Sport
19 June, 2026
MCDFNL Round 10 Football Preview Natte Bealiba vs Talbot
In a battle between two teams looking to capitalise on exciting round nine victories, Talbot takes on Natte Bealiba at CHS Broadbent Oval.
Both teams entered 2026 with near-identical aspirations, hoping to bounce back from a crushing finals exit and remain one of the competition’s top contenders.
While a subpar 0-5 start placed the Swans in a perilous position, finals remain the goal for the 2024 premiers, clawing within four points of the top eight with a gutsy 19-point victory over Campbells Creek.
After trailing by 11 points at quarter time due to a litany of skill errors, Natte snatched the lead with six second-quarter goals, made possible by their hounding tackling pressure and clinicalness.
The performance of their ball-winners was another major contributor to that second-quarter surge, with Jai Howell, Aidan Medlyn, Kyen Burrill-Grinton, Ryan Semmel and Stephen Ross showcasing their classy skill with the ball despite challenging conditions.
That talented group will look to challenge Talbot’s star-studded midfield of Dylan Tarczon, Victor Micallef, Tommy Alkemade and Jude McGuire, who helped the Hawks take a statement victory over Trentham last weekend.
After their deadly attack created a 24-point gap between themselves and the reigning premiers, the Hawks back six locked down the Saints forward line, keeping one of the MCDFNL’s top-flight attacks to four goals in the second half.
The arrival of Harli Givvens has been instrumental to Talbot’s defensive unit’s rapid improvement. Since being plugged in at half-back during their round five victory over Lexton, the Hawks haven’t allowed more than 50 points in a game.