J-ROZ RETURNS FOR THE PIES
Andrew Thomson
Dual Western Magpies Premiership player and dual Bill Peirce Medallist Jim Rozynski has signed for the Pies for the 2016 season.
J-Roz is a favourite son of the Magpies with his uncompromising attack on the football as well as being a big game player, winning best on ground honours in the Pies Premierships of 2008 and 2012. He won his Best and Fairest Bill Peirce Medals in 2010 and 2013
Jim sparked the Pies remarkable come back in 2008 to snatch a last minute victory in a match in which they trailled Palm Beach-Currumbin for all but the final 2 minutes of the match after being behind by over 5 goals in the third quarter.
In the 2012 Grand Final, also against PBC, Jim dominated in the midfield despite being targeted physically all match. Obviously PBC did not know him very well as he took it all in his stride, broke numerous tackles and laid a few himself--when Jim tackles you, you know you have been tackled!! -- and won plenty of contested football to go on to out-muscle and out-play his opponents.
Last year Jim joined several other Queensland footballers as FIFO players for Mitiamo in northern Victoria and it was not long before the locals also learnt to love the way he played football and he was soon a very popular player, being one of the best players in a losing grand final after coming through from 5th place on the ladder. .
The travel factor as well as being excited by the Magpies surge up the ladder in 2015 convinced Jim to re-join the club and be part of the push for a maiden QAFL Premiership.
J-Roz will join his Magpies team-mates for the first pre-season training run for the new season on Wednesday night at 6pm at the Pies headquarters at Chelmer under re-appointed coach Glenn Humphrey.