Sport
27 January, 2026
Maryborough Pumas ready to pounce in 2026
As they gear up for their 11th season in the AFL Masters Vic Country league, the Maryborough Pumas are inviting retired footballers to tie up the boots and kick for goals.
The 2026 season will be a slight changing of the guard for the Pumas. Long-time player Lauchlan Williams is stepping up as coach after Terry Hillier, who held the role for the past five seasons.
Williams, who’s a former player at the Maryborough Rovers Football Club, said he hopes to maintain the environment the Pumas have fostered over the last decade.
“It’s not so much about the football, it’s about getting together with a group of like-minded people and having some fun,” he said.
“Terry has left some pretty big shoes to fill and the club, like a lot of Masters clubs, is crying out for people to help out, so I decided to step up and have a go.”
The Pumas enjoyed one of their most successful seasons on the field in 2025, scoring five victories. However, with no ladder or finals, the AFL Masters Vic Country league isn’t about wins and losses.
Instead, the competition provides a platform for men to keep enjoying the physical and social benefits of playing a team sport in a more social environment.
“After I finished up with footy, I thought I was done because it wasn’t particularly enjoyable anymore, but it left a hole,” Williams said.
“Being able to get out, train and have a kick on the weekends in a not so competitive nature has been good to keep fit.
“During the off-season, catching up with the guys, whether it’s for a kick or a run or a beer somewhere, is great and the bus trips are always fun when we play away.”
According to the Australian Sports Commission, 59 percent of males between the ages of 35 and 44 are insufficiently active.
Alongside constant time commitments to work and families, other factors for inactivity include being self-conscious while physically active in public and not being overly competitive.
According to Williams, the Pumas is the perfect team for football lovers to hit the field and enjoy their sport.
“If you have ever thought about coming back to football or even just starting at this age, come down and have a run to see what it’s about,” he said.
“It’s not about how good you are or what you can do, it’s just about coming down, joining a group and getting involved.”