Sport
25 May, 2023
Magpies out to bounce back
A week off from competition has given Maryborough the chance to reflect on the start to the season, ahead of a game at Sandhurst on Saturday. Two weeks ago, Maryborough had their most difficult outing of the season so far when Golden Square took...
A week off from competition has given Maryborough the chance to reflect on the start to the season, ahead of a game at Sandhurst on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, Maryborough had their most difficult outing of the season so far when Golden Square took control from early on in the encounter and never let up, scoring 39 goals in a 239-point win.
The Magpies had no answer to Joel Brett or Braydon Vaz, who scored 18 goals between them, while the Bulldogs kicked 11 goals in the final term to blow the margin out.
But nevertheless, the Magpies still tried throughout the afternoon, with goals coming through Matt Johnston in the early stages of the game, as well as Lucas Hurse in the third quarter.
Alex Brown worked tirelessly in defence, collecting 45 disposals, as well as laying seven tackles, as he did his utmost to keep the ball outside of Golden Square’s forward zone.
Jake Postle also worked hard, collecting 25 touches and 14 marks, while Joel Swatton and Kya Lanfranchi were the other two Magpies to pass 20 disposals, with 23 and 20 respectively.
Hurse and Chris Freeman laid the most tackles throughout the afternoon, both laying eight apiece.
However, the challenge now is to match it with Sandhurst, who currently sit equal top of the Bendigo Football Netball League ladder, just percentage behind leaders Eaglehawk and one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the competition.
The Magpies had two reasonably competitive matches against the Dragons last season.
In the first meeting in round seven, it was a 10-goal second quarter which helped the Dragons gain complete control, as they eventually recorded a 109-point victory. The Magpies were able to kick three goals in the first, two in the third and two in the last to put some respectability on the scoreboard, with Freeman and Brady Neill leading the way with three goals apiece.
Aidan Hare, Lanfranchi, Liam Murphy, Neill, Patrick Chard and Ty Stewart were the best players for the day.
The second meeting in round 16 saw the Magpies take a narrow three-point lead going into quarter time, but the Dragons kicked 20 goals to four after quarter time, including seven goals in the second and last quarters, to take a 104-point win.
Freeman kicked another two goals, while Liam Latch, Hare, Postle, Freeman, Lachie Mackie and Mitch McClure were named in the best.