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ANOTHER WEEK OF CHANGES FOR RESERVES—LOOKING FOR THIRD WIN

The Western Magpies Reserves will be looking for their third win of the season when they host last placed Sandgate at Chelmer on Saturday.

Once again coach Craig Allen has been forced to make another seven changes to the team with most changes forced due to promotion to Seniors, injury, suspension and unavailability.

Promoted to Seniors are  Riley Easton and Matt Mazarolle, Jackson Allen inflamed his ankle, Tadiwa Parirenyatwa is back in Harare, Matt Dillon and Dom Morrison are both unavailable and Damion Allen is out with a one week suspension.

In are Braydon Thomas back after x2 ACL reconstructions after injuring his knee in pre-season 2016, Geoff Gibb from a long term leg injury for his first game this year, regular Senior Chris Hunt is at CHB after missing last week in Seniors, Will Burgess and Will Lloyd return after both missed last week with illness and winger Kiran Verma, and half back Fraser Bliesner from the Woodies come in to help out due to the long injury and unavailability list at the club, as well as Elliot Heath on standby (cousin of past player Hunter)

Thomas has made a remarkable recovery to return to football and young ruckman Gibb has worked hard to overcome a nagging leg injury and will be valuable to help out Josh Uebergang in the ruck.  

The Pies still have a solid team with young players Rory Johnson, Dom Misso, Josh White, Kurt Vine and Jeremy DeRooy all contributing in recent weeks. Bryce Crossley keeps on keeping on in the middle and with Hunt will provide the experience the Pies need.

There are nine changes to the team that easily defeated Sandgate in Round 2 and that is a bit of the story of the reserves season this year, never able to establish a consistent team and never having their best side on the ground week in week out.

But we suppose that can be the lot of a Reserves team and while the Pies have not set the world on fire this year they have been competitive in most matches.

But just being competitive won’t cut it this time and the Magpies will need to be on their toes as theHawks will have this match pencilled in as a game they can break their 2017 duck. However, a committed Magpies should have enough firepower to overcome Sandgate.    

Western Magpies Reserves v Sandgate at Chelmer on Saturday, July 8th at 11.30 am

B: Brayden Thomas,  Jamie Page, Geoff Gibb

HB: Kurt Vine, Chris Hunt, Rohan Smith

C: James Gainford, Bryce Crossley (vc), Kiran Verma

HF: Sam Taylor, Gabe McKinnon (c), Tom Roderick

F:  Will Burgess, Jeremy DeRooy,  Dom Beer

Rucks: Josh Uebergang Joshua White

Rover: Rory Johnson

I/C: Will Lloyd,  Dom Misso,  Matt Cowton, Fraser Bliesner

Emerg: Elliott Heath