Sport
4 August, 2026
Grasshoppers score 104 goals against Giants
Navarre’s offensive juggernaut was unstoppable against the Maryborough Giants, be-coming the first team to reach triple digits in 2026 to conclude their 83-goal drubbing.
With 27 goals in the first quarter and 30 in the third term, the Grasshoppers finished with 104 goals, the largest A grade tally since Natte Bealiba scored 107 goals past Dunolly in round 16 last season.
Making the remarkable achievement even more impressive was that Navarre was without Zanaiya Bergen, who currently sits second in the competition’s goal-scoring charts.
In Bergen’s absence, Jess Parry reminded everyone how she helped the Grasshoppers dominate the MCDFNL back in the mid-2010s, ending a throwback shooting performance with 50 goals.
As Navarre celebrated a jubilant result, the Giants lamented after suffering a devastating dagger to their finals hopes, now needing Trentham to lose against the winless Maldon this weekend to have any chance of finishing inside the top eight.
In addition to the returning Jess Parry, Grace Long slotted right back into Navarre’s defence after missing their previous outing against Newstead and immediately helped the hosts take a commanding lead.
Boosted by the return of MCDFNL junior representative Bridget Allan, Maryborough showed some early promise on offence, yet they were powerless to stop Navarre’s scorching hot attack.
Shooters Jess Parry and Aliza Lockhart were quickly treated to an all-you-can-shoot scoring buffet, served by the delicious entry passes of Brooke Currie and Sidney Dyer.
Navarre’s makeshift shooting tandem filled their plates with 27 goals in the first quarter, giving the Grasshoppers an 18-goal lead.
While Riahni Egan, Jorgia Brown and Emme Johnson fought desperately to limit the damage, things only went from bad to worse for the Giants after quarter time.
As their defensive trio of Long, Jade Allen and Amber Perry consistently blunted Maryborough’s attacks, Navarre’s offence remained as sharp as a tack.
Despite expanding their lead to a commanding 33 goals by half time, Navarre weren’t satisfied, beginning the second half with one of the more lopsided quarters of this year’s A grade season.
Even Maryborough’s array of half time changes that brought Macey Parry and Meg Johnson off the bench and shifted Emme Johnson and Egan further into defence could not stop Navarre’s offensive masterclass from achieving a barely believable scoring rate.
Thanks to their clinical shooting, swift transition and effective use of routine turnovers, the Grasshoppers averaged a goal every 30 seconds throughout the third quarter, ending an unforgettable term up 78-19.
Long and Allen exuded Navarre’s historic victory with an exceptional fourth quarter, conceding just two goals in the last 15 minutes to expand the final margin to 83 goals.
Lockhart obliterated her season-best on Saturday with 54 goals alongside Jess Parry’s 50-goal salvo as Navarre’s shooters combined for an 85 percent conversion rate.
Maryborough player-coach Laura McStravick led her team in scoring with 12 goals while Allan converted seven shots and Meg Johnson added two in the third quarter.