Sport
21 July, 2026
Lions win clips Pies’ wings before finals
BOORT’S season is all but over after the Magpies fell by 25 points to Calder United in a low-scoring encounter.
BOORT’S season is all but over after the Magpies fell by 25 points to Calder United in a low-scoring encounter.
One poor quarter was enough to put Boort’s finals prospects in desperate peril.
The Magpies led by eight points after the first term, but they gave up five goals in the second quarter and scored only one themselves to trail by 19 points at the main break.
Try as they might, they couldn’t bridge the gap and remain in second-last place on the ladder.
Boort had the wind in the first quarter but failed to take full advantage, whereas Calder used the ball better in the second term and established a winning lead.
It’s a testament to the more competitive nature of the North Central league this season that a team in seventh is still a mathematical chance of making the top four.
But it’s a stretch, with Boort two-and-a-half games behind Birchip Watchem in its bid to make the finals for a second successive season. Calder is likely to finish third after the home and away season, with the Lions 12 points behind Sea Lake Nandaly and six points ahead of the Bulls.
Key defender Oscar Madden was best for Calder as they chase back-to-back flags, with Dale Pearce and veteran Boe Bish also prominent. Pearce and fellow forward Steve Stroobants offered marking options in attack which Boort was unable to match. Carlos Egan continued his fine form for Boort, booting two goals, with captain Keiren Wilson and Liam Bianco next best.
Calder can put a dent in another team’s finals hopes when it hosts St Arnaud next week, with Boort having its future run its own hands when it travels to play Birchip Watchem.
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