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Sport

1 June, 2023

The past and the present look back at a rivalry to savour ahead of tomorrow’s final Maryborough Derby

Tomorrow marks the final siren of an age-old rivalry between Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park that’s spanned 57 years, taking in incredible moments both on the field and on the court, including some memorable battles, a grand final to savour, and...

By Michael Thompson

From left to right, representing Royal Park: Abbey Devereaux, Declan Wagstaff, life member Stephen McMasters and president Kate Balzan; representing Maryborough Rovers: vice-president Mark Raven, life member Nicole Summers, Kieran Johns and Ebony Raven. Photo: 020623 12
From left to right, representing Royal Park: Abbey Devereaux, Declan Wagstaff, life member Stephen McMasters and president Kate Balzan; representing Maryborough Rovers: vice-president Mark Raven, life member Nicole Summers, Kieran Johns and Ebony Raven. Photo: 020623 12

Tomorrow marks the final siren of an age-old rivalry between Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park that’s spanned 57 years, taking in incredible moments both on the field and on the court, including some memorable battles, a grand final to savour, and the mark of two clubs coming together to become one in 2024.

It’s been almost a grand final-like build up within the town, with both A grade netball teams fighting for a spot in the top eight, while both football teams are looking for their second victory of the season. Expect plenty of fireworks.

A BRIEF HISTORY

From the initial football meeting in 1966, to the final matches tomorrow at Hedges Oval, it’s been a rivalry that’s enamoured the town over the years.

Any history of the Royal Park/Maryborough Rovers rivalry goes back to 1966. In that first game, a powerful Bushy football team that would eventually win premierships in 1967 and 1968 would go on to beat Rovers 14.12 (96) to 3.6 (24).

But it didn’t take too long for Maryborough Rovers to become a consistent football contender, although that was still in the wake of Royal Park continuing to be one of the competition’s elite teams, picking up four flags in the 1970s, and two more in the 80s. Rovers, for their part, won flags in 1978 and 1990.

1991 was the year that the two would meet in a grand final.

Reigning premiers Rovers were looking for back-to-back flags, while Bushy were seeking their first premiership in nine years.

But on a wet, miserable day at Princes Park, Rovers proved too strong, and so proves to be the last football flag either of these two teams have won.

Over the years, the netball division would prove to be the stronger of the two programs in modern times, with Royal Park becoming an early league powerhouse, winning seven premierships in 10 years, including four in succession from 1995 to 1998. While Rovers haven’t been quite as successful, with one losing grand final appearance, the club has been a regular in grand finals at junior levels in recent years.

THE OVERRIDING EMOTION

Ask anyone who has been involved with both clubs, and they’ll tell multiple stories about the special moments throughout the years.

Royal Park life member Stephen McMasters and Maryborough Rovers life member Gary Chaplin are two such people who can tell many a story, having been involved with the clubs both on and off the field.

McMasters has seen it all as a past president of the club.

“Over the years at Royal Park as a player and member of the club, there was quite a rivalry there, between supporters and players. It was challenging. Both clubs have had their ups and downs over the years. But given we were from the same community and the same town, there was always a big build-up going into these games when we played each other,” he said.

“It was different, but it was exciting, and now that things have become serious about coming together, it’s changed.”

Chaplin concurs with McMasters in talking about the rivalry, particularly with both clubs enjoying some success.

“As time has gone by, there’s always been a very healthy rivalry between the clubs. Royal Park had the better of Rovers back in the 80s, and we had the better of them in the 90s when we won some flags and beat them in a grand final,” he said.

“Both clubs, in a way, are steeped in history as they’ve been family-orientated. Their traditions still go through with the families continuing to be involved, as well as the ones at Rovers, with the likes of myself, Jock Sellars, Dennis Hedger, etc. You go right through that period, no matter whether they’ve been up or down, those families have always stuck thick and thin with both clubs. You always try to get the bragging rights over the years.”

