Sport
30 August, 2024
Magpie netballers ready to fire in Bendigo finals amidst emotional time for the club
Maryborough will fire their finals salvo this weekend as their 17 and under team and their A reserve team takes to the Queen Elizabeth Oval for the first week of finals.
With much conjecture over the club’s future in the Bendigo Football Netball League competition, it has been a fantastic achievement for the Magpies to make the final five in both competitions.
Maryborough’s decision to drop from A grade to A reserve has been vindicated by their results this season, which has seen them become more competitive in a suitable division for the time being.
Wins in five of their first seven games, which also included a draw, gave the Magpies their platform to finish in fifth.
While the club had a bit of a slower finish to the season, with tough encounters against the likes of Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye, the club will head into this week’s encounter against Kangaroo Flat rightfully confident.
In round two, Maryborough drew a game they probably should have won, having led by six goals at the final change after a stellar third quarter which saw them score 14 goals to eight.
But the Kangaroos fought back hard, scoring 15 goals to nine to finish off the game with a share of the points.
The Magpies’ round 11 victory, however, gave them more belief that they are capable of dealing some damage to the contenders in September.
It was a result that, at the time, boosted the Magpies’ top three ambitions, played in very wet conditions at Dower Park, and it was the second quarter which proved to be the difference for the Magpies, scoring 12 goals to six to turn a two-goal deficit at quarter time to a four-goal lead.
A nervy second half followed, with the Magpies’ lead whittled down to two goals by the final change, but they were able to answer every Kangaroo Flat challenge in the last term.
The Magpies will be looking to regain the services of last year’s best and fairest, Amanda Durbridge, for this clash, and she would be a big inclusion for a young team who will need grunt through the midcourt.
It will be fascinating to see who is called upon to make the Magpies midcourt. The likelihood would be Katie Bilton lining up at centre and Millie Cassidy at wing attack, but the Magpies can call upon Tori Chandler, who has also qualified for finals.
Up front, it will be Meg Kelly and Jordan MacIlwain who will be providing the goals.
The duo has worked exceptionally well this season, taking their moments to score when needed, and providing some good chemistry.
With Kelly up against her former team, there is also an element of proving herself on the big stage.
Defensively, playing-coach Maggie Tranter and Ella Patten are expected to be the defensive duo, although Chloe Egan has also provided a good role in recent weeks and could also be an option too.
That game will be on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.
Saturday’s action begins with Maryborough against Golden Square in the 17 and under competition, and the Magpies can rightfully view this game as a free hit, given they have the double chance.
A loss to Strathfieldsaye in the final round means the Magpies finish an intriguing third place, four games behind the second-placed Square, yet three games ahead of the Storm.
How the Magpies approach this, then, will be intriguing.
In round seven, it was just nine goals the difference, with the Pies losing 35-44, although in round 16, that margin increased to 24 goals, with a 55-31 loss.
The midcourt battle should be a good one, with the Magpies expected to have Naomi Henderson, Chloe Wyatt and Paige Walkley the main three through the middle.
Patten’s partnership with Ruby Adams in the defensive third has also been a strong one throughout the season, with the Magpies conceding the third-fewest goals, while up front, it will be Molly Palmer and Zali Linton looking to finish off the midcourt feeding with goals to put pressure on the Bulldogs.
The Magpies’ qualifying final will be held at 10 am on Saturday.