Sport
7 August, 2026
MCDFNL Round 17 Football Preview — Carisbrook vs Maryborough Giants
The Maryborough Giants face one of their toughest assignments of the season when they host ladder leaders Carisbrook at Hedges Oval on Saturday.
The Giants have shown throughout the season they are capable of matching it with quality opposition for long periods. They will be looking to rebound after last week’s 47-point defeat at the hands of Navarre, where a costly second quarter proved the difference.
Captain Scott Miller again led from the front and received excellent support from Lachie Condie, Declan Wagstaff, Zayne Earl, Michael Sjaardema and Keegan Doherty.
Up forward, Atticus Cullinan and Rhys Egan continue to provide dangerous targets, while Karson Guareschi has shown he can trouble any defence when given opportunities.
Carisbrook arrives at Hedges Oval sitting atop the ladder after surviving a one-point thriller against Newstead. In what many regarded as a finals-quality contest, the Redbacks once again found a way to win, underlining why they remain one of the competition’s premiership favourites.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Tim Rinaldi, who produced one of the best individual performances of the season by kicking eight of Carisbrook’s nine goals. He was brilliantly supported by Jackson Bowen, Harry Whitty, Elliot Brandon-Jones, Mitchell Treacy and Cooper Driscoll, while the Redbacks’ midfield consistently supplied quality opportunities inside 50.
Containing Rinaldi will be the Giants’ biggest challenge. If Maryborough can limit his influence and force Carisbrook to find other avenues to goal, it will give itself every chance of remaining competitive.