Sport
5 April, 2023
Redemption sought in 2023 after finals losses in 2022
Both Maldon and Dunolly will be determined to get their season off on the right foot when they play their round two clash tomorrow for the Community Bank Cup. With both clubs making finals in 2022, as well as celebrating their 150th years in...

Both Maldon and Dunolly will be determined to get their season off on the right foot when they play their round two clash tomorrow for the Community Bank Cup.
With both clubs making finals in 2022, as well as celebrating their 150th years in operation, the season has a new urgency for both the Dons and the Eagles, as they look to push into the top six on the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) ladder after bowing out in the elimination final last season.
For Maldon, who have built the Good Friday game into a traditional season-opening clash over the years, they’ll be looking for their third consecutive win to start their season, having taken care of Newstead in 2021 and 2022 by 71 and 60 points respectively, as well as opening their account under new coach Damien Lock.
They were fast starters in season 2022, winning five of their first six games before falling away a little to finish with eight wins, yet were still able to make the finals, knocked out by Lexton in the first week.
The Dons will have the chance to get their season off to a flyer, with games against Campbells Creek and Maryborough Rovers to follow this game, before tougher assignments against Harcourt and the Tigers.
Dunolly, in the meantime, have only been able to open a season with a win once since 2010 — that being in 2019 when they defeated Campbells Creek convincingly. And while this is a round two game, the Eagles will look to get on the right foot given the scale of difficulty they will be facing in their opening three games, with clashes with Natte Bealiba and Carisbrook, both top four teams in 2022, on offer after this game.
Nevertheless, the Eagles have been in the mood to break down previously common-held thoughts about their team in previous years — after winning two of 58 games between 2018 and the start of 2022, they had a terrific season last year, breaking through for eight wins, which included some memorable, yet heartstopping, victories against the likes of Lexton, Talbot, Royal Park and Avoca, before coming unstuck to the tune of 155 points against Navarre in the elimination final.
Maldon will be unveiling Lachie Sharp for a one-off game with the Dons. The Strathfieldsaye captain and life member has an unbelievable CV with the Storm, kicking over 800 goals while playing almost 200 games, taking home a Michelsen Medal and Ron Best Medal in 2017 thanks to his exploits which saw him kick 142 goals as the Storm eventually took that year’s premiership — one of four that they have won while Sharp has been in the team.
The last meeting between the two teams was in round five last year. On that occasion, Maldon kept Dunolly at arms length throughout the opening three quarters, before pulling away a little bit more during the final quarter to record a 25-point victory, scoring 14.18 (102) to Dunolly’s 11.11 (77).
Adam Robinson, Alex Farrow, Matthew Gray, Billy Johns, Kyle Gillingham and Rhys Ford were named in the best for Maldon, with Ford kicking four goals, while Adam Raak, Ashley Woodman, Gillingham and Julian Lockwood kicked two goals apiece.
Mitchell Goodwin was named as Dunolly’s best player, while Lachlan Tranter, Ben McKinley, Bailey Wingrave, Joel Fisher and Adal Zuk were also in the best. Senior coach Bailey Goodwin kicked three goals, while Mitchell kicked two.
The game will kick off from 2.35 pm at Maldon.