This week will provide the Tradelink Western Magpies the last chance to notch up a Victory in front of its home crowd against Mt Gravatt on Saturday at 2pm. The Vultures gave the Magpies a thumping at Ditmar Park earlier in the year but the Magpies are a different team at home and have no better motivation than an oportunity to put a dent in their arch rivals finals aspirations in front of its loyal supporters.
Paul Grentell is has built this week up as a Grand Final for his players which has been built around the 1996 Wests Grand Final victory over Mt Gravatt and has invited the coach of that team Danny Craven along with other members of the team down to the club as the Western Magpies continue to work tapping into the QAFL Division 1 history of the Western Suburbs following on from inviting Owen Backwell to present Jackson Allens jumper on debut. As part of that the Magpies will wear its clash jumper which is designed based on the colors of some Western Suburbs AFL Clubs to recognise their contribution past, present and going forward to QAFL Div 1 teams of the West.
The Magpies will be boosted by the return of Ben Heffernan-Roper who has been the teams most consistent performer all season and David Hamill who will have a point to prove after being ommited back to the Reserves last week which could result in some goals up forward. Val Pope will continue his purple patch as the clubs leading goal kicker and will be vital in any upset win. Young guns Chris Hunt who was named in last weeks team of the week and Jackson Allen the only Queenslander named in the AFL/AIS Squad earlier in the week will both be looking to continue great starts to their QAFL careers. Tim Mcevoy following on from a great performance will look to lead the defence strongly and provide plenty of thrust into the forward line to allow the Magpies to kick a winning score.
The Reserves need to notch up a win to keep their finals hopes on track and the U/18's look to secure second spot and a home final as they take on Noosa looking for a seventh straight win on Sunday.
"Swoop 09"
Last Modified on 07/08/2009 17:16
