Sport
10 July, 2023
Magpies show positive signs
Saturday’s result shows that Maryborough lost to Eaglehawk by 104 points. Dive a little deeper, however, and the effort was there to show that with the right amount of application, the Magpies aren’t far off starting to challenge good teams...
Saturday’s result shows that Maryborough lost to Eaglehawk by 104 points. Dive a little deeper, however, and the effort was there to show that with the right amount of application, the Magpies aren’t far off starting to challenge good teams.
Realistically, it was only the second half which saw Eaglehawk kick clear, scoring 11 goals to nil to eventually open up the margin.
However, in an even first quarter, the Magpies were right in the game, with an inspired Chris Freeman kicking two goals to help maintain interest. At the other end, Eaglehawk were peppering the goals, but were only able to kick two goals from nine scoring shots to lead by six points at quarter time.
Eaglehawk started to get their game in order a little bit during the second term, but Maryborough, to their credit, were continuing to keep them honest, and the Hawks kicked four goals to one behind to lead by 31 points at the main break.
The Hawks started to make their move in the third quarter, kicking five goals to one behind to end the Magpies’ hopes of keeping the game alive as a contest, opening up a 62-point lead at the last break.
A further six goals to no score saw the Hawks eventually break the 100-point barrier, although given the corresponding meeting earlier in the season resulted in a 169-point loss, it was certainly a big improvement by the Magpies.
Kya Lanfranchi played exceptionally well down back, while Joel Swatton, Mitch McClure, Freeman, Ty Stewart and Brady Neill were also named in the best players.
Elsewhere around the club, Maryborough’s reserves had a tough day, although a respectable second half effort helped keep the margin to 152 points after trailing by 90 at the main break, while five goals to Kaian Constable and a dominant around-the-ground performance by Oscar Tatchell helped Maryborough almost certainly seal a finals berth in the under 18s, winning by 56 points.
The Magpies now face an intriguing game against Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park next week.
