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Sport

6 June, 2024

Competitive performance sought against Hawks

Maryborough will look to improve again when they travel to fifth-placed Eaglehawk tomorrow. There was an obvious gulf in class last week between the Magpies and Golden Square, but the Magpies can at least hold their head high for some of their...

By Michael Thompson

Competitive performance sought against Hawks - feature photo

Maryborough will look to improve again when they travel to fifth-placed Eaglehawk tomorrow.

There was an obvious gulf in class last week between the Magpies and Golden Square, but the Magpies can at least hold their head high for some of their efforts.

The Magpies were able to restrict the Bulldogs to just 11 of their 27 goals to the rotunda end throughout the afternoon, and were able to limit the damage compared to their past three games.

A look at the stats seem to back up the Magpies’ efforts in some respects.

Golden Square were able to win the clearances, but it was just a difference of nine, while the Magpies were also able to win the tackle count, 51-26.

But the continued inability to stop transitional ball movement and getting first hands to the ball has continued to limit the Magpies, and did so again on Saturday.

Key differences included losing the contested possession count by 92 and inside 50s by 61.

Alex Brown continued to move the ball at will throughout the afternoon, and had 44 disposals, a game high.

Coby Perry was a deserved best for the Magpies, and with good reason — 42 disposals, 14 of them contested, nine clearances, four tackles and a glorious running goal in the second quarter.

Ash Humphrey has been in good form lately, and he too saw a good game numbers-wise, collecting 34 disposals and eight clearances, while Kya Lanfranchi had 27 disposals and 12 marks — eight of them intercepts.

Another key to the Magpies game, and someone who will continue to benefit from having big names eventually come in, is Tom Myers.

Myers continued his super impressive season on Saturday, and was a large reason the Magpies were able to dominate hitouts, collecting 53, while also having 17 disposals of his own.

The youngster is deservedly in the frame for the club best and fairest this season — an outstanding effort from last year’s under 18 league best and fairest medal winner.

In Eaglehawk this weekend, the Magpies will come up against a Hawks team smarting from a loss to Sandhurst by 72 points last week, as they just couldn’t get into the game.

Last time the two teams met, however, the Magpies put in one of their better efforts for the season, with the Hawks eventually winning by 104 points.

However, on that occasion, the Magpies were just six points behind at the first change after kicking two goals, and it was still just 31 points at the main break.

The reserves will not return to the field this week, while the under 18s will be aiming for their first win against the seventh-placed Hawks, who have won just one game this season.

The Magpies under 18s were reasonable against an inaccurate Golden Square, losing by 70 points, and will look to move away from the bottom two with a victory.

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