Sport
28 August, 2023
Magpies’ difficult season ends with Gisborne loss
A difficult season for Maryborough came to an end with a 240-point defeat to Gisborne on Saturday. Dealing with injuries, unavailability and a renewed focus on the under 18s finals campaign, Maryborough fielded a weakened side on Saturday, albeit...
A difficult season for Maryborough came to an end with a 240-point defeat to Gisborne on Saturday.
Dealing with injuries, unavailability and a renewed focus on the under 18s finals campaign, Maryborough fielded a weakened side on Saturday, albeit one which delivered a senior debut to Brady King, who had been performing strongly at reserves level.
Gisborne dominated all facets of the game, however, as they took their anger out at being the first reigning senior premiership winner in the Bendigo Football Netball League since 2005 to miss out on the finals the following season on the Magpies throughout the afternoon.
They kicked the first 10 goals of the contest to stamp their authority on the game.
Maryborough were able to generate four scoring shots in the midst of the Gisborne scoring blitz, and their highlight of the quarter came when an excellent centre clearance from Joel Swatton resulted in an excellent crumbing goal from Jai Howell in the goalsquare.
That was as good as it got for Maryborough, however, with Gisborne 56 points up at the first break.
The Bulldogs were dominating in every department, and were owning territory. In the second quarter, they kicked 10 goals from 18 scoring shots to open up a 124-point lead, holding the Magpies scoreless.
It was the same story in the third quarter, with the Magpies held scoreless again, while Gisborne racked up seven goals from 13 shots at goal to open the lead to 172 points.
Maryborough’s second goal of the afternoon wouldn’t come until the 10-minute mark of the last quarter, with Brady Neill infringed in a ruck contest, and duly delivering a goal which ended Gisborne’s run of 19 consecutive goals.
But the rest of the afternoon would belong to Gisborne, who scored the final nine goals of the contest to finish off their season.
Despite the 240-point loss, Maryborough were well-served by Kya Lanfranchi, Matt Johnston, Coby Perry, Neill, Jake Postle and Nic Swan.
There was also no luck in any of Maryborough’s other games, with the reserves going scoreless in a 187-point defeat, while the under 18s will be looking for a response in their elimination final next week against Strathfieldsaye, losing by 27 points to the second-placed Bulldogs.