Sport
17 April, 2023
Rovers revel in seniors and reserves wins; first dose of double joy since round eight, 2018
MARYBOROUGH ROVERS 13.17 (95) def AVOCA 6.8 (44) It was the most joyous day for Maryborough Rovers in years. Not since round three, 2021 had their senior footballers won a game, and for their reserves, it was an even longer wait — 1453 days to be...
MARYBOROUGH ROVERS 13.17 (95) def AVOCA 6.8 (44)
It was the most joyous day for Maryborough Rovers in years.
Not since round three, 2021 had their senior footballers won a game, and for their reserves, it was an even longer wait — 1453 days to be exact, since their round four, 2019 victory over Royal Park.
But all of that was put aside for a big day of celebration at Princes Park as both teams were able to score victories against Avoca.
The senior’s victory came courtesy of a stellar midfield performance, led by big-name recruit Billy Mahony, who showed out in his first game for the club.
It was a tight first quarter, with both teams kicking one goal apiece.
Mitch Whelan took a strong mark in the goal square to open the account for Rovers, before Reece Wynd, who proved to be one of Avoca’s better players for the day, responded in kind for the Bulldogs, to give them a one-point lead at the first break.
Wynd was able to give the Bulldogs two of the first three goals of the second quarter as they started to take control of the game a little bit, but Rovers hit back later on, with Whelan getting on the scoreboard again, before Bailey Evans kicked a miracle goal lying horizontal on the ground to help give Rovers a nine-point lead at the main break.
The third quarter saw Rovers kick away, scoring five of the first six goals of the quarter to open up a game-high 36 point lead at one stage, whipping the Rovers fans up into a frenzy as they edged closer to their drought-breaking win.
A goal to Byron Wynd on the siren gave Avoca some hope at the final break, but the final quarter proved it was always going to be Rovers’ day.
Marshall Murray, who had warmed into the game to become one of their better players throughout the final three quarters, sealed the game with a spectacular running goal from the boundary line, before Trae Ewart put the icing on the cake with another goal.
Whelan kicked his fourth of the afternoon to ensure Rovers would take a 51-point victory, kicking 13.17 (95) to Avoca’s 6.8 (44).
It was a day to remember for Rovers — it was their biggest score and most scoring shots for the club since round 13 in 2019, when they scored 32.14 (206) against Campbells Creek, while it was the first time both seniors and reserves won on the same day since round eight, 2018, when they defeated Dunolly.
Mahony was the best player on the ground, while Tyson Randall and Whelan combined for seven goals. Murray. Bailey Evans and Jacob Dyer were also good performers.
For Avoca, Jordan Hayes, Reece with his three goals, youngster Sidney Robinson, Tyson Cope, Bryce Howell and Scott Cawthan were their better performers.
Rovers coach Joel Radlof paid tribute to his charges after a day to remember.
“It’s fantastic. It was great to see the reserves, as well as the seniors win, as we’ve done a lot of hard work, and that has paid off,” he said.
“We had an opportunity. We spoke a bit about it throughout the week in that it was our home game. It built some excitement for us, which showed in a great crowd coming to the game. We have a good supporter base. If we start winning games in reserves and seniors, it will be great for the team.
“We didn’t speak as much about winning throughout the week, but when it came closer to the game, we did. We put some importance on it. Maybe it brings the feel-good factor, players and volunteers back to the club. Rovers can be strong again, and it’s a matter of guys coming back and helping out.
“We had some perspective. Avoca reserves beat us by 222 points last season, and our seniors were beaten by 10 goals, and we turned it around in both grades and won. We feel we are on the improve.”
Radlof said some tweaks to the structure at half time was the key to kicking clear in the second half.
“Mitch Whelan and Tyson Randall were really good up forward. We had to change a few things at half time structurally. We weren’t utilising things that we had trained for throughout preseason. But afterwards, we started doing what we wanted to, and we got the reward out of it,” he said.
“Avoca really brought the heat in the first half, and we cracked under their pressure a little bit, and went away from our game plan a bit. In the second half, we made changes, we moved Andrew Siekai from centre half back to full back and that stopped their forward half flow. We were using each other in the back line to attack from there, and the forward line was more open. We said Mitch and Tyson could change the game, and they did. It was exciting.
“I think our scoring came from that structure change and our midfield taking control to give our forwards an opportunity to kick a big score. We can be competitive — I said that our biggest thing for the season is our percentage at the end of the year. Against the teams that are better, we’d love to be close and competitive, we don’t want games to be a blowout.”
Radlof paid tribute to the dominant Mahony, who came across to play with brother Alex for the 2023 season.
“Billy Mahony’s delivery inside 50 is elite. There wouldn’t be many in the competition better than him at doing that. Getting the ball in his hands around that half-forward area will lead to more goals for us,” he said.
“I felt like we played well as a team, however. People zoned off to help one another out, and it didn’t really come to fruition under the second half, but we have to pay credit to the boys for all of it.”
Radlof was determined to keep his focus on Rovers’ next assignment, a tough match up with Natte Bealiba.
“The biggest thing next week is that we have to stick to our structures. If we played the second half the way we did the whole game, we would have won by a better margin. Natte are a good outfit. They have a few bigger boys in their forward line that gave us a bath last year,” he said.
“But structurally, I am happy with where we are at. We’re in a position where we have 10 guys playing reserves who could play senior footy. We have not had that for a long time.”
