Sport
11 July, 2025
Pumas on track for successful season
Maryborough maintained its unbeaten home record this season with a 35-point victory over Wellington in their AFL Masters Victoria Country football clash on Saturday.
The Pumas kicked the first six goals of the match, eventually cruising to a 6.8.(44) to 1.3.(9) win against the undermanned Warriors, in windy conditions at Princes Park.
Maryborough remains on track for its most successful season since joining the AFL Masters Victoria Country competition 10 seasons ago, with a record of five wins (including one forfeit) and two losses, with three matches still to play.
“We talked before the game about how important it is to a good start against visiting sides here at ‘the fortress’,” Pumas coach Terry Hillier said.
“We have a great record at home when we get out of the blocks nicely.
“Our first quarter really set things up and we could have been further up if we had kicked straight. We knew Wellington would bounce back after that, and it was an even arm wrestle after quarter time.
“The really pleasing thing for me was we had a lot of new players and a couple returning after a number of years.”
Among Maryborough’s goal scorers were two of those returning players, Jeremy Sanders and Dave Carter.
Chris Gunn, Paul Manitta, Matt Morse and Trev Chapman also each kicked one goal.
Jibb Iglesias was named the home team’s best on ground, with Matt Powell, Sanders, Morse, Manitta, debutant Jimmy Keenan, and Gavin McGrath also among the Pumas’ better players.
The result was soured by a shoulder injury to prime mover Lauchlan Williams, however.
Maryborough is celebrating its 10th season in AFL Masters Country Victoria competition. The Pumas’ next match is against Ballarat at Russell Square on Sunday, July 20.
Training for AFL Masters football is 6 pm on Wednesday evenings at Princes Park.