Sport
31 July, 2026
11 goals turn the tide
MACORNA was within 14 points of Marong mid-way through the third quarter and the momentum seemed almost irresistible.
MACORNA was within 14 points of Marong mid-way through the third quarter and the momentum seemed almost irresistible.
Then the Panthers flicked a switch and the side booted 11 of the next 12 goals in the match to race away with a 79-point win.
At three-quarter time Macorna coach Fergus Payne exhorted his team to fight it out, almost as an after-thought telling them that he was confident they could still win despite trailing by 24 points.
But in that final term the hamstrung Payne, missing his third game in a row, could only watch on as Marong piled on the goals.
With Maiden Gully being beaten up a little further down the highway, a win for the Tigers would have guaranteed them finals football in their first season in the Loddon Valley league.
Seven goals to one from Marong in the first quarter looked to have put paid to that ambition, and although Macorna kept pace with the Panthers in the second term, the Tigers’ brief but sparkling revival after half-time couldn’t have been predicted.
Four goals in a row to their opponents suddenly had the Panthers looking shaky but Marong, with Cooper Hale marking everything at half-forward and Jimmy Gadsden playing his usual role buzzing around the ball, turned the match on its head again.
Hale finished with seven goals, and he is now fourth in the goalkicking ranks as he showed that he is the long-term replacement for retired four-time flag hero Kain Robins.
Ray McNamara, in only his sixth senior game, was a perfect foil for Hale in attack with three goals.
Giant ruckman Matthew Colak and young midfielder Sam Whinfield have been the Tigers’ most consistent players this season, and they were again standouts against Marong.
This week is pivotal in deciding fifth place on the ladder, which Macorna holds by a game and almost 10 per cent ahead of Maiden Gully.
Macorna is heavily favoured against Calivil.