Sport
3 July, 2026
MCDFNL Round 12 Football Preview Maryborough Giants v Talbot
One of the games of the round takes place at Hedges Oval on Saturday when the improving Maryborough Giants host premiership contender Talbot.
The Giants have become one of the competition’s in-form teams over the past month, making it four wins from their past five matches with an impressive 43-point victory over Campbells Creek.
Despite being reduced to 17 players for part of the match following a yellow card, the Giants showed tremendous character to withstand a second-quarter fightback before kicking away after half time.
Rhys Egan was outstanding with four goals, while Matthew Walker kicked three. Rhys Wagstaff, Michael Sjaardema, Cobie Read, Zayne Earl and Cody Wright were all influential as the Giants again demonstrated their growing confidence and depth across the ground.
Talbot also enters the contest in excellent form after recording a hard-fought 17-point victory over fellow finals contender Newstead.
Dylan Tarczon continued his outstanding season, while Kirk Lang, Joshua Szabo, Tommy Alkemade, Charles Aitken and Zac Cicchini were all among the Hawks’ best.
Jarrod Stephens and Dean Galea remain one of the league’s most dangerous forward combinations and will test the Giants’ defence throughout the afternoon.
The midfield battle promises to be one of the highlights of the contest. Scott Miller, Wright and Jonathon Short have been central to the Giants’ recent resurgence, while Talbot boasts an outstanding on-ball brigade led by Tarczon, Victor Micallef and Aaron Collicoat.