The long awaited and anticipated return of the Western Magpies to the QAFL Velocity Sports Cup is over! Tomorrow the Tradelink Western Magpies will take on Redland in Round 1 in front of a vocal home crowd 2pm at Sherwood in what is a vital game for both clubs. Redland following a big off season recruiting are looking to put 4 seasons at the bottom of the ladder behind them with a first up win to sart a new era at the club. The Magpies are also looking to begin a new era as they return to the top level of football in Queensland and are keen to prove the knockers and doubters wrong who have questioned the clubs backing of the majority of players that have performed so strongly at Pineapple Cup level over the last three years resisting the temptation to go on a recruiting frenzy. There is no doubting that there is much more on the line than premiership points which will make for an outstanding contest regardless of the conditions in which it may be played.
Redland although on a high after its final pre-season match victory over the Vultures last week will go into the match with a setback given marquee recruit Geoff White is touted to miss the first two rounds with a calf injury. The Magpies were unable to notch up a win during the pre-season matches but were able to play a very tough and uncompramising brand of football with a touch of class at times and coach Paul Grentell will be looking for his team to produce a four quarter effort and get the points. A third quarter lapse against the Brisbane Lions last week was costly following a very competitive first half and much of the focus on the Magpies this week would have been consistency of performance across four quarters.
Magpie recruits Ed McDonnell, Matt Dillon and matt Stevens have all showed good form and the signs from Ed McDonnell last week were very encouraging with an outsanding performance against top quality opposition. The form of val Pope has also been very positive through the pre-season with Chris Judson, Chris Mihalopoulas and youngster Cam Thomas also in good form.
It will be a big day for the Tradelink Western Magpies at Sherwood for other reasons with the First Presidents Luncheon for the season with Richard Champion and Doug hawkins kicking off at 11.30am and promisses to be an entertaining warm up for the big game. Tickets will be available at the door for those who have not booked for $50. The Western Magpies will also kick off its MSI Talyor Mascott Program which will see Sherwood playing Kenmore in an U/10 match at half time with one of the lucky participants running out as the Magpies mascot. The other major event for the day will be the presentation of the 2008 Pineapple Cup Premiership Flag to the Western Magpies by AFL QLD CEO Richard Griffiths which will be unfurled and hoist high on the flag pole.
All is in place for a great day so get down and support the Tradelink Western Magpies as they SWOOP 09.
Magpies Senior Line Up is attached.
Last Modified on 03/04/2009 13:02
