Sport
25 February, 2025
Pumas prime to pounce into 10th year
Maryborough’s AFL Masters football club will celebrate its 10th season in the statewide over-35s Australian rules football competition this year.
The club — founded in 2015 — has contested each year since, apart from 2020 when all country football competitions went into recess due to COVID-19.
The Pumas will celebrate the start of 2025 on April 6 with a home match against the Moorabool Crocs, who were Maryborough’s opponents in the local club’s very first match.
Maryborough president Travis Cain said a lot had changed since the Crocs welcomed the Pumas into the competition with a 25-goal thrashing.
“Back then we pulled together a team of retired and semi-retired blokes from half a dozen different footy clubs from around the district to see how we’d go,” Cain said.
“A decade later we’ve got our own identity, we’re making our own history and we feel like we’re an important part of the Maryborough football landscape.
“When we set this club up, we didn’t think too much about what it would look like in 10 years. But, if you look at what’s happened to a lot of footy clubs in country Victoria in recent years, making it to our 10th season is something we’re pretty proud of.”
AFL Masters footy in country Victoria does not have ladders or finals.
Nevertheless, the Pumas have been competitive in the AFL Masters Vic Country league, with victories over teams from major regional centres including Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.
However, the club’s role off the field has been even more significant in promoting men’s physical and mental health.
Pumas veteran Gerard Dwyer, a qualified chaplain and sociologist, described the club as a supportive environment.
“Playing football is not just a physical activity; it is a vital part of our mental health and well-being,” he said.
“It’s a space where we can connect with one another, whether we are family, friends, or fellow club members. In these challenging times, many people need a friend to lean on, and our sporting community provides that supportive environment.
“However, I must admit that there are days when I, too, struggle and don’t feel okay. It is a reminder that we all face challenges, and it is essential to look out for each other, both on and off the field.”
Cain said there were plenty of opportunities for newly retired district footballers, and those who have not played for several seasons, to take the field for the Pumas.
“We make sure everyone has a chance to get a kick,” he said.
“Everyone’s over 35 so nobody minds giving others a good go.”
The Pumas are training each Wednesday evening at Jubilee Oval from 6 pm until the end of February when they will return to Princes Park.