In Round 7 of the QAFL Velocity Sports Cup the Tradelink Western Magpies will make the the trip to Alice Springs to take on the Northern Territory Thunder in what has been a much anticipated first home game for the Thunder in the Alice. Reports coming out of the Territory indicate that the local community is absolutely pumped to host its first Thunder QAFL home game in Alice Springs and there have been predictions of a crowd of between 4 and 5 thousand to witness the historic match.
From a football point of view the Magpies see this as a great opportunity and privilage to be involved in such a match and to promote the Tradelink Western Magpies brand in the highest order and 4 Premiership points is a major part of that. No doubt it is another tough task for the Magpies in what has been and will continue to be a testing month starting with Spouthport away including Morningside, the NT this week and finishing with the Lions at home next week. The Magpies to win will need to overcome a 3 hour and 20 minute flight to Alice Springs on the morning of the game, a NT Thunder side that is clearly a much better team in the Territory, a large and vocal home crowd to get the points.
Coach Paul Grentell and his players see this match as a huge opportunity to steel a victory and kick start the Magpies season. There is no doubt that the Thunder boys are feeling fatigued after 3 away games in a row travelling down to Queensland and even though they are playing a home game will have no respite this week as they still are required to make the journey from Darwin to Alice Springs. That combined with the buzz of playing in such a big game in front of a big crowd and the comradery of getting away as a team could just be the situation that the Magpies can throw everything at the Thunder with nothing to lose and get the result.
On a rare occasion the Magpies may just have a hight advantage although they will need to be wary of the Thunders well documented pace and skill. State U/21 squad member Ben Heffernan-Roper continues his great form and will be a key player while the Iceman Richard Wenham continues to improve with each outing, Ed McDonnell returns after a week out follwoing consecutive concussions and Matt Skubis will gain great confidence after his dogged performance against Jacob Gough last week.
The Tradelink Western Magpies will once again be wearing their clash strip this week.
The team line up is attached below.
Swoop 09
Last Modified on 22/05/2009 09:46
