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Sport

18 September, 2023

New group of Magpie premiership heroes

An incredible conclusion in the Bendigo Junior Football League under 14 division two grand final saw Maryborough pinch the game with the last kick of the day against South Bendigo. Ed Boyes was the hero of the moment, taking a strong mark...

By Michael Thompson

After a mammoth finals campaign, Maryborough Football Netball Club’s under 14 footballers claimed the 2023 premiership on Sunday. Photos: Daryl Groves Photography. Photo: 190923 43
After a mammoth finals campaign, Maryborough Football Netball Club’s under 14 footballers claimed the 2023 premiership on Sunday. Photos: Daryl Groves Photography. Photo: 190923 43

An incredible conclusion in the Bendigo Junior Football League under 14 division two grand final saw Maryborough pinch the game with the last kick of the day against South Bendigo.

Ed Boyes was the hero of the moment, taking a strong mark, weathering a bump from a South Bendigo player and kicking a goal from the resultant 50-metre penalty, with the siren going seconds afterwards.

The opening quarter was an incredible spectacle, with nine goals scored between the two teams. However, it was the Bloods that led by eight points at the first break.

In the second term, the Bloods started to kick clear slightly, kicking three goals to two to open up a 15-point half time lead.

When South Bendigo kicked the first goal of the third term, they were able to establish a 23-point lead.

But the Magpies’ never-say-die attitude started to come to the fore, kicking the last goal of the third term to get back to within 13 points at the last change.

It was all Maryborough in the last term, as they generally dominated play, but were only able to find two of the three goals needed until Boyes’ mark helped set them up to pinch a famous premiership victory, scoring 10.14 (74) to South Bendigo’s 10.10 (70).

A remarkable performance from Dechlan Bridges at centre-half-back allowed him to take best on ground for the afternoon, while captain Oliver Cassidy also excelled.

Hayden Bartlett, Chase Larkin, Jack Smith and Boyes completed the best players for Maryborough, with Smith and Boyes kicking three goals apiece.

An ecstatic Marc Cassidy revelled in his charges’ success.

“It’s a huge honour, particularly the way we won the game. Not too many teams get a chance to win a grand final, but to win it with the last kick of the game is amazing,” he said.

Cassidy was thrilled with the application of his team.

“Dechlan Bridges had a super year, but yesterday, he was outstanding. Someone who can kick the ball over 50 metres is such an asset at his age. He was able to stop their attacks, but also get ours going,” he said.

“We had a heap of contributors across the ground. Everyone played their role, but there were some standouts as well. Chase up forward led our attack, Hayden Bartlett repelled their attacks and he was another one who had a fantastic game.”

The belief to come back from four goals down was one that was set after a similar experience earlier in the season.

“I made sure I instilled the belief into them. Earlier in the season, we came from five goals down against South Bendigo to level the scores, and eventually lost by three points,” he said.

“We knew we could come back from two goals down at three-quarter-time, and once the boys believed, they knew they could do it.”

Cassidy says with a very young group at his disposal, there could very well be more to come in the future.

“There’s a big future for the boys, without six under 12s this year, we would have struggled to get a team up this year. For them to experience what they did yesterday will put them in good stead for their careers,” he said.

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