The Tradelink Western Magpies head to Victoria Point on Sunday at 2pm for what may have been the least interesting game of QAFL Round 17 against the third placed Redland Bombers. Following Bombers Coach Matt Francis doing the football equivilent of standing on home base and pointing to the bleachers in declaring the Bombers are going for the jugular and wanting as many local people to see it, this has now become a grudge match on many levels. The Magpies were already looking to continue on from good performances at home against Southport and Mt Gravatt but the extra motivation to put in a competitive performance away from home before the seasons end is much appreciated.
The Bombers successfully lobbied the QAFL to move the match from Saturday to Sunday to allow for the biggest crowd possible to attend to watch the predicted mauling but unlike the Magpies all of the Redland locals will be watching as there wont be too many wearing the black and red on the field as the largely imported Bombers take on the Magpies chock full of local talent. Meanwhie the Magpies will be forced to split their resources between Victoria Point and its U/18's playing at home at the same time in a Qualifying Final against Mt Gravatt.
The key for the Magpies will be for its midfied group of Richard Wenham, Chris Judson and Ben Jaenke-Cain all in good form to put pressure on the Bombers in the clearances and stall the movement of the football into the Bombers key forwards of Eagle and White and give Ed McDonnell, Ian Carroll, Tim McEvoy and youngster Chris Hunt the opportunity to close them down as Francis has predicted 25 goals between them. The Magpies forward line of David Hamill, Jash Barton and Val Pope will have to be up and about and on target if the Magpies are to have any chance of shoving Francis's words back down his throat. One thing is for sure it's "fornicar ellos" time!!!
In the Reserves match at 11.15am the battle will be significantly of a different nature as this game is basically an elimination final with the 5th placed Magpies taking on the sixth place Bombers with only percentage separating the two with two games remaining. In a nutshell the winner will go a very long way to securing 5th spot and a finals birth and particularly the Magpies as they have the advantage of a stronger percentage. The Magpies surrendered its lead in the dying moments against Mt Gravatt last week to put themselves in this position and Reed Dobson, Brett McEvoy, Peter Kilroy and Jye Spencer will need to lead their chargers from the front if they are to win. The Magpies will need to provide plenty of opportunity to its potent forward line lead by Matt Thompson, Jay Baker and Jack Burford if they are to secure their spot in the finals.
Seniors Team Attached.
Last Modified on 14/08/2009 12:15
