Sport
13 July, 2023
Young Magpies learning from elite
While Maryborough have fallen to ninth on the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) A grade ladder, an extremely youthful Magpies lineup will get the chance to learn from one of the elite clubs in the competition this week when they play...
While Maryborough have fallen to ninth on the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) A grade ladder, an extremely youthful Magpies lineup will get the chance to learn from one of the elite clubs in the competition this week when they play third-placed Kangaroo Flat.
With playing-coach Jordan MacIlwain currently sitting out owing to pregnancy, the learning period for Maryborough is an accelerated one, with a large majority of players that played on the weekend under the age of 23.
Ella Patten was the latest debutant in the A grade team, with the promising defender given her opportunity in the second half of their loss to Eaglehawk.
Patten, as well as fellow BFNL under 17 representative player Millie Cassidy, were both in the lineup on the weekend, while the likes of Abbey Nalder, Tali Chadwick and Finley Wagstaff have also taken their opportunity to cement their spot in the A grade team.
Coming weeks could see some experienced hands on the way, with Maggie Tranter making her return to the netball court last week and successfully getting through her B grade game.
The Magpies, in the meantime, will look to stay competitive with Kangaroo Flat this weekend.
In their last meeting, the Kangaroos were able to take a 46-goal victory over the Magpies at home, in particular dominating the second half.
It will be a tricky task for Maryborough’s senior teams, with B grade coming up against the third-placed Kangaroos, while B reserve will clash with a Kangaroos team that are just percentage off top spot.
The 17 and under game to kick off the day will be pivotal for the Magpies. With a two-game gap between themselves and the Kangaroos in sixth, and seventh-placed Castlemaine playing fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye, a win will see the Magpies move three games clear of the chasing pack inside the top five, while also allowing them to perhaps close the gap to half a game behind third-placed Golden Square, who play second-placed Sandhurst.
In their last meeting, the Magpies defeated Kangaroo Flat in a thriller by just one goal.