Sport
5 September, 2022
Magpies’ under 16s secure grand final berth and league best and fairest for 2022
Winning through to the grand final capped off a magnificent week for the Maryborough under 16s, with their 31-point victory over Castlemaine in the preliminary final following the awarding of the Bendigo Junior Football League best and fairest to...
Winning through to the grand final capped off a magnificent week for the Maryborough under 16s, with their 31-point victory over Castlemaine in the preliminary final following the awarding of the Bendigo Junior Football League best and fairest to Kaian Constable.
The preliminary final win came about thanks to a five-goal to one final quarter which relieved any pressure that the Magpies were under, with Castlemaine closing to within four points at three-quarter-time.
Constable — the vice-captain of the team, backed up from his best and fairest victory with a two-goal effort, named in the best players for the afternoon, alongside Jake Gavriliadis, Bailey Walhouse, Khoa Do, Robert Muscat and Brodie Quinlan, which has helped them earn a shot at reversing their one-point loss to Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Reflecting on the awarding of the best and fairest to Constable, under 16 coach Scott Quinlan says it’s an exciting time for the club, following on from Campbell Wood winning
the under 14 best and fairest last week.
“It’s certainly an exciting future at Maryborough. It’s a continuation of last year when Lucas Hurse and Damon Nitschke did well, who are now high profile in the under 18s, who had a great year as well,” he said.
“It’s really encouraging. With Kaian, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be disappointed if he didn’t get the award. He voluntarily missed three games for his team this year, in lieu of playing senior football.
“Part of the agreement with the Bendigo Junior Football League was that if he was to play senior football, he couldn’t play with the juniors. They were good enough to allow him three senior matches throughout the year, and he was named in the best in one of those games, which was a fantastic effort. From memory, he was 15 at the time he played.
“To come away with 20 votes from 10 games is inspirational, and an unbelievable effort.”
Quinlan was still in awe of Constable’s performances at senior level in 2022, which included a three-goal haul against Castlemaine.
“From all reports, he nudged 15 or 16 possessions in that Castlemaine game. He did himself, his parents and myself proud. It’s a good story to watch unfold. His body is that of a 25-year-old. He’s really grown as a player this year. What people don’t know is that the last two years with a broken wrist in 2021 and COVID in 2020. He’s missed two full seasons of footy, to miss an awful lot of footy and to do what he’s done is amazing,” he said.
It all adds up to an exciting period for Maryborough, with the under 18s set to benefit next year with Constable — as well as third-place in the best and fairest, Gavriliadis — coming up.
“Constable will be underage 18s next year, with him and Jake Gavriliadis coming up. It will be good with a couple of guys coming up into the senior group. To have the calibre of Kaian going from 16s to 18s is a massive boost to them next year,” he said.
Upon reflection, it’s been a big, concerted effort to get Maryborough in the current position they are in, with juniors starting to come through.
“When Cam Skinner approached me five years ago, they had an under 10s, an under 12s, reserves and seniors, and that was it. I look back over the last four years, I’ve got 25 young lads that are fresh faces, but you look through the club, the 14s played finals, the 12s played finals, the 18s played finals in their first season in six years. But there is some junior numbers coming through, and the club is getting into a good position,” Quinlan said.
“The senior body will feel the rewards over the next two years with these guys playing senior footy. It’s been a long time between drinks for the club, but you’d love to fast-forward the next three years and see the results with these guys coming through. They are getting league-wide accolades, which are big to hold.
“Rewind the clock a few years to see other best and fairest winners — we’re talking players like Dustin Martin here.”
Meantime, Maryborough were also represented this weekend by the under 14s and the 17 and under netball team.
The under 14s were unable to repeat the under 16s achievements, with two final quarter goals to South Bendigo giving them a 16-point victory.
After a slow start that saw the Bloods kick 12 points clear in the opening quarter, the Magpies were able to reduce the margin to five points by three-quarter-time, but they were unable to hit the front when it mattered.
Wood was named best for the Magpies, alongside Jasper Trickey, Billy Skinner, Miller Bartlett, Hunter Kurzke and Oliver Cassidy.
Maryborough’s 17 and under netball campaign came to an end on Sunday morning when Kangaroo Flat proved too strong, winning by 14 goals, 48-34.
However, their finals appearance holds the club’s netball program in good stead, with their fourth-placed finish, as well as an improved season from the A grade team, giving the Magpies plenty of hope for a return to the finals in the not-too-distant future.
