The Tradelink Western Magpies refreshed from the mid-season break will venture down the to the Gold Coast to take on the Broadbeach Cats at Merrimac Oval this Saturday at 2pm as the quest for respect under Jarrod Thorpe continues. It will be less than a month this Saturday when the two teams last met at Chelmer which saw the Cats defeat the Magpies by 92 points just four days after the resignation of Paul Grentell.
The Cats will be weary as since the appointment of Jarrod Thorpe the following week the Magpies have been a much better performed side pushing the Lions and competing with Morningside for 3 quarters in Toowoomba. The key difference being that the Magpies under Thorpes game plan and structures are now capable of kicking a winning score.
Korey Fulton kicked 5 goals in that match and Thorpe will need to come up with an option to keep him to less than that if the Magpies can cause an upset and put a serious dent in the Cats finals aspirations as they currently sit 1 game out of the top five. The Magpies were able to nullify Dayne Zorko and Matt Fife in R7 but Taylor Rolfe, Ryan Pantic and Nathan Quick stepped up to do the damage so the Magpies midfield will have to be on the ball to beat their opponents and win the footy.
The big positive for the Magpies coming out of Morningside at Toowoomba was the performances of both Captains Mark Dowley and Chris Mihalopoulos who both missed 2009 with knee injuries. Dowley the Magpies most experienced QAFL player after 18 months off in only his 4th game back showed more talent than rust for the first time and Mihalopoulos played his best game for the season.
The Magpies will be boosted by the return of Greg Friis who has been out for 4 matches with an ankle injury and Todd Dunn who was unavailable for Morningside which will enhance the Magpies defensive options. Debutants Callum Carseldine and Tim Colburn have both retained their spots after making a contribution in their first QAFL outings while the talented Scott Clarke will also return to Senior ranks.
Gerard Moore will again be a key factor for the Magpies as he will have a point to prove to State U/21 selectors who overlooked the big man last week. He dominated the air against the Cats in R7 but the Magpies midfield and forwards need to convert his hit outs to advantage to centre clearances and inside 50 marks if they are to register their first QAFL Premiership Points.
The Tradelink Western Magpies Reserves have had an up and down month with a big win over the winless and last placed Broadbeach followed by a heart breaking 4pt loss to undefeated ladder leaders Southport and then a let down by 28 points to Morningside. All this has left them in the middle of a log jam on the ladder in 4th place that has 3rd through to 6th all on 5 wins and 4 losses so this week the Magpies must win and take some % as well.
The Westside Asphalt Western U/18 Magpies are sitting pretty on top of the ladder after a very good 32 point win over Morningside in the 2009 GF replay at Coorparoo last week. Top position is a little deceiving as the young Magpies have played one more game than their closest rival Labrador. The young Magpies will host 6th placed Redland at Chelmer at 2pm on Sunday and must not be complacent with their superior ladder position and put in a solid performance to consolidate top spot.
Des Lashmans boys trained with the Seniors this week which was a great step up in training intensity and should transfer well into match day on Sunday.
Lachlan Woods-Honor will play his second game for the Brisbane Lions against Southport at Coorparoo at 2pm on Saturday and he will be joined by Tony Flynn who will make his QAFL debut against the top of the table Sharks.
Good luck boys!
Brett “Noodles” McEvoy who has multiple roles as Assistant Development Coach, Senior Runner and Reserves Top Up has been sent back to AFL Mackay to play on permit for his former club Moranbah. This is believed to be a desperate attempt to regain some form and confidence to avoid losing his 3rd back up emergency status to Magpies UDM Anthony McDonald.
Go Magpies!
Last Modified on 18/06/2010 11:38
