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Sport

27 July, 2023

Improvement the key for Magpies

Maryborough will be out to continue their recent improved form when they travel to Golden Square tomorrow. The task will be a tricky one for the Magpies, coming in with the knowledge that Square were able to win on their home deck in round five by...

By Michael Thompson

Maryborough playing coach Coby Perry collected 31 disposals to lead the way for the Magpies last week. Photo: 280723 21
Maryborough playing coach Coby Perry collected 31 disposals to lead the way for the Magpies last week. Photo: 280723 21

Maryborough will be out to continue their recent improved form when they travel to Golden Square tomorrow.

The task will be a tricky one for the Magpies, coming in with the knowledge that Square were able to win on their home deck in round five by a sizeable 239 points.

That game came in a rough patch for Maryborough, which saw them lose three consecutive games by over 150 points, with two of them finishing in 200-plus point defeats.

Since then, there has been a little bit more room for optimism for Coby Perry’s charges, especially in regards to their change in mindset going forward.

The club has been able to generate some better scoring since round seven, and were able to put 44 points on the board last week against Kyneton in their 58-point loss.

While they’re small steps in the club’s development, they are steps, regardless.

Against the Tigers, Joel Swatton was a standout with his ability to impact the play both at the ball and at the ball carrier, collecting 22 disposals, but more importantly, laying six tackles.

The tackling pressure was a highlight for Maryborough, laying 22 more tackles, although with Kyneton collecting 90 more disposals, that also bloated the numbers a little bit.

Nevertheless, the pressure from Mitch McClure (eight tackles), Swatton and Darcy Bond (six tackles) ensured that the Magpies remained in the game throughout the entirety of the first half.

Others to play well included Perry, who collected 31 disposals, seven rebound 50s, six clearances, six tackles and a goal in a well-rounded display, while arguable runaway best-and-fairest favourite Kya Lanfranchi again played well, collecting 14 disposals and taking seven marks.

Maryborough’s recent improvement could also come down to the impact of younger players who have made their way into the team in recent weeks.

Tom Myers and Taj Bond have battled well in the ruck in Ty Stewart’s continued absence, while Lachlan Bursill, Riley Hamilton and Kaian Constable have been regulars in recent weeks.

The club will look to provide more of a competitive performance all-round on Saturday.

Maryborough’s reserves will look to provide a bit more competition than their 235-point loss to the Bulldogs in round five, as will the under 18s, who can shore up their spot in the finals should they turn around a 90-point loss from their last meetings.

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