Sport
5 May, 2026
Junior Magpies soar to exciting weekend wins
The Maryborough Magpies under 12s and under 14s continued their exemplary start to their Bendigo Junior Football League season with two wins from two games last weekend.
A mild Saturday morning set the scene as the Maryborough under 12s took on St Monica’s in an exciting and tightly contested clash.
From the opening bounce, Manny Shepherd and Charlie Smith combined well, repeatedly driving the ball forward and giving the Magpies early momentum.
Tommy Boyes was outstanding through the midfield, earning best-on-ground honours with a tireless performance, consistently finding space and linking play.
Charlie Bucknall’s relentless tackling and ball-winning ability stood out, while Xavier Clark impressed with his fierce attack on the contest.
A memorable highlight came with Jack Taggart, Jack Pattison and Knox Parkinson kicking their first under 12 goals — an achievement celebrated by teammates and supporters alike.
In a thrilling finish, Maryborough held their nerve to secure a one-point victory, 5.2.(32) to 4.7.(31), after St Monica’s late attempts fell just short.
The under 14s continued the club’s promising start with a commanding performance against Maiden Gully.
From the outset, Maryborough’s midfield set the tone, taking control of the game through strong ball movement and pressure around the contest.
Jordon Akdogen, Patrick Noonan, Alfie Boyes and Connor Day-Lock combined superbly through the centre, consistently winning possession and driving the ball forward.
Up forward, Hardy Heathcock was a standout, capitalising on the midfield’s dominance to deliver an excellent five-goal performance.
Charlie Wilson also played a key role in the attacking half, adding three goals and providing a strong target that further stretched the opposition defence.
While the Magpies’ attacking output was impressive, their defensive efforts were equally noteworthy.
Noah Thompson, Elliot Hallworth and Jack Ward combined effectively in the back half, reading the play well and applying strong pressure to shut down scoring chances.
Coach Ben Heathcock was understandably pleased with the result, particularly given it marks two strong wins to open the season.
As the game progressed, Maryborough continued to build on their early dominance, extending their lead with consistent scoring and disciplined defence.
By the final siren, the Magpies had run out comfortable winners, 18.13.(121) to 6.3.(39).