Football colours split Ronald family with growing Bakers Creek and Moranbah rivalry

It is not uncommon for family members to support different sporting teams, but that rivalry goes a step further in the Ronald household.

When the football season rolls around again in 2022, one family’s dinner table discussion will be as hostile as it comes.

The Ronald family was team Bakers Creek through and through, until Daneal moved west for work at Moranbah State School.

Now plying her trade for the Bulldogs in Mackay’s AFL competition, Daneal regularly battles it out with her sisters, Zali and Macey, who play for the Tigers.

Jeanne (left), Macey, Daneal, Zali and David Ronald at Bakers Creek home ground, Etwell Park. Daneal plays for Moranbah Bulldogs, while Macey and Zali play for the Tigers. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Football enthusiast and mum Jeanne Ronald said it was tough to watch her daughter pull on the red, blue and white jerseys.

“We’ve been a footy family since Zali started at primary school in year six. She started out at Sarina Demons and progressed through to Bakers Creek for the senior competition,” she said.

“Thanks to Daneal, I’ve got a soft spot for Moranbah now, but we’re a Bakers Creek family, so it’s hard barracking for her when she plays the Tigers.”

Macey and Zali were both members of the undefeated Tigers team in 2021, that also won the premiership in the senior women’s competition.

Macey (left), Daneal and Zali Ronald play in the Mackay AFL competition. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Daneal said she enjoyed the sibling rivalry out on the field.

“I usually play forward, but I try to play as a back when we play the Tigers because they’re playing forward, and we’ve matched up on each other once or twice before,” she said.

“There’s usually a lot of smack talk, and every time one of us gets the ball there’s usually one of the siblings right there, ready to lay a massive tackle.”

Daneal (foreground), Jeanne (from left), Macey, Zali and David Ronald at Bakers Creek home ground, Etwell Park. Daneal plays for Moranbah Bulldogs, while Macey and Zali play for the Tigers. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Macey said the Tigers circled the Moranbah clashes out on the calendar, such is the extent of the growing rivalry.

“Daneal has trained with us a little bit when she’s in town, and played a couple of scratch matches, so she knows all the girls,” she said.

“There’s plenty of banter on the field between all of the Tigers and her now, she’ll always cop a bit of stick every time we play against each other.”

Originally published as Football colours split Ronald family with growing Bakers Creek and Moranbah rivalry