CFMG Capital - Seniors Match Review

PIES DOWN IN SLUGGISH START TO THE SEASON

The Western Magpies were defeated by a rejuvenated Mt Gravatt at Mt Gravatt in their QAFL season opener on Saturday. The Magpies went down by 46 points, 15.14 - 104 to 8.10 - 58 in a disappointing start to the season.

The Pies started the match as if normal service was resumed from 2015 with Grogan Medallist Callum Carseldine winning the first 2 possessions and Val Pope kicking the first 2 goals but after that it was the Vultures who dominated play.

The Pies were out-enthused, out-run and generally out-played by the home team in a display that was more grey than black and white. 

The Pies were made to look slow as the Vultures used the ball better with good disposal and plenty of run which the Pies could not match, especially in the second and third quarters when the match slipped away from the Magpie outfit.

The Pies were on the back foot as their much vaunted midfield lowered their colours despite a good performance from ruckman Dom Beer. So much the springboard for the Magpies in 2015, the midfield just could not get their hands to the ball and denied first use of the football the Pies were chasing from midway through the first quarter.

2015 Bill Peirce Medallist Val Pope looked to be on song in the first quarter but a knock to his leg early in the game and a close tag did restrict his influence but he was still one of the Pies better players.

Ben Jaenke-Cain and Tim McEvoy worked hard around ground in and effort to lift the Pies and both had a glut of possessions. However, the Magpies work rate to present to teammates further afield was poor so the Pies resorted to short kicks, often going sideways and eventually a mistake was made and and the ball often rebounded as result. 

Redlands listed Tyler Jones tried hard a cross half back and Aspley listed CHB Doug Lawrence also battled gamely to stem the tide.

Luke Mitchell was busy in the back pocket and gave plenty of run out of defence - he had plenty of opportunities as Mt Gravatt had a multitude of forward entries. 

Back pocket Richard Wenham was involved in a sickening collision with teammate Jack Goodall in a marking contest in the second quarter and suffered a concussion but had no other injuries and was unable to continue in the match. He will miss next match but should make a full recovery. 

Glenn Humphrey – Senior Coach

“We were terrible.

“Around the stoppages, we were beaten at our own game. They used the ball better than we did, and they work harder than we did.

“They had 18 more inside 50’s than us, and fully deserve the win that they had.

“The only thing I take from this is that we were poor.”

The Pies will need to manufacture goals from somewhere as 3 goals to halftime and 5 at three quarter time was never going to enable the Pies to win the match. In addition, the Pies had 6 NEAFL listed players included in the side which did not help as the team looked disjointed and incohesive in much of their play. 

The QAFL season is shaping as an even season and the Pies have another big challenge as they meet Wilston-Grange on Saturday after the Gorillas caused an upset by toppling 2015 Premiers Labrador on Saturday. The Pies will have to re-group quickly to meet the challenge and kick-start their season.

The Magpies were scheduled to play at home in Round 2 but the venue is yet to be determined as the Pies' Powenyenna Oval at Chelmer has still not recovered after work on the Telstra tower at the ground in the off-season caused damage to the oval on the pavilion side of the ground.  

Mt Gravatt Vultures4.2 | 7.7 | 12.10 | 15.14 - 104

defeated

Western Magpies      2.3 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 8.10 - 58

Best: V.Pope, B.Jeanke-Cain, L.Mitchell, T.Jones, T.McEvoy, D.Beer

Goals: V.Pope, A.Dickfos, D.Mitchell 2, B.Jeanke-Cain, N.Barling 1

CFMG creates value for investors through active and passive property investment in the residential, retail and commercial markets.

Visit http://www.cfmgcapital.com.au/ for more info