Sport
9 August, 2024
Magpies against in-form Dogs
Maryborough will face a tricky assignment this week when they come up against a Golden Square team at Wade Street Recreation Reserve, fresh off their best win of season 2024.
Returning to the scene of their 2023 premiership, the Bulldogs flattened the high-flying Sandhurst at the Queen Elizabeth Oval with a third-quarter burst, before taking a 21-point victory over the Dragons to keep themselves in the frame for the double chance.
It will be a very tricky assignment for the Magpies, who are coming off a 155-point loss to South Bendigo at home last week.
The Magpies were competitive in some patches, but were unable to combat the Bloods’ ball movement, and, in particular, the forward line combination of Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants, who combined for 22 of their 32 goals.
The Magpies did have some positives throughout the day — their 18 scoring shots was an equal season-high alongside their round two loss to Kangaroo Flat, and of course, there was the continued good form of co-coach Coby Perry to celebrate again.
Perry was named in Maryborough’s best, but it was fellow midfield dynamo Joel Swatton who caught the eye to be named as the Magpies’ best player last Saturday.
Seb Collins has worked hard throughout the season since his return from injury to provide a presence in the ruck, while defenders Alex Brown, the ever-improving Beau Trahar and Kya Lanfranchi completed the best players.
Fill-in player Austin Long was the main goalkicker for the Magpies, kicking two goals.
Unfortunately, no stats were kept throughout the game.
The last meeting between Maryborough and Golden Square was in round seven at Barkers Oval Princes Park.
It was a game which saw most of the damage done in the first and third quarters, with Golden Square kicking eight goals in each of those quarters, with the Bulldogs powering on to a 158-point victory.
Perry was Maryborough’s best player that day, while Ash Humphrey, Lanfranchi, Tom Myers, Brown and Collins were all in the best players.
The under 18s will have a big challenge this week against the table-topping Bulldogs, but will go in with some confidence after a competitive outing against South Bendigo last week.
The Magpies were very much in the game for much of the contest, but were unable to land the killer blow in the last quarter, as the Bloods finished full of running.
Ronnie Feeney was in good form for the Magpies, as was Joe Lovel, Robert Castiglia, Cooper Mark, Bailey Walhouse and Logan Howell.