Sport
5 May, 2026
MCDFNL Round Four Football Review
Round four in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League saw Lexton win their first match of the season. In other results, Navarre thrashed Maldon, while Natte Bealiba and Avoca both suffered losses.
Tigers survive scare to claim first win
After showing significant improvement in recent weeks, Lexton has secured its first win of the season in round four of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League, defeating Campbells Creek by 13 points in a thriller at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers stormed out of the gates, kicking six goals to three to lead by 19 points at quarter-time before the Magpies responded in the second term, kicking five goals to take an eight-point lead into the main break.
Lexton lifted after half-time to regain control and lead by seven points at three-quarter time before a tight final quarter saw the Tigers run out 14.12 (96) to 13.5 (83) winners.
Jaxon Thomas kicked three goals for the Tigers, while Aiden Broughton, Brandon Green, Pat Parr and Keltyn Rinaldi each kicked two.
Jaykeb Lench was best-on-ground after starting in the ruck and moving to defence. Luke Madden, Thomas McGregor, Eric Wilkinson, Aiden Broughton and Josh Carey were also among the Tigers’ best.
Lexton coach Paul Borchers said he gave a stern message to his players at half-time.
“Ultimately, after that first quarter, we got ahead of ourselves, and showed a lack of respect and went away from key features of our game plan,” he said.
“It was a really frustrating second quarter, and it’s the worst by far ever since I have been part of the group.
“I told the boys they needed to tighten the game up and get our contested game going, and they responded.”
“At the end of the day, I was quite frustrated, but at the same time proud that we had the fight in us,” he said.
“Our captain, Jaykeb Lench, told the boys that we shouldn’t be happy with that performance, and I am glad that assessment was player-driven, as we are all in this together.
Borchers praised Lench for his performance.
“He started in the ruck, and Ben Sutherland got on top of us, kicking three goals, so we moved him there, and he nullified him from having an impact while taking 10 intercept marks," he said.
Lexton now turns its attention to Talbot, who are fresh off the bye. Borchers knows it won't be easy.
“The way I like to coach and aim high, I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
“Taking on the strong teams shows us where we are at. It will be a good challenge."
“It’s good to have a win, and we got to sing the song, and to tick that box, and feel the reward for their effort now, but we need to stay switched on and go into this game head on.”
Grasshoppers secure big home win
A 15-goal first half powered Navarre to a 113-point win over Maldon at Navarre Recreation Reserve.
The Grasshoppers set the tone early, kicking five goals to one before adding 10 in the second to take a 76-point lead into half-time.
They continued their dominance in the third, holding Maldon to one point to extend the margin to 100 at the final break before running out 22.15 (147) to 5.4 (34) winners.
Riley Bibby starred with eight goals, while Jack Mentha and Sam Rickard added four and three, respectively.
Oliver Notting was best-on-ground, with Will Moloney, Bibby, Mentha, Darcy Claughton and Bradley Slorach also among Navarre’s best.
Navarre coach Kyle Hendy said the win reflected the way the group has been training.
“I think we are no longer assuming we can waltz into a match and have it our own way," he said.
"The boys worked out that a bit more hard work and working for each other, and trying to play the game style we are training for, is the way to go,” he said.
“It was good to see the ball use out of the backline, especially in the conditions, and we were sort of more composed coming out of there, moving it forward as we were able to hit targets through the middle of the ground.”
Hendy highlighted Bibby’s performance and Notting’s influence.
“Because we were missing Aaron Slorach, Riley went deeper forward, and he was able to get on the back end of a few,” he said.
“Oliver had his best game for the year. He wins the ball through the middle and hits it with pace.
“To be able to do it in those conditions and win the ball on his own merit and use it well was excellent.”
Navarre will now host Harcourt.
“It will be a good test to see where we are at and playing the best sides moving forward, win, lose or draw, will tell us what we need to improve on,” Hendy said.
