Sport
11 August, 2026
Redbacks end Giants’ finals hopes with big win
The Carisbrook Redbacks poisoned the last remnants of Maryborough’s finals chances with a crushing 57-goal win over the Giants.
Even with steady defender Elise Mottram unavailable, the Redbacks put on a defensive masterclass at the Maryborough Netball Association, keeping the Giants to seven goals or less in every quarter.
While not as shattering as their 83-goal defeat to Navarre from the previous weekend, Saturday was the final nail in Maryborough’s finals coffin, marking the first time the Giants will finish outside the top eight in A grade.
With Mottram out, veteran Sherriden Byrne once again pulled double duty and started alongside the in-form Finley Wagstaff in defence, while standout midcourter Charlotte Cain was another key in for Carisbrook.
Meanwhile, Maryborough entered Saturday’s vital fixture unchanged, desperate for a fast start to boost their upset aspirations.
Unfortunately for the Giants, it was the Redbacks who came out firing as Byrne and Wagstaff started excellently in the defensive goal circle while Cain and Lauren Jones controlled the midcourt battle.
That allowed player-coach Jordan Macilwain and young shooter Abbey Nalder to put Carisbrook 11 goals ahead at quarter time.
Needing a momentous second quarter to bring themselves back into the game, Maryborough’s goal suddenly seemed to have a lid sealed on the rim, as everything went against the Giants on offence.
As Maryborough brought on Jessie Tolson, Emme and Meg Johnson off the bench to generate a spark, the Redbacks remained as composed as the King’s Guard protecting Buckingham Palace, allowing just three goals in the second quarter as their lead gradually grew to 29 goals at half time.
Desperate to solve their offensive woes, Maryborough elected for a new shooting duo to start the second half, swapping Laura McStravick and Bridget Allan for Jorgia Brown and Maddison Smith.
McStravick and Allan were positioned into the midcourt, while Emme Johnson looked to provide further support at goal defence for Riahni Egan and Macey Parry.
Carisbrook also made some half time alterations to great success, with Jones quickly adapting to her new goal defence role while the newly introduced Ella Bartlett helped Katie Bilton keep the Redbacks’ red-hot offence rolling.
Another spree of unanswered scoring runs from Macilwain and Nalder powered the Redbacks to a commanding 42-goal lead at three-quarter time.
Maryborough once again completely changed their shooters for the fourth quarter, with McStravick returning to goal shooter and Egan stepping into goal attack.
Assisted by future stars Allan and Kayley Walhouse, McStravick and Egan gave the Giants a late attacking pulse with four and two goals in the final quarter respectively, but Carisbrook made sure to end another dominant victory with a flourish.
Despite being slightly hampered by shooting inaccuracy, Nalder ended with a game-high 47 goals after being key to Carisbrook’s 21-goal fourth-quarter barrage. Macilwain continues to be virtually automatic in the goal circle, ending Saturday with 30 goals at an 88 percent scoring rate.
McStravick led the Giants in scoring with nine goals, closely followed by six first-half goals from Allan, a three-goal cameo from Brown in the third term and Egan’s two goals at the death.