PIES DEFEAT OLD RIVAL MOUNT GRAVATT IN EMPHATIC DISPLAY
Andrew Thomson
The Western Magpies moved into fourth place on the QAFL ladder with an emphatic 134 point victory over rivals Mt Gravatt at Chelmer on Saturday. The Pies booted 17 goals to half time and went on to a percentage building 27.17 - 179 to 6.9 - 45 victory.
The Magpies dominated the midfield all match with ruckmen Dom Beer and Hayden Thick on top all day. This allowed the midfield players to drive the ball forward time and again and with Luke Scott on fire with 4 first quarter goals the Magpies were on top early.
The Magpies never took the foot off the accelerator in the first half and after leading by 2 goals to one at the half way point of the first quarter went on a goal scoring rampage to kick 15 goals to the Vultures 2 goals in the first half. The Pies booted 9 second quarter goals while keeping the visitors scoreless.
Coach Glenn Humphrey was ecstatic with the first half and was pleased with the big victory.
“It’s the best first half the club have put in, in the time I’ve been here, it’s the best half of football I have seen them play.
“We simply dismantled the opposition really well.
“We really dominated with the use of the football, we played Luke Scott up forward, and he kicked four, they had no one to match up on him so it was good for us and it really tore them apart.
“Once we had the scoreboard pressure on them, the sting went out of the game but we still won each quarter.
“Mt Gravatt are a young side, they are undermanned, they stuck with it and that’s some of the stuff we went through last year.”
Mt Gravatt coach Brad Pollock was also complimentary of the Pies.
“We just got comprehensively smashed. The first half was a credit to the Magpies, they are up and about and they made us pay.
“There’s not much I can say, their ability around the stoppages and their run and carry was as good as anything in the competition".
The most impressive aspect of the Pies victory was the work at the stoppages and in close as well as the pressure they applied at the contest. This has become a trademark of the Pies play this season.. The Pies spun the ball around at the stoppages to open up play and with Alex Dickfos (6 goals) and Luke Scott (4 goals) difficult match ups and with Val Pope (4 goals) his usual busy self the Pies had several avenues to goal. Add Brady Allen (3 goals) across half forward and Hayden Thick (2 goals) providing another tall option when resting up forward the Vultures were simply unable to contain all of them.
The Magpies were held to 10 goals in the second half as injuries took their toll and Mt Gravatt worked hard to stem the flow.
Injuries to Sean Mewing in the first quarter with a strained lower back and co-captain Lachlan Woods with an ankle sprain just prior to halftime reduced the Pies' rotations--with neither returning to the field in the second half. Add a side strain that restricted co-captain Callum Carseldine to forward line cameos in the second half and the Pies were effectively 3 players down after halftime.
Matt Davis continued his fine form across half back and with CHB Doug Lawrence and rebounding Chris Hunt lead a tight and miserly defence.
Drew Mitchell also continued a good patch of form in the midfield rotations.
This was the Magpies first official victory over Mt Gravatt since returning to QAFL ranks and was some consolation for several previous large losses inflicted on the Pies by the Vultures in the recent past.
The Magpies percentage received a boost and they are now only a few percentage points behind third placed Wilston Grange
The Magpies have a break for the general bye next week which is timely given the injuries suffered from this match. The Magpies host a tough Sandgate at Chelmer the following Saturday.
Western Magpies: 8.4 - 42 | 17.7 - 109 | 23.12 - 150 | 27.17 - 179
defeated
Mount Gravatt: 3.1 - 19 | 3.1 - 19 | 6.2 - 38 | 6.9 - 48
Best: V.Pope, M.Davis, D.Lawrence, D.Mitchell, L.Scott, D.Beer
Goals: A.Dickfos 6, V.Pope, L.Scott 4, B.Jeanke-Cain, B.Allen 3, H.Thicj 2, M.Thompson, C.Hunt, J.Humphrey