Sport
22 June, 2023
Magpies looking to seek revenge from round one
It’s a game of utmost importance for Maryborough this week as they aim to end their 35-game losing streak against Castlemaine this week at Camp Reserve. The Magpies can come into this encounter with some confidence knowing that their previous...
It’s a game of utmost importance for Maryborough this week as they aim to end their 35-game losing streak against Castlemaine this week at Camp Reserve.
The Magpies can come into this encounter with some confidence knowing that their previous encounter in round one saw them good enough to lead up until midway through the last quarter, until three late goals helped Castlemaine take the win.
The Magpies have been somewhat closer to the two teams around them this season, and will be desperate to ensure that they can at least have something to show on the ladder for the personal improvement a number of young players have shown during the season.
Maryborough were also bolstered last week by the last-minute return of playing-coach Coby Perry, which will undoubtedly help their midfield mix and given the likes of Joel Swatton some much-needed support through the middle.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to give the Magpies a solid run against Gisborne last week, with the Bulldogs utilising a devastating 12-goal burst in the final quarter to turn a 123-point three-quarter-time lead into a 204-point victory.
The game reflected Gisborne’s dominance all over the ground, collecting 306 more disposals for the afternoon.
Swatton never gave up, collecting 28 disposals and laying 11 tackles, leading the way for the young club, while Chris Freeman had 21 disposals and 10 tackles. Perry’s return yielded 17 disposals, while Luke Dunne likewise had 17 touches and eight tackles in a workmanlike performance.
Maryborough will be desperate to right the wrongs which saw them drop an 11-point three-quarter-time lead in round one at home, and finally take a drought-breaking win.
The game will also be set to be played in significantly better conditions than their round one clash, which saw incessant rain throughout the game.
In the other grades, it will be a chance for Maryborough’s second win of the year over Castlemaine’s reserves after a 50-point triumph in round one, with the Magpies performing reasonably competitive in recent weeks, having lost by an average of 103 points in the last three weeks — slashing the average losing margin by more than half from the five weeks prior to that.
The under 18s will also be looking to get back on the winners list. The club still sit just one game behind Sandhurst for the double chance, and more importantly, can get themselves three games clear inside the top five with eight games to go if they can repeat their 64-point triumph over Castlemaine in round one.