Sport
2 April, 2026
Finals hopefuls meet for Good Friday clash
After both teams were knocked out in the elimination final last season, Maldon and Dunolly will look to begin their 2026 finals pursuits at the MCDFNL season-opening Good Friday clash.
Maldon underwent a roller-coaster in 2025. Thanks to a 71-point drubbing at the hands of Dunolly, they found themselves in the midst of a five-game losing streak that seemingly turned their finals dreams into dust.
Then suddenly, with nailbiting victories over Newstead, the Maryborough Giants and Lexton, the Bombers won four of their last six games to fly into the top eight.
Despite losing their elimination final to Natte Bealiba, Maldon will hope to carry that late-season surge into a less undulating season among the league’s elite.
Former Berry Powell medallist and 2025 club best and fairest Damian Wust returns as the Bombers coach, leading a team seemingly restocked with quality depth.
Complimenting an established core that includes Ashley Woodman, Bailey Brown and Xavior Noy, young guns Ryan Burchell and Tadgh Cananzi have returned to the club after stints in the Bendigo league.
The arrivals of Tom McNeil and Harry Tulloch will also bolster the midfield, alleviating some of the attention from Wust at the contest.
Similar to their Good Friday opponents, the Eagles recovered from a turbulent 2-5 start with a mid-season rally that clinched their finals spot, building on the success of their drought-breaking finals win in 2024.
Now with back-to-back finals appearances, Dunolly is keen to maintain its recent momentum and cement itself as a perennial finals contender in the MCDFNL.
The Eagles have undergone a coaching change, with Lloyd Needs stepping into the role after kicking 20 or more goals in the last three seasons with Dunolly.
Towering ruckman and club runner-up Best and Fairest Ryan Burt will assist Needs with coaching duties, while Best and Fairest winner Lachlan Tranter, Joel Fisher and Mitch Goodwin have all stayed at the club as the Eagles look to maintain a finals trajectory.