompson

Blockbuster for Magpies - feature photo

There might not be a need to tell you how big Maryborough’s A reserve clash with Gisborne is this weekend, given the enormity of what is at stake.

With a six-point cushion over Sandhurst, and a two-game gap over Kangaroo Flat, the Magpies will have an incredibly important assignment in trying to be the first team to get the better of the unbeaten Bulldogs.

On evidence of their last game prior to the bye, the Magpies have the ability to take it right up to Gisborne in their quest to take another statement win.

The Magpies had to do things the hard way against Flat two weeks ago, only winning one quarter, with the second quarter doing the damage for the team, outscoring the Kangaroos by six goals.

Despite Flat winning the first and third quarter by two goals, the Magpies’ resolute defending in the final term allowed them to take an incredibly important win at Dower Park — and in a season of increasingly important wins, that one may prove to be one of their most satisfying.

Now it’s on to Gisborne, with the Bulldogs sweeping aside the Kangaroos and Sandhurst over the last two games.

The Magpies are almost certainly into the finals, even though there are still six games remaining, but of more importance is the race for the double chance.

At the moment, a win for the Magpies will see them increase their gap to fourth place, either by eight points or 10 depending on the result of the Kangaroo Flat/South Bendigo meeting is, with Sandhurst also having a bye before another crucial meeting in a week’s time at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Bulldogs inflicted the Magpies’ first loss of the season in their last meeting, taking a 23-goal victory at Gardiner Reserve in round three, and the Magpies will be desperate to turn that result around this time.

The Magpies’ B grade and B reserve will also be seeking a turnaround in results, despite struggling greatly in their last game against Kangaroo Flat, as they continue to seek their first win of the season.

Maryborough’s 17 and under team, in the meantime, will look for a fifth-consecutive win when they host the fifth-placed Bulldogs, with a chance to basically secure the double chance with six games left.

With fourth-placed Castlemaine taking on second-placed Golden Square, a win for the Magpies will most likely see them five games clear of Castlemaine and Gisborne — the current best challengers to the double chance — with five games remaining after this one.

In their last meeting with the Bulldogs, the Magpies were super impressive in taking one of their best wins of the season, a six-goal win at Gardiner Reserve.

A similar result here would be a big fillip for the club as they look to continue marching on in season 2024.

Advertisment

Most Popular