Sport
5 April, 2023
Football and netball returns for Good Friday clash with Maldon taking on Dunolly
Maldon and Dunolly will play off in the Dons’ traditional Good Friday game with both teams determined to open their 150th year celebrations in grand style. This game will technically count towards round two of the Maryborough Castlemaine District...
Maldon and Dunolly will play off in the Dons’ traditional Good Friday game with both teams determined to open their 150th year celebrations in grand style.
This game will technically count towards round two of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) season and for the Dons — who made finals in both football and netball last season — 2023 is a chance for them to take the next step, with the football team eliminated in the first week by Lexton, while the netballers won through to a semi-final before being eliminated by eventual premiers Natte Bealiba.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are hard at work ensuring that last season’s long awaited first football finals appearance since 2011 wasn’t just a flash in the pan, as they look to move into the league’s top six from their eighth placed finish, while the netballers, who finished 13th in season 2022, will be hoping to make their own return to the finals.
Maldon were successful in both football and netball last season against Dunolly, with their footballers winning 14.18 (102) to 11.11 (77) in round five, while the netballers were able to take a 42-34 victory.
The Dons have made Good Friday their own over the years, and another big crowd is expected on Friday at Bill Woodfull Reserve.
The Dons will also be welcoming Strathfieldsaye captain Lachie Sharp for a one-off appearance, with his father and grandfather both past premiership players with Maldon. Sharp has kicked 806 goals in 188 games with the Storm, which included a personal best of 142 in 2017, which yielded both the Michelsen Medal for best player in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) and Ron Best Medal for leading goalkicker.
The game kicks off a big season of football and netball, with the remainder of the MCDFNL teams starting next Saturday, alongside Maryborough who will get into their Bendigo Football Netball Leagueseason with a clash against Castlemaine.