Maryborough secures new president Scott Quinlan who reveals plans for future

With a new president leading the way, one of country footy’s great battlers is ready to take big steps forward in 2024. Here’s how they plan to do it.

New Maryborough president Scott Quinlan has vowed the club will not only survive but thrive under his tenure as it enters a crucial year in the Bendigo league.

Quinlan has taken over at the Magpies from Kelvin Noonan who had been in the role for the past few years.

The new president comes into the role with the senior side on one of its worst runs in their history.

Since the Covid pandemic in 2020 the team has won one of their past 48 matches, including 46 losses in a row.

Quinlan said while the record isn’t great and needs to be solved, the club is doing well in other areas.

Scott Quinlan is the new president at Maryborough. Picture: Maryborough Football Netball Club.

“Internally, we’re financially in the best spot we’ve been in 10 years at the end of a home and away season,” he said.

“Everyone can have a judgement from outside but from within our four walls looking out it is reassuring knowing you are in the best spot financially the club has been for a long time.

“It’s not great seeing a duck egg for the wins but you’ve got to put that in the rear vision mirror and focus on the positives.”

Quinlan said last year wasn’t all bad but big lessons were learned.

“Looking back on last year there were three games the boys were leading at three-quarter-time and they were leading Strathfieldsaye at half-time,” he said.

“(Our downfall was) probably a bit of fitness, a bit of x-factor in a lot of those games, and the 18s were playing two matches so fatigue may have set in.

“But there were some encouraging signs.”

The focus now is on building on what the team has and improving.

“At the minute, the prime objective is getting five to six quality senior lads on board,” he said.

“If we can do that, and I’m confident we can, it would certainly make a good headway for the boys to win five or six home and away games this year.

“That’s what we want to achieve.”

Maryborough lining up last year before a match in the Bendigo league. It’s been a tough few years for the senior side. Picture: Maryborough Football Netball Club.

If there’s anyone who can turn the fortunes of Maryborough around as president, Quinlan is the person.

For the past few years he’s helped turn the juniors into one of the positives at the club.

“The last couple of years has been good from a junior perspective, we’ve got a lot of numbers,” Quinlan said.

“When I got to the club there was under-10s and under-12s and that’s all there was, no under-18s and no reserves.

“In my time we’ve been fortunate enough to lock away 30-40 new faces from the junior program.

“All of our junior teams are full now.”

Now the focus is on making the whole club successful but Quinlan concedes it’s tough with so many clubs around the town.

There are four clubs, including the Magpies, located within five kilometres.

It was five until Maryborough Rovers and the Royal Park Tigers merged to become the Maryborough Giants next year.

Quinlan revealed at one stage the Maryborough Rovers was looking to merge with Maryborough and a vote was held.

But Maryborough back then wanted to remain as one entity.

“Kelvin and the board had those discussions and a vote was put to the member and supporters the year after Covid,” he revealed.

“The discussion was had then would the two Magpies merge and call it one and the board put it to the members and it was a unanimous no.

“I was one to vote on that and voted no.”

And now Quinlan wants to keep it as one entity.

“I just want to cement the junior pathway for football and netball to ensure we have got overwhelming numbers there,” he said.

“Without those kids there is no future.

“I also want spread a positive message, the club is there and it won’t be going anywhere under my reign.”

Recruiting announcements are expected to be announced soon.