This Saturday The Tradelink Western Magpies will face another challenge on three fronts when they take on the Redland Bombers at Victoria Point 2pm. The Magpies not only have to bounce back from a bitterly disappointing loss against Aspley but will field a very young team courtesy of injuries to key experienced personnel and take on an opposition inspired by a come from behind win over NT Thunder in Darwin last week.
This will be close to youngest team the Magpies have put out on the park over the last 18 months including 7 players that competed in the U/18 State Championships in March, five of whom are from the supplementary list. A further 4 players in the team competed in the 2009 U/18 State Championships and another 2 in 2008.
Injury has once again taken its toll at Chelmer with all of the Magpies tall forwards from last weeks match missing due to injury. The Magpies best performed forward Luke Scott has a minor fracture just above his left ankle which will see him spend the next 5 weeks in a moon boot and his 2010 season more than likely over. David Hamill has a hamstring problem that will see him miss at least two weeks which will allow him to focus on his Mr Magpie 2010 duties of achieving World Piece and Jason Evans has infected blisters keeping him out of the team. Richard Wenham, Todd Dunn and Alex Kitching are 3 other Magpies who have missed the last few games due to injury.
The talk coming out of Victoria Point is that the Bombers have turned their season around following a come from behind win against the NT Thunder in Darwin to win by 10 points. Former Brisbane Lion Scott Clouston took 22 marks and kicked 5 goals last week which will provide a headache for Jarrod Thorpe who could consider throwing one of his tall defenders forward to cover his losses.
All rolled into one this match is a huge challenge for the young Magpies but a challenge that no doubt will be taken head on. James Rozynski the Magpies most consistent performer over the last month will be leading from the front and will be boosted by his Country Queensland selection this week. Mark Dowley, Chris Mihalopoulos, Ed McDonnell, Tim Mcevoy, Val Pope and Greg Lavey will have to join Rozynski and provide a collective of leadership for their young team mates. Gerard Moore, Drew Mitchell, Chris Hunt, Billy Moorhead and Conrad Lavey will all have to show experience beyond their years if the Magpies are to Challenge the Bombers.
Congratulations to Tony Flynn who will make his QAFL debut for the club after playing two QAFL games recently as a top up player for the Brisbane Lions who gave very positive feedback on the youngster. Flynn has also been the best performer for the top of table U/18 Team all year and is probably the favorite for the U/18 B+F to this point of the season.
Congratulations also to Jesse Hampel who will make his QAFL debut with the Brisbane Lions as a top up player against Broadbeach at Coorparoo at 2pm.
The Tradelink Western Magpies Reserves are entering a the groundhog day section of their draw as they will face the Redland Bombers two weeks in a row at Victoria Point. The Magpies draw anomalies due to NT Thunder and the Brisbane Lions not having Reserves in the QAFL sees the Magpies play competition leader 4 times and 7th place Redland 4 times this season. The Magpies have not beaten Southport which makes the next two weeks against Redland vital to their finals chances.
The Magpies beat Redland by 40 points in Round 3 and 93 points in Round 5 so they will need to continue that trend and secure 8 Premiership points and ample percentage over the next two weeks to offset having lost to Southport on 3 occasions with 1 to play at Frankhouser in Round 16. Pete McClennan’s chargers will not have it all their own way as they are also impacted by the long injury list at Chelmer.
The “three oldmigos” Reid Dobson, Brett McEvoy and Peter Kilroy are all in outstanding form and will provide the drive for the Magpies while Kale Reed was in sensational form last week and Matt Thompson will need to produce one of his best with Jack Parkes promoted. Thompson has a record of kicking big bags against the Bombers and will be salivating at the prospect of producing two weeks in a row.
The Westside Asphalt Western Magpies U/18’s are outright competition leaders 1 game clear of their nearest rivals Noosa and face the Toowoomba Crows at Rockville in Toowoomba on Sunday at 2pm. The young Magpies have 6 players playing on Saturday in the Seniors so this game stands as a true test with some of those backing up on Sunday. They did however account for the 11th placed Crows by 85 points back in Round 2 at Chelmer so they should be able to take the 4 points and consolidate top spot with only two rounds remaining.
Go Magpies!
Last Modified on 09/07/2010 11:11