BY NATHAN DOLE
HELPING a mate when they needed it most was to the fore as Maryborough Football Netball Club fought through a difficult run in this season’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action.
Injuries and player shortages meant the Magpies eventually had to forfeit reserves footy, and did not field an A-grade netball team.
Maryborough did play on across all other grades of footy and netball in the 2024 campaign.
At times the Pies relied on support of opposition clubs to top-up teams.
The club’s future was under a cloud as the season rolled on.
Maryborough vice-president Daryl Groves took to the podium at the Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal vote count and awards night for the Bendigo FNL.
“To say this has been a challenging year would be an understatement for our club,” Groves said.
“The support of the BFNL board has been instrumental in us being able to get to the end of the season; they were very quick, concise and emphatic in their support of our club early in the season and have followed through.
“Equally, we’d like to thank all the clubs that are in the room tonight. To the presidents, your committees, your coaches, players and supporters, thankyou very much.”
Groves said the support of the board and clubs was crucial in the Magpies playing each round.
“It was critical for us to be able to do that. It has allowed us the opportunity to draw breath, collect our resources and forge ahead and that’s certainly our intent.
“We are very blessed to be part of this BFNL community because without your collective support we would not be here right now.”
Groves said the goal was to compete with Bendigo FNL opponents in equal terms in the future.
The Magpies have a proud history in the Bendigo Football Netball League.
The club’s glory days included back-to-back senior footy premierships in 1998 and ’99.
Teams coached by Neville Massina were stacked with some of the league’s best.
A formidable Maryborough line-up included Jamie Bond at centre half-forward, Matt Aston on a wing, on-baller Brendan Tranter, and key defender Geoff Macilwain.
Bond and Aston were Michelsen medallists as league fairest and best in 1996 and 2002 respectively.
Tranter is the only player to earn the Nalder Medal as best afield in consecutive grand finals.
Gun forward Shane McCluskey kicked 100 goals in the ’94 season.
The league’s ‘200 Club’ includes Cameron Skinner who holds Maryborough’s club record of 400-plus matches, as well as Glenn Chadwick, Matt Aston and Jamie Bond.
On the netball court the Magpies’ greats include Carol Sing who was also part of the BFNL netball executive in Maryborough’s early years in the Bendigo FNL.
The netball ace was dual winner of the league’s A-grade fairest and best award, now known as the Betty Thompson Medal, in 1992 and ’96.
Sing’s impact on the game was recognised by the league’s 17-and-under award now named the Carol Sing Medal.
Others from the Magpies to have earned the Thompson Medal are Kate Jennings, Alicia Cassidy, Cindy Cossar, Krystal Doherty, and Alisha Chadwick.
There was incredible commitment by Alicia Cassidy, Alisha Chadwick, Laura Hurse (Clarkson), Jordan Macilwain and Carol Sing who all racked up more than 200 games of netball for the Magpies.
In ’25 and beyond they and Magpies’ fans will be keen to see more players represent Maryborough on the footy ovals and netball courts and ensure the club’s proud history is not forgotten.