Sport
4 September, 2023
Maryborough under 18s break new ground
It was a day to savour at Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO) on Sunday, as Maryborough secured their first football finals win in 4726 days with the under 18s success against Strathfieldsaye. Not since the reserves’ 2010 premiership had “We’re from...
It was a day to savour at Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO) on Sunday, as Maryborough secured their first football finals win in 4726 days with the under 18s success against Strathfieldsaye.
Not since the reserves’ 2010 premiership had “We’re from Magpieland” reverberated around the hallowed QEO. But a new bunch of Magpies heroes has given the club reason for optimism in the near future with a commanding performance which saw them dictate terms against the Storm, and a reward is a semi final match up against Sandhurst.
The Magpies made the stronger start, kicking two goals to one in the opening quarter. Kaian Constable, fresh off playing in the Bendigo Pioneers just a week ago, was busy around the goalmouth, while Tom Myers was dictating terms in the ruck.
The second quarter saw Maryborough desperate to build on their eight-point cushion at the first break, but they were unable to make inroads as they kicked six consecutive behinds.
Instead, the Storm won the quarter, as from limited opportunities, they were able to kick the only goal to reduce the margin to six points at the main break.
The third quarter was a struggle, but two quick goals to Liam Freeman and Lucas Hurse was able to give Maryborough a significant break after the Storm opened the quarter with a goal to close in on the Magpies, and as a result, it was a 13-point lead at the last change.
The last quarter saw some nerves set in, as Strathfieldsaye opened the term by kicking two quick goals to level the scores.
Nevertheless, Myers was determined not to lose the game, and was able to take control again in the ruck, with Taj Bond having a meaningful impact up forward, kicking two quick goals.
When Constable added two more, it was game over, and jubilation for the Magpies.
Best on ground went to Lachlan Bursill, for a commanding performance across half back, which saw his beautiful ball use set up countless attacking thrusts, as well as nullify the impact of the Storm forward line.
Constable, Hurse, Damon Nitschke, Myers and Tyson Hoban were also named in the best.
An emotional coach Brady Neill — celebrating his first Father’s Day as a dad on Sunday — was speechless at having brought up such a big moment for the club’s development that has been two years in the making.
“I’m ecstatic, it’s tough to find a word for it,” he said.
“This time a couple of years ago, I was making 90 phone calls to try and get a team together.
“To win a final, and showcase that we’re not just a team, we’re more than that, and able to compete with these powerhouse Bendigo teams is super for the whole club.
“I’ve won grand finals before, but this is up there, definitely as a coach, even between different sports in football and basketball. It’s a special moment for such a young group of boys to achieve something so big.”
Neill was in awe of the efforts of Bursill, who delivered a crowning moment after being one of the driving forces, along with his father, Troy, in bringing back the under 18s to the club after a six-year absence.
“Lachlan Bursill held us up in the backline, and was excellent by foot and provided plenty of leadership. Lachlan and (dad) Troy were instrumental in getting this team together. To have Lachlan play a pivotal role in this was unbelievable,” he said.
Neill was also quick to praise Bendigo Pioneers trio Bond, Constable and Hurse, as well as Myers, for their level of football which drove the group.
“It was a great team performance. We played to our structure. We do have our star players, Tom Myers dominated, took hitouts, marks around the ground, controlled the game, which was great,” he said.
“Having Taj Bond, Kaian Constable and Lucas Hurse back from the Pioneers, you could see how much they have grown this year, and they provide so much confidence within the group.”
Neill said keeping calm was a big factor in getting the game back on their terms in the last quarter, having lost to the Storm in extra time at this stage last year.
“We tried not to get too carried away with Strathfieldsaye levelled the scores, we just kept thinking about what we can do while staying in our structure and not lose the plot,” he said.
“Pleasingly, we held our structure, but for us to be able to regain control, with the likes of Myers, Hurse and Luke Dunne on the ball getting us forward, was great. They knew when to step up.”
Neill says there’s nothing to lose, yet everything to gain when they take on Sandhurst back at the QEO next Sunday.
“We’re yet to fill a full team against Sandhurst, but in those two games against them, we matched them for a half,” he said.
“We have played a good confident brand of footy that we know can keep up with them, but we need to do it for four quarters. It’s going to be a huge challenge. But we have nothing to lose.”
Maryborough’s junior footballers were also in action on Sunday, with the under 16s winning a thriller by three points against South Bendigo, while the under 14s went down by 43 points.
