Sport
7 July, 2026
Maldon revives finals push with 86-point victory
In what could be the start of another sensational finals push, Maldon has reemerged as a top eight contender with an 86-point victory over Campbells Creek.
Despite returning to Bill Woodfull Reserve with an unsavoury eight-game losing streak to their name, the Bombers played with a newfound intensity and confidence reminiscent of last season’s late run of form that snuck them into finals.
That hunger was immediately prevalent when Noah Thompson tapped the opening bounce to Damian Wust, who immediately sent the football deep into the forward line.
Another clever knock-on from Harrison Tulloch allowed teenager Aihen Turner to kick a memorable first goal in senior football, giving the Bombers the lead inside 10 seconds.
Clearly an avid follower of this year’s World Cup, Billy Johns added a classy second a few minutes later, soccering a loose ball from 25 meters out to place Maldon in a commanding position.
Despite being without James Haber, Jesse Presser and Judd Stevens, a depleted Campbells Creek squad managed to congest the contest and conjure consecutive inside 50s as the match quickly turned into a feisty affair.
After Tadgh Cananzi added to Maldon’s lead, a high free kick and 50-metre penalty was the gift the Magpies desperately needed, allowing Isaac Fletcher to stem the tide with their first goal.
Campbells Creek co-captain Dylan Stevens ended a sensational first quarter performance with a strong contested mark and finish to draw the visitors back within a goal at quarter time.
After looking extremely threatening in patches during the opening term, everything seemed to click for the Bombers in the second quarter, bombarding Campbells Creek with 46 unanswered points.
In his first senior appearance of the season, former Old Xaverians player Will Golds was living up to his namesake, possessing a golden touch whenever the ball was in his hands.
Wust and Darcy Kelly were also having excellent games in the midfield, as Maldon suddenly led by 52 points at half time.
In response to a shell-shocking end to the first half, the Magpies showed incredible resilience as they returned to being competitive in the third quarter.
Tyson Williams and Mitchell Stevens were tireless patrolling the defensive 50, while the latter got amongst the goals in the second half alongside Fletcher, Dylan Stevens and Justin Garipoli.
After both teams kicked three goals in the third term, the Bombers completed a long-awaited victory with six fourth-quarter majors to keep themselves just four points adrift of the top eight.
Callum Buchanan and Isaiah Hartley were both outstanding for Maldon, named among the best players alongside Wust, Golds, Kelly and Tristian Rowe.
Golds and Tulloch both kicked three goals while Johns, Kelly and Cananzi added a pair of majors each.
Campbells Creek named Fletcher, Williams, Mitchell Stevens, James Martinovic, Dylan Stevens and Garipoli as their standout performers.