Sport
25 August, 2022
Magpie youths make finals stand
An exciting chapter in Maryborough Football Netball Club’s history comes alive on Sunday at Queen Elizabeth Oval when the club’s under 18 football team and 17 and under netball team participate in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL)...
An exciting chapter in Maryborough Football Netball Club’s history comes alive on Sunday at Queen Elizabeth Oval when the club’s under 18 football team and 17 and under netball team participate in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) senior finals series.
Maryborough’s under 18s qualified for the finals after putting together its first team in six years thanks to a 9-9 win-loss record, with a 16-point win over Kyneton last Saturday giving the team confidence to approach their clash with Strathfieldsaye.
The team has had two meetings with the Storm this season, both ending in losses. They lost by 47 points in round six despite leading for much of the first half, then suffered a 25-point loss in round 15. However, the rate of improvement between those two losses suggests that it could be a much closer game than the three-and-a-half game gap on the ladder suggests.
The likes of Jai Howell, Tom Myers, Lachie Bursill, Joshua Britten and Liam Freeman will be called upon on Sunday to drive the Magpies.
Howell will likely claim the Magpies’ under 18 best and fairest, given that he has been named in the best players in 13 of their 18 games, and is likely to poll well in the league best and fairest count on September 11. His efforts have seen him score 28 goals, including a haul of four, while he was able to hit the scoreboard in the last meeting between these two teams with two goals.
Myers, Britten, Bursill and Freeman have also been consistent performers in 2022, with Myers named in the best players eight times, and Britten, Bursill and Freeman named seven times.
Meantime, the opportunity is there for Maryborough’s 17 and under team to progress to a first semi-final as they play Golden Square.
The Magpies will be in good spirits this weekend after winning their final home and away game in convincing fashion, defeating Kyneton by 33 goals last Saturday.
The two teams have split their encounters 1-1 this season, with the Magpies taking out a convincing 14-goal victory in round three on the Bulldogs’ court, before Square were able to bounce back in round 12, defeating Maryborough by one goal at Princes Park.
The Magpies have been the more consistent team in 2022, winning 11 and drawing one of their 18 games to finish two games ahead of Square, but with the pressure of an elimination final, the Magpies will have to be on their game right from the start if they are to keep their season alive.
With the Maryborough senior team finishing up their season last week, a full team will be available to pick from, with Tali Chadwick, Abbey Nalder and Finley Wagstaff, among others, able to put full focus into ensuring the Magpies are able to progress in the BFNL finals.
The 17 and under netball team will be playing at 10 am at Queen Elizabeth Oval, while the under 18 football team will start at 10.15 am.
