Sport
24 April, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Football Round 3 Preview — Avoca v Maldon
Avoca will return to the kennel looking to bounce back, but they face a stern test against a composed and efficient Maldon outfit in what shapes as a fascinating clash.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 37-point loss to the Maryborough Giants, but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story.
After being completely overrun in the first half and trailing by 66 points at the main break, Avoca showed tremendous character to fight the game out strongly.
They dominated the second half, piling on eight goals to three, with Nathan Coghlan leading the charge in a standout six-goal performance.
That second-half response will give the Bulldogs confidence. If they can bring that same intensity and apply it from the opening bounce, they are capable of making this a genuine contest.
Alex Riches continues to lead from the front, while support from Keenan McLinden and Campbell Blair will again be crucial.
Maldon, on the other hand, come into the clash with momentum after a controlled 16-point win over Lexton.
The Bombers were the more polished side for most of the afternoon, setting the game up with a dominant first half built on clean ball movement and strong decision-making.
Ash Woodman was the standout, finishing with five goals and proving a constant threat inside forward 50.
With support from Darcy Kelly and Ash Humphrey, Maldon showed they have multiple avenues to goal and the ability to maintain scoreboard pressure.