“We have to keep doing what we do well, and that is stoppage work and the little things we need to polish on.
“We have enough height and pace in our backline to move the ball well, and we need to try and win the ball on our terms.”
Bulldogs go down to Lions
Harcourt has handed Avoca a 120-point loss at Harcourt Recreation Reserve.
Avoca failed to score a goal in the first quarter and managed just two in the second, as the Lions piled on 11 first-half goals to lead by 60 at half-time.
The Bulldogs showed more fight in the second half, but Harcourt remained in control, leading by 91 points at three-quarter time before running out 25.18 (168) to 7.6 (48) winners.
Byron Wynd was the Bulldogs’ best with two goals, while Jordan Thomas, Brodie Quinlan, Bryce Howell, Darcy Coghlan and Nathan Holland were also among the Bulldogs’ better players.
Bulldogs coach Matt Newton said there were positives despite the result.
“We struggled last year against Harcourt, and early on the pressure was up, but they were too good at getting out of the stoppages and moving it forward, and our younger players couldn’t combat that,” he said.
“In the first half, our backline was second to the footy, and we made adjustments at half-time, and we came out with some intent early on.
“I spoke about trying not to let the floodgates open, and we were running hard, and that was the most positive, but we need to be able to run hard from the get-go.”
Newton praised Wynd for his role.
“We had him run with Cameron Anderson, who is one of the premier midfielders in the competition, and Byron was able to nullify him around stoppages,” he said.
“He also hit the scoreboard a couple of times, and he was unlucky not to have three goals.
“Jordan Thomas also battled hard in the midfield."
Avoca now prepares to host Campbells Creek.
“They are improving, and they have a core group that I rate highly,” he said.
“They play good, physical football and are progressing along nicely, so it will be a tough match.
“We have to have our wits about us and not give any kind of start, and we need to capitalise on our chances early and put that pressure on the scoreboard.”
Nathan Coghlan will miss again through injury.
“Angus Voutier is a big guy that can play both ends, and he came in on Saturday and played well down back,” he said.
“We scored more from our midfielders and younger guys, so not having a key forward isn’t the end of the world.
“Our style is that we want to move the ball and be fast, so we have plenty of options to hit the scoreboard.”
Swans fight late in loss to Saints
Trentham was too strong for Natte Bealiba, winning by 67 points at Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve.
The Swans managed three behinds in the first quarter to trail by 38 points at quarter-time.
They responded in the second to reduce the margin to 33 at half-time, but Trentham made the most of the conditions in the third before running out 15.21 (111) to 6.8 (44) winners.
Nathan Holt and Ryan Semmel both kicked two for the Swans, while Daniel Vadala, Jaxson Stewart, Kurt Mortlock, Joshua Grant, Anderson Pithie and Jordan Fraser were among their better players.
Natte Bealiba coach Denis Grinton said turnovers proved costly.
“We didn’t utilise the conditions when we had them to our advantage, and the turnovers killed us as we had them in bad areas of the ground,” he said.
“Trentham was cleaner below the knees and handled the conditions much better. We also missed a couple of early shots, which would have given us momentum.”
Grinton said the side needs to concentrate more.
“We need to concentrate when we have the ball in hand, and we need to make sure we hit targets," he said.
“The improvement needs to be player-driven, and they need pride in what they are doing, and I don’t believe we have enough pride."
Despite the loss, Grinton highlighted centre clearance work as a positive.
“That was definitely a positive as it was even all across the ground,” he said.
“We worked on that during the week as Carisbrook smashed us in that area, so to break even is a good positive."
Natte Bealiba now travels to Newstead.
“We still have to use the ball well, and if we can limit those turnovers and clean up our disposal, we will be in every game we play,” he said.
In other results, Newstead defeated Dunolly by 110 points, while Carisbrook defeated Maryborough by 68 points.
Read More: Lexton, Navarre, Natte Yalock, Avoca