Maryborough Rovers vice-president Mark Raven has been involved with both clubs —­ firstly as a player with Royal Park, before moving into the committee of Rovers, and therefore, has the understanding of the rivalry from either side of the railway station.

“They were always fierce battles between the two clubs. At my time in Royal Park, both clubs were very successful and always finished high on the ladder. Each game was a heavily fought out game, and of course, they were very competitive,” he said.

Current Royal Park president Kate Balzan has plenty of excitement about the game, knowing the history between both clubs.

“There’s a lot of history, being the two local Maryborough teams. It’s always been a built-up game, with people looking forward to seeing who wins, which just adds to the emotion. It’s going to be great to see people that we’ve been talking to from the Rovers’ committee, and have that chance to be all on the one field or one court. It will be very interesting,” she said.

THE LESSONS

Saturday’s final meeting will be an opportunity for both clubs to celebrate the rivalry.

It was an opportunity that wasn’t afforded for nearby Primrose, who ceased operations in early 1994.

McMasters and Chaplin’s involvement with both of their clubs at the time Primrose ceased meant that when it came time for an official vote in April, saying yes was the easier decision.

“My heart said I didn’t want this to happen, but my brain also said yes,” McMasters said.

“I’ve been at Royal Park since Primrose folded. I didn’t want to see Royal Park fold the same way they did. I know a lot of people at Rovers who would feel the same way.

“This absolutely had to happen. It will benefit both clubs, and also the town as a whole. I know Maryborough, being in a different league, will also benefit, and it will also help the juniors going forward.”

Chaplin shared a similar viewpoint to McMasters.

“The head always has to be smarter than the heart. It surprised me a bit that our older members and the life members were all for it. You would think there would be a bit of pushback, but the life members such as Rick Dawson, Colin Elliott, Paul Adcock, those guys that put plenty of time into the club, could see it was the only way that Rovers could continue in some sort of way, otherwise it becomes a bit similar to Primrose and there would be no identity going forward,” he said.

“It’s a good move, but time will tell how successful setting the club up will be, setting up their own destiny and retaining the history of the old clubs. At least there will be that, so if my grandchildren and children come back, there will be something around on the walls so they can look up and see where the clubs have come from.”

Just over a month on from the official amalgamation going through, you can still hear the relief in Balzan and Raven’s voices.

“It’s really good. When we put out the feelers for the amalgamation, we were a little nervous about what our life members would think, but after seeing the vote turn out to be a positive outcome, it’s a good feeling, so when we hear the life members saying they’re excited and wanting to be around, it’s fantastic. After we had the majority vote, it was important to know that we were on the right track,” Balzan said.

Raven said as the working party continues to work in harmony, he hopes that the crowd will share a similar vibe tomorrow.

“The working party has been working together harmoniously and we want it to filter down to the supporters and members, which is the best outcome we are hoping for,” he said.

CELEBRATING WITH MATES

As life members of their clubs, McMasters and Chaplin look forward to spending the day with those they’ve battled with, for and against, as well as supporting their respective clubs.

“Until you’re up there on the day, you don’t know how the day will pan out, and who gets the bragging rights at the end of it all,” Chaplin said.

“It will be the same with Royal Park, they will be trying to finish off their club history with a win, and it would leave a sour taste if they didn’t. But that’s what sport is all about.”

McMasters is looking forward to spending his Saturday — as he has for many years — with Rovers counterpart Graeme Johnson.

“It will be great to see our life members from our club. I know some of the guys that are still with us that are life members. People in my age group will be coming back. I’ll be doing the same things that I’ve done on Saturdays. I’ll try and enjoy it, but I’ll sit together with a man that’s been involved with Rovers for as long as I can remember — Graeme Johnson. We’re going to reminisce. We’ve been doing timekeeping together for so many years in the seniors. He’s always been around, he’s a great bloke and we’re community-based people,” he said.

