Sport
26 April, 2026
PROTECTION SQUAD
INJURY-CURSED Boort has been dealt another blow as the PIes battle a player shortage in their 2026 North Central football campaign.
INJURY-CURSED Boort has been dealt another blow as the PIes battle a player shortage in their 2026 North Central football campaign.
Rising stars in the under 17 ranks selected in the senior side will not play junior football the same day.
Parents agreement after four players lined up for the main game in round one after earlier playing four quarters in a one-point win over Donald juniors.
Last Saturday against Sea Lake Nandaly, the new arrangement meant talented juniors including Cooper Gooding and Brodie McPherson doubled up to play in the reserves.
Both were named in Boort’s best players in the reserves.
The move will help to shore up the traditionally competitive under 17 Magpies team but will impact a senior outfit struggling to field a full side. “Some of the parents are worried that we’re taking their best players,” senior coach Andrew Rutley said.
“That’s making it hard on senior selection, which is compromised a little bit.”
The parents were not concerned about young bodies not being ready for senior football, Rutley said, but wanted to see the Under 17 squad protected.
“They’re worrying about the 17s results and kids having fun with their mates more than coming up and playing seniors when we think they are ready,” he said.
Asked if he was frustrated with the selection quandary, Rutley said, “It certainly makes it hard, put it that way.
“It’s something we’re trying to work through.
“We don’t want to lose any kids out of the 17s, if that was to happen, because then we would have to drag more kids up from the Under 14s.
“The numbers are really hurting us across the board.”
Rutley is sweating on the fitness of ruckman Connor Dalgleish, who left the field early in the clash against Sea Lake Nandaly with back spasms and was rushed to hospital on Sunday after a recurrence.
Boort may be forced into the transfer market if Dalgleish is a long-term absence given the importance of big men in the league.
“It’s nice to have a big guy who can do the majority of the work, you find in North Central that the bigger ruckmen tend to dictate the games,” Rutley said.
Boort went down in all four football matches on Saturday.
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