Sport
27 June, 2024
Magpies look to back up most competitive performance of season against Kangaroos
While Maryborough didn’t have an ideal result last week with a 147-point loss to Castlemaine, the Magpies will be hoping to improve on their last meeting with Kangaroo Flat, a result which saw them have their smallest loss of the season so far...
While Maryborough didn’t have an ideal result last week with a 147-point loss to Castlemaine, the Magpies will be hoping to improve on their last meeting with Kangaroo Flat, a result which saw them have their smallest loss of the season so far.
That meeting, in round two at home, saw the Magpies very competitive for a half, but it was Kangaroo Flat who then powered away from late in the second term onwards to win by 55 points.
Since then, Maryborough have had a very torrid run, losing their last seven games by an average of 213 points, and will now be hoping for a good performance at Dower Park on Saturday.
The Roos are currently just one rung above the Magpies on the ladder, but have been far more competitive this season, having scored a further victory against South Bendigo.
Maryborough, last week, one could say played two good quarters against Castlemaine, in the first quarter when they kicked a goal to trail by 21 points, and in the second quarter, where they kicked two goals to their opponents’ three.
However, the Magpies will no doubt be disappointed that they were unable to stop Castlemaine from kicking 13 goals in the second term, which saw the Magpies trail by 99 points at the main break.
Again, there were familiar patterns in the game.
The Magpies were consistently competitive again in clearances, losing that count 36-33, but it was on the outside that Castlemaine were able to get control of the game, enjoying 154 more disposals.
Coby Perry again had a standout display as he continued to do his utmost to will his team on, collecting 44 disposals and 10 clearances, while Alex Brown again tried to drive the Magpies out of defence with 43 disposals.
Kya Lanfranchi had a good battle with Michael Hartley, and while Hartley would eventually kick nine goals as Castlemaine’s weight of numbers inside 50s stood out, Lanfranchi would have 28 disposals and 10 marks, while Josh Britten also played his best game of the season disposals-wise, collecting 25.
Logan Howell and Cooper Mark made their debuts, and both immediately showed their worth, with Howell collecting 18 disposals as he showed his immense talent, while Mark also collected seven disposals.
Kangaroo Flat will prove an interesting challenge, despite coming off a 114-point loss to Sandhurst last week.
The likes of Luke Ellings and Jack Lefroy, when the Carlton VFL-listed player is available, have been dynamic for the Kangaroos this season, and will be hoping to drive them to their third win of the season to keep the faintest of finals hopes alive.
Meantime, the under 18s will be hoping to rectify their result from round two, one which saw them miss out on a win after losing a 14-point half time lead, resulting in a draw against Kangaroo Flat.
Although they were unable to win, Jarrah Edwards, Mark, Tyson Hoban, Joe Lovel, Robert Castiglia and Lachlan Bursill were all named in the best, and Castiglia kicked two goals in a good performance all-round.
Sitting three-and-a-half games outside of the top five at the moment, the Magpies will be unlikely to make the finals now after some high hopes early on, but will be hoping to prove to be a thorn in the side of teams who will be hoping to make the finals in the league in the latter stages of the season.
