Sport
2 August, 2024
Magpies back on track
Maryborough will make their return to the field this weekend against South Bendigo after a two-week break, hoping to repeat their last competitive performance on their home deck at Barker Oval Princes Park.
In that round 12 game, the Magpies were able to frustrate Gisborne enough to prevent a repeat of their 258-point victory in round four, with the Magpies holding the Bulldogs to two goals in the second term, and eventually going down by 118 points.
The last game for the Magpies was two weeks ago against Sandhurst at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, and although the Dragons were able to enjoy 61 shots at goal in the wet, there were some little wins for the Magpies in their 193-point loss, specifically, their ability to hold the Dragons to three goals in the third term.
The Dragons were able to enjoy much of the play, collecting 260 more disposals than the Magpies, while also winning the inside 50 count 83-15, driven by 50 clearances to 30.
Kaian Constable was named as Maryborough’s best, and a quick glimpse of his statline continues to show the amount of talent the young Magpie possesses, with 15 of his 29 disposals contested, while collecting seven clearances and nine marks.
Coby Perry had the best stats of the day, with his second haul of 49 disposals for the season, continuing what’s been an electric season. Like Constable, he too had seven clearances.
Alex Brown continues to work hard behind the ball, collecting 41 disposals for the afternoon, as does Kya Lanfranchi, who had 24 disposals and eight clearances.
Seb Collins had a dominant afternoon in the ruck as he did what he could to deliver his Magpie midfielders first use of the ball, collecting 57 hitouts and 13 tackles.
The Magpies will be hoping to improve on a 184-point loss to South Bendigo at Harry Trott Reserve in round six.
On that occasion, the Magpies badly missed Perry’s influence in the midfield, although the margin was just 16 points at the first change.
However, the Bloods would score 28 goals after quarter time, and 20 in the second half, to take a dominant win.
Tom Myers, Josh Britten, Lanfranchi, Michael Romero, Ash Humphrey and Jack Gallaher were all named in the best that afternoon.
The under 18s will also be hoping to turn around their 51-point loss to South Bendigo in their last meeting, as well as their 86-point loss to Sandhurst two weeks ago.
The Magpies were competitive at stages two weeks ago, conceding two goals in both the second and third quarters, but the Dragons proved to be too strong.
Diesel Palmer, Bailey Walhouse, Tyson Hoban, Brodie Quinlan, Cooper Mark and Jack Skinner were all named in the best two weeks ago, and the Magpies will be hoping for similar outputs this week as they seek their second win of the season.