Sport
14 September, 2023
Pumas run out of puff for 2023
Maryborough ran out of troops and ran out of legs against the Echuca-Moama Emus in the final AFL Masters Country Victoria football match of the season at Jubilee Oval. The Pumas started strongly, kicking three of the first four goals on Sunday...
Maryborough ran out of troops and ran out of legs against the Echuca-Moama Emus in the final AFL Masters Country Victoria football match of the season at Jubilee Oval.
The Pumas started strongly, kicking three of the first four goals on Sunday, before the Emus clicked into gear in the second term.
As the home team tired — a situation exacerbated by a hamstring injury to Pumas coach Terry Hillier — the visitors put down the accelerator on the way to a 13.13 (91) to 7.6 (48) victory.
Hillier said it was a frustrating end to Maryborough’s otherwise successful 2023 campaign, which saw the club win its highest number of games in one season and introduce a considerable number of new players.
“I think the most pleasing thing is the form of a lot of our new players,” he said.
“Echuca travelled with a very large squad and that’s what we should be aiming for every game. It made a big difference on the weekend.
“The positive is our side on the weekend had about half-a-dozen first year players, which gives us some great momentum for next year.”
The margin at half time was a manageable 11 points, with Jibb Iglesias and Patrick Clancy each kicking two first half goals.
However, the Emus piled on seven goals to two in the second half to take control of the match.
Clancy finished with three goals, with Iglesias on two, and Trevor Chapman and Brett Forti each with one apiece.
Maryborough’s best players included debutant Steve Shovan, along with Andrew Hughes, Iglesias, Clancy and Forti.