Sport
25 June, 2026
Pies’ winning streak
The Magpies got home by nine points against Donald, withstanding a final quarter surge from the Royal Blues, who came from 23 points down at the last change.
BOORT has got through its stretch of three winnable games with a hat-trick of victories, but without the percentage boost that the club hoped for when it comes to making the finals.
The Magpies got home by nine points against Donald, withstanding a final quarter surge from the Royal Blues, who came from 23 points down at the last change.
Boort led the contest all afternoon, but never by a margin that left the home team feeling comfortable.
The last quarter rattled Magpie nerves, with the visitors booting 4.3 to 2.1, but all coach Andrew Rutley was interested in was the four points that keeps his side in the race for the top four.
Big ruckman Connor Dalgleish returned for Boort after a long lay-off, releasing James Byrne to a more familiar key position role, and he responded with a best-afield performance.
Carlos Egan continued his great midfield form for the Magpies, with the Rutley brothers, Tyson and Kayne, also prominent.
Donald is still in the mix for a run for the finals, as unlikely as that may be, but whatever happens it has been the league’s great improver in 2026 after a winless season last year, and before Saturday’s match was ahead of Boort on the ladder.
The Royals had only four goal scorers for the match, but Lachlan Bourke kicked five, Blake Grant four and Ashley Reed three. Bill Sam was again excellent for Donald, along with Thomas Guljas and Grant. Boort, in contrast to Donald, had nine players hitting the scoreboard, with none kicking more than two.
The Magpies have now beaten St Arnaud, Charlton and Donald in succession after five defeats to start the season and now sit just half a game behind Birchip Watchem in the race for fourth.
Of greater concern is that the Saints are ahead of them by almost 20 per cent, and Donald - although a game behind Boort - also has a superior percentage.
Boort was unlucky to come up against the Navy Blues when they had Brownlow Medal winner Dane Swan, another former AFL player in James Magner and an ex-Bendigo league best and fairest Adam Baird in their ranks.
Their presence turned the league’s easy beats into a competitive force that lost only by 20 points and cost the Magpies a precious percentage boost.
The Magpies face the top four sides in the next four rounds, with their season on the line beginning with next week’s clash with second-placed Sea Lake Nandaly.
Donald will be at home against St Arnaud, with a win assuring the Royals of jumping ahead of the Saints on the ladder.
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