BDCA 2023: Significant day for Marist, as emotions set to run high

There will be no shortage of emotion at Forrest Park on Saturday, when Marist host Hay Park in the penultimate home and away round of the BDCA season.

Aside from needing to win in a bid to play finals and celebrating the club’s 40th anniversary, it was revealed publicly this week that beloved Blues icon Glenn Dehring has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Blues are likely to take plenty of momentum from last Sunday’s T20 grand final win over Eaton, a performance in which Cory Fitt (5-6 off 2.5 overs), Cooper Clarke-Dehring and Shawn Gillies shone.

A big contingent of former Blues players will also be cheering them on from the outer, which is likely to make the afternoon even harder for the struggling Redbacks, who have not won a first grade contest in two months.

“Marist started out as a family-oriented club and it pretty much has gone that way ever since,” reunion co-organiser Gary Nicholas said ahead of the big day.

Eaton, five points ahead of the Blues in fourth, can ill-afford to drop Saturday’s away clash against Dalyellup and will be determined to get back to winning ways — knowing a loss could bring an unwanted final day of drama their way.

Donnybrook could also push for second spot, should they defeat Leschenault at home and Colts lose up the hill to Collie.