With a four way logjam in the race for fifth place on the ladder and a finals place up for grabs the Western Magpies face the first of three crucial season-defining matches when they travel south to play long time rivals Palm Beach-Currumbin.
The Pies played their best football of the year against Sandgate last week with more precise delivery and better ball handling skills and they will need to continue this against the second placed PBC. The Pies have a good record at Salk Oval on the coast in recent seasons and will be keen to show their poor effort at home against the Lions earlier in the year was an aberration.
Jordan Bain led the charge with 11 goals and this has resulted in him getting a recall to Redlands NEAFL team along with ruckrover Ben Landry. Bain was this week’s Syd Guilford Trophy nominee and his loss leaves a big hole in the forward line as he has been averaging 3 goals per game prior to the Sandgate match.
The Pies also lose defender Doug Lawrence, on a trip to South Africa, Aaron Yusia-Maricic, called up for the Lions in NEAFL and Jack Fox, dropped after missing training during the week.
In comes small forwards Matt Thompson and Matt Sondergeld (Redlands listed), midfielders Tom Ielasi and Bryce Crossley and defender Gabe McKinnon, all after good Reserves form.
Fullback Hayden Thick has the job on the league’s leading goalkicker Bryce Perry-Bolt and despite last match when Perry-Bolt got some easy goals , Thick has usually held the key forward in previous contests.
The Pies were belted on the rebound the last time these sides met and this is unlikely to happen again as the Pies have tightened their game plan since then.
Richard Wenham and Ben Jaenke-Cain have been good in recent weeks in midfield and up forward Matt Garland has played the hit-up role well and Matt Davis slots into full forward and they will need to fire to give the Pies a chance.
Chris Hunt, Sean Mewing, Luke Mitchell and Peter Kilroy have been solid in defence and will need to be on their game against the Lions. A win in this match goes a long way to securing fifth place on the ladder for the Pies.
The Magpies then face the equivalent of 8 point matches when they host fellow fifth place aspirants Mt Gravatt and Surfers Paradise at home in coming weeks in front of two reunion crowds.
Last Modified on 06/07/2014 00:21