The Tradelink Western Magpies will head North this weekend to Darwin where they will take on the NT Thunder 7pm at TIO Stadium for the first time in the Territories Capital. Although technically a home game for the Magpies it will be far from the familiar surounds of Chelmer with plenty of Magpies supporters in full voice. All the crowd support at the home of NT Football will be for the Thunder.
The Magpies will be looking for another strong performance of which the cornerstone has been their tackling and pressure as David Lake and Shane Morrison said last week that the Magpies hit the Vultures hard all day. The physicality of the Western Magpies will be bolstered by the inclusion of Ian Carroll who will be playing his final QAFL match for the Magpies as he has decided to retire from QAFL football after the match. A QAFL match at TIO Stadium in Darwin where he played plenty of football for Waratahs and represented the NTFL will be a fitting finale to a fine career.
Mark Dowley will make his long awaited return for the Western Magpies as the clubs most experienced QAFL player from knee and back injuries that have not seen him play seniors at the club since the 2008 Grand Final. Dowley did not set the world on fire in the Reserves against Mt Gravatt last week but got through the match well and his inclusion gives coach Paul Grentell an element of QAFL experience his team has sorely missed.
If the Magpies are to erase their last trip to NT that stands as one of their most embarasing losses since returning to the QAFL they will need to keep close check on the Illett brothers, Darren Ewining and former Magpie Shaun Tapp. They will also need to close down the Thunders flair and running game through Palipuaminni and Papungamirri which has always been at its best at TIO stadium.
The Magpies forward line will need to find more goals and need Greg Lavey to step up and join Val Pope as a multiple goal kicker and Luke Scott who is still in good form needs a return of multiple goals also. Gerard Moore and Dominic Beer are realy beginning to develop as a genuine QAFL ruck duo and could be the key against Kenrick Tyrell if they can give the Magpies midfield first use of the ball.
The midfield group of Wenham, Rozynski, Mihalipoulos, Judson and Jaenke-Cain will have to be hard and disciplined and maintain high work rates all game if they are going to stop and beat the Thunders slick midfield let by Jarrod Illett.
An area the Thunder have struggled this year is across half forward witout Peter McFarlaine and this could provide the Magpies with an advantage. Ed McDonnell who was assisted by the return of Tim McEvoy over the last two matches will be further bolstered by the return of Mark Dowley to assist young gun Cameron Mitchelhill who has been taking the scalps of big name forwards every week. Add to the mix the attacking nature developing into Billy Moorheads game and the return of Todd Dunn performing last week Nick Ielasi back from injury and the Magpies back 6 is strong with a blend of youth, experience and depth.
The Tradelink Western Magpies Reserves will take on the Redland Bombers at Chelmer on Saturday morning at 10.15am. The Magpies were brought back to earth last week after being blown away in the last quarter by Mt Gravatt although the first 3 quarters were very competitive. Last time against Redland the Magpies were off to a slow start but they ran all over the Bombers in the second half to record a strong win. The loss of Bryan Dragus and Daniel Hope to wrist and hand injuries will test the Magpies and they missed the direction of Todd Dunn last week. Magpies to win!
The Westside Asphalt Western Magpies U/18's are home at Chelmer on Sunday at 2pm to Tweed/Coolangatta in the Sports Ready U/18 Div 1 R6 clash. The Magpies are 4th on the ladder and Tweed/Coolangatta are bottom but the young Magpies will need to refocus after losing to second bottom Southport last week by 7 points.
Conrad Hudghton and Alex Dickfos will play for the Brisbane Lions Reserves against Redland on Saturday afternoon 3.20pm at the GABBA.
Congratulations to Alex Dickfos who will be making his QAFL debut.
Last Modified on 14/05/2010 11:47