Sport
12 May, 2026
Trentham’s brute force topples Giants by 78 points
A breathtaking 57-point first quarter was the catalyst for Trentham to power themselves past the Maryborough Giants, winning by 13 goals.
After an intense opening start to the contest, Edward Fanning found himself in oceans of space inside 50, picking out James Regan for his first of nine goals on Saturday.
Fanning set up another successful set shot shortly thereafter from Jake Keogh as the Saints were officially up and running.
Showing no intimidation towards the reigning premiers, the Giants tried to be adventurous with their ball movement out of their defensive 50. However, Trentham severely punished an abundance of disposal miscues with their accuracy in front of goal.
A quickfire double from captain Joel Dovaston, as well as singles from Fanning and Alister Ferrier, fuelled Trentham’s nine-goal bombardment in the first quarter while keeping the Giants scoreless.
Keen to showcase some fight in front of their home crowd, Mary-borough managed to become more evenly matched around the contest after the break, thanks to the efforts of Mitch Stork and Brandon Carter.
Murray Bond and Cody Wright also starred in the Giants’ much-improved defensive transition in the second quarter, resulting in the hosts booting five goals without a minor score to cut the deficit to 48 points.
The end of the first half resulted in an even scoring spree after half time, with both teams kicking four majors each in the third quarter.
Headlined by their double J goal machine of Keogh and Regan, the Saints finished with a six-goal flourish in the fourth quarter to complete a win more evenly matched than the final margin suggests.
Jye Adamson and Joel Cowan continued their exceptional form in the midfield, named in the Saints’ best players alongside Dovaston, Regan, Harrison Knight and Marcus Elderfield.
After their relentless fight around the contest, Stork and Carter were easy choices for Maryborough’s standout performers, joined by Bond, Wright, Riley Govan and Cobie Read.
