PLACE PREVIEW - HUGE DAY OF FOOTBALL AT MCCARTHY HOMES OVAL

It is a huge day of football for the Western Magpies in more ways then one when the Pies host the ladder leaders and arch rivals Palm Beach-Currumbin at McCarthy Homes Oval at Chelmer in Round 14 QAFL action in front of a reunion crowd.

The Pies come off a bye and will be without several regular NEAFL players who have won recalls to their clubs. Out go Doug Lawrence (Aspley), Sam Copland and Mitchell Stallard (both Redland) and Billy Johnson to the Lions NEAFL team. 

In come Tom Ielasi after a lay off but he has 3 solid weeks of training up his sleeve and will be fresh, Brenton Saunders and Liam Dwyer return after getting their confidence back in the Reserves and Will Fletcher returns from injury.

Ielasi is a neat footballer with clean ball handling skills and good decision making in traffic and will slot nicely back into the Pies midfield mix. Saunders seemed to get his mojo back 2 weeks ago and found his goal kicking ability return and he goes deep forward on Saturday where he does his best work. Dwyer just keeps on putting in and will keep presenting in the key forward position and Fletcher provides solid defensive work and strong attack on the football. 

Skipper Drew Mitchell and Ryan Harwood were both back to their bullocking best last match to lead the Pies midfield and Jono Macanawai looked to have a new spring in his step at training after doing a truckload of work in the clinches. It is any wonder he looks tired at times as he carries 80 kg extra around all game as he always has an opponent on his back yet none of the umpires ever see the holding and scragging!!

Anthony Corrie and Jake De Winter returned to their goal kicking best against Mt Gravatt and Kale Reed provides a perfect foil and all three will need to keep the goal umpires busy if the Pies are to boot a winning score. 

The back six will again be tested by a strong PBC forward line and Aaron Highlands, Jack Goodall, Luca Winton and David Lewis will need to be at their tight, tough best to keep the Lions forwards in check. Luke Mitchell had a brilliant rebounding game last round and he will need to repeat this to set up many of the Pies forward thrusts.

The stakes are very high for the Magpies and they will be primed for a big performance in front of the reunion crowd.

QAFL Round 14: Western Magpies v Palm Beach-Currumbin at McCarthy Homes Oval, Chelmer on Saturday, July 21st at 2.00 pm.  

B:  Brodie Easton Jack Goodall  Luca Winton

HB:  Ryan Harwood  Aaron Highlands Matt Davis

C:  Luke Mitchell  Ben Jaenke-Cain Jono Macanawai

HF:  Jake De Winter Liam Dwyer Lachlan Woods

F:   Kale Reed  Anthony Corrie  Riley Easton

Ruck:   Dylan Adkins Drew Mitchell (Capt)  David Lewis

I/C:  Will Fletcher, Brenton Saunders, Aaron Maricic, Tom Ielasi

In: Liam Dwyer, Will Fletcher, Brenton Saunders, Tom Ielasi

Out: Doug Lawrence (Aspley), Sam Copland, Mitchell Stalled (both Redland), Billy Johnson (Lions NEAFL)