Sport
24 April, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Netball Round 3 Preview — Avoca vs Maldon
After their encouraging defeat to Lexton, the rebuilding Maldon Bombers travel to the premiership kennel to take on the vaunted Avoca Bulldogs.
For a team attempting to take themselves off the bottom of the MCDFNL A grade ladder, the Bombers’ persistent performance against the finals hopeful Tigers shows this team can be competitive against the league’s elite.
Their contention wasn’t just displayed in small bursts either, keeping pace with Lexton throughout the third quarter.
Sophie Zammit provided an offensive boost in her season debut, while under 18 netballer Eva Gross was another bright spot as part of a defensive unit alongside Claire Hamilton.
While it could be considered wishful thinking to expect the Bombers to be just as competitive against the three-peat champions, noticeable improvement from last season’s 75-goal loss to the Bulldogs would be another encouraging step.
Avoca has begun its quest for a four-peat in dominant fashion, complementing its 43-goal victory against Newstead with a 50-goal demolition of the Maryborough Giants.
Despite only playing two games together, former Carisbrook and Maryborough Magpies standout Ella Patten and premiership player Caitlin Drummond have quickly become a defensive juggernaut together, allowing just 50 goals in two hours of netball.
On the other side of the floor, 2025 MCDFNL Team of the Year shooter and coach Maddy Egan has taken an early lead in the goal-scoring charts, netting 108 goals in the opening two games at a shooting percentage of 87.8 percent.