Place Preview - Reserves Round 18 vs UQ Red Lions
Andrew Thomson
PIES LOOK TO FINISH ON A HIGH
A very strong Western Magpies Reserves team should finish the season on a high when they play UQ on Saturday at home.
A win in this game will give the Pies their seventh win in the past ten matches and this make them the second best side since the half way mark of the season. To the frustration of all at the club, and especially coach Quentin Johnson the Pies Reserves had a slow 0-8 start to the season and despite a fine second part of the year will not see finals action next week no matter what the result.
That said the Pies will be keen to finish the year as the best side out of the five - small consolation but a consolation none the less.
Inclusions are Matt Hockley who has been a fine player this season and has 28 goals in 9 matches this year - a big haul today could see him finish second on the goal kicking ladder.
Also back from the Seniors are Matt Mazarolle who enjoyed his Senior debut last week and Redlands based Jack Goodall, who despite being a handy player last week has been relegated as he can't qualify for QAFL Finals.
With the likes of experienced players in Jadan Morton, Bryce Crossley, Gabe Mckinnon, Sean McEvoy, Matt Green and Hockley, the Pies will be favoured to win.
The younger brigade which includes Mazarolle, Logan Murray, Monty Vine, Braden Thomas and Brodie Easton will be keen to push their credentials for Senior selection next year and will want to end the season with good performances.
The Pies should win well which will be celebrated on Saturday night but there will be a little bit of "what might have been" for the 2015 Reserves side.