Sport
2 May, 2024
Big challenge for Magpies after tough week at Gisborne
After a very difficult week for Maryborough, the task does not get any easier when they welcome Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) favourites Sandhurst to Barker Oval Princes Park. The clash against the Dragons follows one of the biggest defeats...
After a very difficult week for Maryborough, the task does not get any easier when they welcome Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) favourites Sandhurst to Barker Oval Princes Park.
The clash against the Dragons follows one of the biggest defeats in league history, with a heavily-weakened Magpies defeated by 258 points by Gisborne last Saturday.
That game, plus the further blow of three injuries during the game, has meant the Magpies have put out feelers to try and gain some new players for the week to help the club out for the rest of the season.
The benefits won’t be felt quite yet, with the reserves team forfeiting again this week due to a continued lack of numbers.
It means that the game times will be shifted on the football field this week, with the under 18 game scheduled for 11.45 am and seniors 1.40 pm.
With the level of injuries around the club, it’s difficult to predict how the fortunes of the club will lay on Saturday, and there were further blows when Joel Swatton, Ty Stewart and Lachlan Bursill were all injured on the weekend.
That’s added to a list of injuries which has seen the likes of Seb Collins, Robert Castiglia and Kirk Looby all miss games in the short term.
Still, it’s been an opportunity for the likes of Tyson Hoban to show their worth in the senior team. Hoban made his debut on Saturday, and immediately made a stellar impact, with the young under 18 product showing he has a bright future at the level.
Tom Myers put in arguably his best effort yet at senior level, while Kya Lanfranchi continues to battle manfully against the best forwards in the BFNL.
Alex Brown and Coby Perry both collected plenty of the football on Saturday, with 36 and 39 disposals respectively.
The challenge of Sandhurst will perhaps be the hardest one throughout the season, given the quality of players the Dragons currently have at their disposal.
Key recruit Fergus Greene will be the biggest handful, with the powerful ex-AFL forward already kicking seven goals from two games this season, while Lachlan Tardrew will also be one to watch for the Magpies, having collected his own footy in their round two victory over Gisborne.
Elsewhere around the club, the under 18s will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes after losing by 163 points last weekend to Gisborne.
It was a result that wasn’t reflective of the club’s first two performances this season, having lost to Castlemaine by seven points and drawn with Kangaroo Flat, with their numbers likewise affected by the club’s injury crisis, and will be hoping to put in a good performance against the second-placed Dragons this week.