Sport
22 July, 2024
Magpies frustrated by Dragon rage
Maryborough’s only trip to the Queen Elizabeth Oval for 2024 — potentially their last, depending on their 2025 plans, saw them lose by 193 points to Sandhurst. In wet conditions, the Magpies were unable to stop what is a very powerful Dragons...
Maryborough’s only trip to the Queen Elizabeth Oval for 2024 — potentially their last, depending on their 2025 plans, saw them lose by 193 points to Sandhurst.
In wet conditions, the Magpies were unable to stop what is a very powerful Dragons team from controlling the bulk of the play, and were perhaps luckier not to lose by more, given the Dragons kicked six goals from 21 scoring shots in the last term as they peppered the goals.
Sandhurst got off to the start that they would have hoped for as they kicked eight goals to one behind in the opening term to establish a 50-point lead.
But as conditions worsened, the Dragons continued to be ruthless, and enjoyed their best quarter of the day to score 11 goals to one behind in the second term, making it a 123-point lead at the main break.
Maryborough, to their credit, were able to slow things down for the Dragons during the third quarter, and they were able to keep things respectable as they restricted Sandhurst to just three goals for the third term from 10 scoring shots, meaning it was a 148-point game at the final change.
The Dragons would have received a bake to ensure that they could finish up the game strongly, and had many shots throughout the last term, yet could only find the goals six times.
Meantime, Maryborough did at least hit the scoreboard for the first time during the last term, with a goalmouth scramble leaving Lachlan Bursill soccering through a goal to ensure the Magpies would at least have a major to their name.
Sandhurst were still able to take a very comfortable victory, however, with their 193-point win keeping the Dragons on top of the ladder.
Kaian Constable has been a very welcome addition for the Magpies since his return to the lineup from the Bendigo Pioneers, and he was Maryborough’s best with a crafty performance. Seb Collins has continued to improve in the ruck, while Aidan Medlyn, Kya Lanfranchi, Coby Perry and Joel Swatton were also named in the Magpies’ best players.
In the under 18s game, Maryborough were held goalless, but did well to restrict Sandhurst to 12 goals in an 86-point loss.
The Dragons did much of their damage in the last term, kicking five goals in their best return of the day.
Diesel Palmer fought hard for the Magpies, while Bailey Walhouse, Tyson Hoban, Brodie Quinlan, Cooper Mark and Jack Skinner were also named in the best.