“We would always go in after the game, no matter whether we played at Jubilee Oval or Hedges Oval, and have a beer, and that’s the sort of thing I enjoyed, no matter whether we lost or won. Those times were enjoyable. There were a few games where there were fisticuffs thrown around back in the day, and their supporters hated us and abused us back then, and ours did the same. There was quite a rivalry, but also, I’ve made some great friends from our games with Rovers. I’m hoping all their supporters and life members are also there tomorrow.”

Raven and Balzan are hoping that both sets of supporters, who came together for the difficult decision to amalgamate, will unite on the day.

“It’s exciting, and it’s great that we are inviting everyone back to see these two teams playing one another for the last time. It’s created a bit of a buzz and it’s given a lot of older players and spectators to come back and see where the teams are at, as well as having a good day and touching base before the end of the year,” Balzan said.

“It’s definitely a weird feeling. We haven’t really thought about it being the last time against other teams since we’ll play them as a new club, but this is unique with this being the two teams that are going to amalgamate and there’s a buzz.

“The emotion coming into it has made it feel big.”

Raven agrees.

“We hope there will be plenty of supporters coming up to watch the game, and some keen eyes on both playing lists to see how they go and how they stand up against one another, and what the potential looks like for next year,” he said.

“The feelgood vibe is something we want to create. We don’t want to go there with any animosity towards one another, we want it to be a good feeling across both supporter bases and player groups in football and netball.

“A lot of players have played at both clubs that are mates, and will have a drink together and talk about the past, and so on.

“It’s exciting for the two clubs on the day, as well as it being a good opportunity to come together and understand what it will be like when we amalgamate.”

AFL FLAVOUR

Royal Park are celebrating the occasion with not only their “Back to Bushy” day for their life members, but they’ll also have the services of former West Coast and Richmond player Jeremy Humm for the first time at senior football level, with the Royal Park junior making a guest appearance.

Humm played 23 games at AFL level, with 22 appearances coming with the Eagles between 2001 and 2004.

Yet having made a name in Western Australia, Humm had never returned to play for his boyhood club.

Until tomorrow.

Balzan said it was an opportunity for Royal Park to celebrate their history on the day, which influenced fast-tracking their decision to amalgamate with Rovers.

“It’s great to have Jeremy come in, and that’s why we moved on with discussions quickly, so we could have this time to celebrate, and have players like Jeremy come back and have a chance to celebrate what the club’s been all about,” she said.

Rovers will be afforded a similar opportunity to have an ex-AFL player represent the club in two weeks for their clash against Campbells Creek when Bernie Vince makes an appearance with the club as part of the Carlton Draft program.

THE FUTURE

While there will be a lot of emotion on the day, both teams will be approaching this with one eye on the future.

Balzan confirmed that things are progressing swimmingly between both clubs.

“The planning is going on in the background. We’ve had our first joint committee meeting with Rovers, so that’s exciting to have those conversations and start planning where everything needs to go,” she said.

Raven believes that it will be an opportunity for life members and supporters of both clubs to perhaps get a look at what an amalgamated club could look like in 2024.

“It’s exciting for the two clubs on the day, as well as it being a good opportunity to come together and understand what it will be like when we amalgamate,” he said.

For Chaplin and McMasters as life members, there is a lot of hope that the respect between both clubs will go into the new, amalgamated club, while also urging people to stick with the new club long term.

“On the day, I’ll feel a little different as it goes on. When you see these people come in, no matter whether they are from Royal Park or Rovers, it will be a very different feeling, and I hope it will be a fantastic day all round,” McMasters said.

Chaplin was passionate in his message.

“Even though they are keeping the history of both clubs, which is good, I believe that the new club has to have people on the committee who will be there to set up the club going forward. It’s no good saying they’ll be on for 12 months and then get off. They need a plan over three years,” he said.

“The opportunity is there for this club to be a really strong club. Both have different dynamics, but it gives them a good chance to have some good success early on.”

Whichever way both the senior football and A grade netball games go tomorrow afternoon, expect an outpouring of emotion from all at Hedges Oval.

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