Sport
18 April, 2024
Magpies looking for first win
After a three-week wait, Maryborough will be raring to get back out on to the field for their first home game of the season at Barker Oval Princes Park where they’ll host Kangaroo Flat tomorrow afternoon. The extended break between the Magpies’...
After a three-week wait, Maryborough will be raring to get back out on to the field for their first home game of the season at Barker Oval Princes Park where they’ll host Kangaroo Flat tomorrow afternoon.
The extended break between the Magpies’ Good Friday loss and now has given co-coaches Matt Johnston and Coby Perry the chance to assess what needs to be improved, with the ability to play four quarters high on the agenda.
In that Good Friday loss to Castlemaine, the Magpies were terrific value throughout the first half as they established a three-goal lead.
But injuries played a major part in derailing their momentum, with the loss of key cogs Fraser Russell, Kirk Looby and — in particular — Seb Collins meaning the Magpies had to play over a half with just one player on their bench.
The Magpies battled on to remain in the game right up until three-quarter-time, before Castlemaine ran away with the match in the last term.
Still, there were some distinct positives out of the game.
The Magpies’ midfield grunt allowed them to outpoint Castlemaine in the clearances, winning that count by one, while the Magpies were able to generate 16 scoring shots from 38 inside 50s, showing that they were economical once going inside the arc.
But there is still plenty of work to be done, with Maryborough losing the disposal count by 101 and also losing the tackle count by 26.
Alex Brown had a stellar start to the season, collecting 31 disposals as he showed his class down back, while the ever-reliable Perry was terrific across the midfield, collecting 27 disposals and 10 clearances.
Kaian Constable was busy when the ball was up forward, with 14 disposals, two goals and eight score involvements, while Bailey Edwards was also impressive with 25 touches and 10 clearances.
The challenge now is to put it all together against a Kangaroo Flat team who are reeling from a 142-point loss to Sandhurst in their opening game of the season.
The Magpies should rightfully fancy themselves against Flat, having come awfully close to winning twice against the Kangaroos last season.
In round three, inaccuracy cost the Magpies dearly, kicking 7.19 in their 17-point loss to the Roos — a run which included a 1.9 third quarter, before the Kangaroos kicked six final-quarter goals to turn around an 11-point deficit.
The return meeting in round 12 last season also saw the Magpies well in the game, but just like Good Friday, injury cost the Magpies dearly.
Sitting seven points up at the final change, the Magpies conceded three of the last four goals of the game to lose by 15 points.