Sport
10 April, 2026
Forward misses start
NEWBRIDGE will go into Saturday’s opening round clash against Bridgewater without key forward Billy Schilling.
NEWBRIDGE will go into Saturday’s opening round clash against Bridgewater without key forward Billy Schilling.
The Maroons’ top scorer last season with 41 goals, Schilling will be in Brisbane for a HYROX contest, part of an international fitness competition.
Coach Jayden Cordy said Schilling was ranked in the top five in Australia in the event and would also miss a game in the middle of the year to compete in Singapore.
Newbridge will have boom Bendigo league recruit Jon Coe on the field, and he will be vitally important as a key defender against the Mean Machine’s powerful attack led by coach Lachie Sharp.
Cordy said the Maroons’ clear aim this season was to improve, pointing to a pair of losses by more than 100 points against Bridgewater in 2025, when the team finished second last.
“They will be the benchmark potentially this year, and we just want to stay competitive in games,” he said.
Bridgewater will hand a debut to Mitch Patten, a highly credentialled key forward recruited to take some of the scoring pressure off playing-coach Sharp.
Along with Oscar McKinley, he will offer a three-pronged attacking force, but Sharp insisted the Mean Machine’s defence remained the team’s strongest asset.
Sharp said he expected general improvement around the league this season, while noting Newbridge had recruited very well.
“They will be competitive and they will improve throughout the year if they put their best foot forward.”
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