Maryborough Rovers win in seniors and reserves for first time in five years

A club in country Victoria broke not one, but two, droughts as their seniors and reserves won for the first time in years. Find out how the club celebrated.

If this is the last year of the Maryborough Rovers, the team is aiming to go out in style.

The Magpies ended a 24-game losing streak in the Maryborough Castlemaine league with a 51-point win over Avoca.

In a close contest early, Avoca led at quarter-time by one point before the Rovers kicked four goals in the second quarter to lead at half-time by nine points.

The Rovers, eyeing their first victory since 2021, got on top in the second half to kick away and win comfortably in the end.

Maryborough kept Avoca to two goals in the second half as the Magpies kicked eight.

Inaccuracy cost the team winning by more.

Maryborough Rovers reflect on their first win since 2021. Picture: Rachael Raven.

“The first half was a tussle, goal for goal and then we got a lead just before half-time,” Maryborough Rovers vice president Mark Raven said.

“The third quarter we certainly got our act together and played some decent football.

“We hit the scoreboard, got a few goals in the third to draw away and held on to the lead, which was pleasing.”

The win was the first for the club in 716 days since beating Dunolly on May 1, 2021.

It was also a significant day for the club with their reserves also winning by 21 points.

It was their first win since 2019 when it defeated Royal Park.

For the club it was the first time both seniors and reserves won on the same day since 2018 against Dunolly.

Against Avoca, it was a 358-point turnaround after the Bulldogs defeated the Magpies by a combined margin of 287 points last year in seniors and reserves.

Raven said there was plenty of emotion from both Magpies team after the wins.

“The players were ecstatic,” he said.

“For the players that have been sticking with us through the hard times it was a great reward seeing them get the win.

“It was certainly pointed out after the game, our coaches speech let the new blokes know what it meant for the current list who stuck by us and the importance of the win and the joy it gave our supporters.

“People were happy, the supporters were happy and it showed that with the amount of people who came in and sung the song with great gusto.”

Raven, who was the previous president before stepping down last year, said it was gratifying to watch and he enjoyed seeing the smile on everyone’s faces, especially the volunteers, who gave a lot to the club for almost no rewards on the field.

The vice-president said the win was a credit to those in the off-season who helped recruit new talent to the club.

The talent was on show with Billy Mahony (Mount Pleasant) and Tyson Randall (Creswick) putting in best-on-ground performances for the team.

Randall kicked three goals with Mitchell Whelan and Marshall Murray kicking four and two between them to help the team kick a winning score.

“The emphasis was on getting some bigger bodies and tall players in the team,” he said.

“It was also to be competitive against the sides we used to be belted by.”

Raven said the challenge over the next few weeks would be to see how the team goes against teams who finished higher on the ladder last year.

“Finals would be a long way off all our expectations,” he said.

“Competitiveness is the first key but after Sunday it is quite possible there are some more wins across the corner.

“You have to think positively now.”

Raven said it was also important to play well this year if it is the final year of the club before its potential amalgamation with Royal Park.

“We want to go in there having a good year, a handful of good strong wins and taking momentum and not being a club that is going through the motions getting kicked around by the rest of the teams, like we have, and hope that everyone stays on board,” he said.

“Both club want to have decent seasons, be strong seasons, retain as many of their list as possible and move forward if it happens.”

Maryborough Rovers take on Natte Bealiba at Princes Park this Saturday in their next match.