The Western Magpies host fellow finals contender Surfers Paradise at Chelmer tomorrow in a match in which a win will either keep them in finals contention for another week but a loss will end their finals hopes for the season.
The equation is simple for the Pies—win 4 of their 5 remaining matches and they can sneak into 5th place on the ladder.
The added incentive for the match will be the presence of many of the players who were part of the re-birth of the Western Magpies in 1999 and/or who were involved in the club’s Golden Era of three premierships in from 2006 to 2012. Another big crowd is expected as the Reunion of players and officials from 1999 to 2013 will take place.
The Pies lose their most consistent player to date in midfielder Ben Jaenke-Cain who is unavailable and Val Pope, who had a recurrence of a hamstring strain in his return match from injury last week. In comes half forward Matt Garland after one week in the Reserves, where he was best player, and Redlands listed tall forward Tom Michael returns to the side.
The Magpies will hope for more accurate kicking for goal this week against a Demons side that has always made the Pies work hard for their victories. The final delivery into the forward line has been below par for most of the year and the Pies forwards will be looking for better delivery tomorrow. Matt Davis and Jordan Bain are the key forwards the team will look to present on the lead and kick straight and small forward Matt Thompson will need to be his elusive and opportunistic self with support from Jack Fox to kick goals in the absence of Pope.
Dom Beer has been in superb form in the ruck and around ground and he will give midfielders Lachlan Woods and Richard Wenham first use of the footy.
Aaron Yusia-Maricic has been a great inclusion into the side this year from the Sherwood juniors and his pace is an asset and other youngsters in Mitch Stallard, Brodie Easton and Luke Mitchell have been improving each week.
Hayden Thick, Chris Hunt and Sean Mewing—back to his rebounding best-- have done well in defence and will hope to keep the Surfers Paradise forwards in check.
Every match is a mini-final for the Pies and the incentive of keeping their finals hopes alive for another week in front of another reunion crowd at home will be enough to see the Pies get the invaluable 4 points.
Last Modified on 18/07/2014 16:37