Sport
28 August, 2023
Kaian Constable makes mark in final Pioneers game before finals
Another Maryborough starlet has been making waves at representative level, with Kaian Constable picked for the Bendigo Pioneers in their final Coates Talent League home and away game. While the Pioneers eventually went down to the Geelong Falcons by...

Another Maryborough starlet has been making waves at representative level, with Kaian Constable picked for the Bendigo Pioneers in their final Coates Talent League home and away game.
While the Pioneers eventually went down to the Geelong Falcons by 17 points at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, they will meet up again in next week’s elimination final at the same ground, with Constable hoping to be a part of the team.
Constable was one to watch on Sunday, kicking a goal in the opening 10 minutes and also enjoying some good passages across half forward.
It was all part of an exciting build up for the dynamic Maryborough mid-forward, who is looking to bring his skillset into the Pioneers setup for all of 2024.
“I was sitting in bed and Danny O’Bree, the coach, rang me up, and asked me whether I’d like to play on the weekend. Naturally, I said I would love to. I was extremely happy and excited, so much so that I couldn’t even tell mum I was playing, that’s how excited I was,” he said.
Kicking a goal for the Pioneers represented another step in Constable’s football journey.
“I loved being able to run out for the Pioneers. It was great. I kicked a goal in the first 10 minutes or so. Everyone on the field, even the defenders, rushed over. I felt really supported at that moment,” he said.
“I was playing a mid-forward rotation, so I was running up to contests. When the ball was coming back, I kept running down to create an option.”
Constable is the third Maryborough player to represent with the Pioneers this season, following in the footsteps of exciting midfielder Lucas Hurse, who has played six games for the season, and tall forward Taj Bond, who has also played six games.
Constable said to be in the setup alongside both Bond and Hurse has not only allowed him to find his best football at the Pioneers faster, but also says it shows how the Magpies are able to produce quality talent at state level.
“It feels good to be alongside Taj and Lucas, even at training, which is so helpful. They’re people I know, but it’s also so good for the club to show that they can feed people through to the Pioneers,” he said.
Constable now has the opportunity to play a final no matter what. He may keep his spot in the Pioneers team to play the Falcons again on Sunday afternoon, but if not, he’ll be suiting up for Maryborough in their elimination final matchup with Strathfieldsaye on Sunday morning.
Either way, Constable is happy to just be out there playing football.
“If I could be picked for the Pioneers team going into a final, it would be great, but if not, it will be just as exciting being at Maryborough on Sunday against Strathfieldsaye. I just love playing footy, no matter what,” he said.
That love could see him take his football to new heights in 2024, as he looks to break into the Pioneers team and perhaps represent Vic Country on the big stage in the under 18s national championships.
“There’s plenty of opportunities that can open up. I’d love to be in the Pioneers setup all of next year and see if I can get into the Vic Country team,” he said.