Sport
26 June, 2026
MCDFNL Round 11 Football Preview Harcourt vs Maldon
Harcourt will attempt to enter their round 12 bye with a convincing victory over the team that’s just come off the bye in Maldon.
Outside of a fourth-quarter flourish from the Maryborough Giants, the Lions were in complete control of their round 10 encounter at Hedges Oval, building a three-goal lead by quarter time before sealing the result with a defensive masterclass in the third term.
While game-changers Braydon Vaz and Thomas Walters were typically elite, several unsung heroes produced key performances, with Matthew McArthur and Riley Henderson making their presence felt after being called up from the reserves.
In complete contrast to Harcourt’s sparkling form, Maldon’s finals aspirations have been handcuffed by a seven-game losing streak which began with round three’s one-point defeat to Avoca.
While results haven’t fallen their way, the Bombers have certainly improved during their tough stretch, producing arguably their best performance in months during their last outing against the Maryborough Giants.
After seeing their 20-point quarter time lead dissipate throughout the second term, young guns Tadgh Cananzi and Tully Rowbottom, as well as in-form veteran Matthew Gray, helped Maldon build a 10-point lead at three-quarter time before the Giants kicked six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.
As they look to build momentum towards a streak-snapping victory, the Bombers will be extra vigilant of Harcourt’s Baxter Gurd after the livewire forward booted 10 goals in the Lions’ 158-point victory over Maldon last season.