PLACE - BILL PEIRCE MEDAL FORM GUIDE

The Western Magpies will conduct the club’s Vote Count and Presentation Night on Saturday evening.

The major award for the night is the First Grade  Best and Fairest Award, the Bill Peirce Medal, named in honour of club legend and the club’s first QAFL Grogan Medal winner  Bill Peirce.

The Form guide below suggests the following players will figure highly in the voting. 

Callum Carseldine (#15), Luke Scott (#29), Val Pope (#39), Matt Sondergeld (#42) and Gareth Crawford (#50) were all named in the QAFL Top 50 players for the 2016 season as judged by QAFL writer Andrew Wiles and Wilston Grange coach Matt Trewhella.

Luke SCOTT—likely favourite to win the medal, has had a stellar season and has proved his versatility by playing in defence, in attack and on a wing during the season.  Is a rolled gold performer, never plays a bad game and has clean skills with hand and foot. His pack marking and reading of the play are second to none andhis balance at the contest is superb.  Decision making is usually spot on and leadership on and off the ground are a major reason the Pies again played in the QAFL Finals series. Has never won a Bill Peirce medal but shared Mt Gravatt’s B & F with his brother Andrew in 2012 when the Vultures were in the NEAFL. Named in QAFL Team of the Year and rated in the QAFL Top 50 players at number 29.  

QAFL Top 50 says-- 
#29-- The best swingman in the game. The definition of football versatility is having an impact wherever you play. Play him up forward, he kicks goals, down back he shuts down opponents and on the wing, he takes marks and pumps the ball deep in the forward line. If there is an area the Magpies need to win, guaranteed that’s where Scott starts.

Callum CARSELDINE—the 2015 QAFL Grogan Medallistfinished fourth in the 2015 Bill Peirce Medal count but this year if anything he has had a more consistent season and a check of the record will show he was named in the best players in 15 of the Pies 21 matches this season. Tough as nails, consistently wins the hard ball in the congested middle part of the ground, has a big motor and keeps running all day from one contest to the next. Wins clutch possessions to get the Pies going and this year took some great contested marks when needed and kicked several  goals at crucial stages of matches. Leadership on and off the ground is first class and he continually seeks ways to improve himself, his teammates and his club.  Named in QAFL Team of the Year and listed in the QAFL Top 50 players as the highest rated Pie at number 15.  Will be in the mix at the end of voting.

QAFL Top 50 says—

#15-- Cal was as impressive this year as he was in his triumphant win in last year’s Grogan Medal win. Any criticism last year came from the finals series when not many Magpies fired – not this year. Either first or second best on ground in the finals highlighted his fantastic season. Team of the year again and a solid contributor in the state game in difficult conditions.

Matt SONDERGELD—had a breakout season for the  Magpies and improved as the season progressed. Started as a small forward but worked his way into the midfield mixand was an important ball winner in the middle of the ground. In the midfield he became a terrier, attacking the contest and ball in a ferocious mannerand his tackling and pressure around the ball was a highlight of his play. He added pace to the Pies midfield mix and he attracted the umpire’s votes to poll 13 votes in the Grogan Medal count to finish sixth in the count and be the Pies highest vote getter. Listed in the QAFL Top 50 players at number 42.

QAFL Top 50 says—

#42 --Another underrated player in the competition. When Sondergeld gets going, he can do it all. He wins the footy in the middle, but can also impact the scoreboard, creating opportunities out of nothing. When he gets busy, the Magpies’ ball movement looks quicker, more dynamic, and more dangerous.

Luke MITCHELL—Another player with a breakout season and at the halfway mark of the yearquite possibly led the Pies B & F voting.  Missing the last four home and away matches could have cost him a spot in the QAFL Top 50 and he must have been in the mix for a QAFL Team of the Year nomination—then again maybe not as hewas a no-fuss contributor for the Pies and only the discerning at the Pies would have noticed his work on and off the ball and the contribution he made to the Pies season.  He was superb in a back pocket, equally adept at the shut down role as well as the attacking defender and his intercept work and ball distribution was high quality. May not be a winner but should be rewarded for a fine season.

Val POPE— Another fine season for the 2 time and reigning Peirce Medallist but was not as consistent as last year.

Had 4 weeks off mid-season to travel but was back to his brilliant best on return. He was asked to play more in the midfield this year and was still a fine contributor, still displaying his class in most matches and his balance and marking skills still delight the Magpies faithful.

QAFL Top 50 says—

#39 There were two distinct factors to the resurgence of the Magpies, one was Nathan Clarke taking over as coach and the other was the influence Clarke had on Pope. His form mid-year was up there with the best in the competition, especially his goal kicking ability. Didn’t have the finals series he would have liked but he was one of the main reasons for the Magpies finishing where they did.

Tyler JONES—Had a fine season across half back and was a major part of the Pies revival mid season with dashing play and penetrating kicking into the forward line. Took many fine intercept marks and ball use was a highlight.

David LEWIS—revelation this year as he held down the key centre-half-back position from early in the season after starting at half forward. Undersized for a key position player his reading of the play enabled him to best larger key forwards with solid spoilng and strong marking. Break out season and consistency was a highlight, rarely playing a bad game.

Chris HUNT—Had some dashing games this season as he returned from pre season surgery earlier than expected to boost the Pies defence. Able to play tall or small, his marking was strong and his run out of defence was a key part of the Pies game plan. He played in all the defensive positions, equally at home at CHB, FB or on a flank.

Late season injury book-ended his season and was missed in the finals campaign

Gareth CRAWFORD— took some time to find his feet but his mid season form was sensational as he won plenty of hard ball midfield possessions. Keeps going all day and when he was good he was very good, resulting in being named in the QAFL Top 50 players.

Struggled in the final part of the year as his form deserted him, he was still a great recruit for the Pies this year.

QAFL Top 50 says—

#50 Crawford was a revelation for the Magpies at the start of the year. He landed in Queensland with big raps on him, and certainly delivered. He played his best footy in the first half of the year, where he was a contested ball bull in the black and white. He had a massive say in the Magpies getting their season back on track after a slow start to their year.

Brent STAKER-- injury affected his year but when he played he was a vital player for the Pies. He straightened the attack and his leadership on the ground was instrumental in the Magpies mid year resurgence. His AFL experience was on show in many matchesand players around him lift when he plays and was the recruit of the year in that his presence on and off the field lifted the standard throughout the club.

Drew MITCHELL-- did not quite reach the consistent standard he set last year but stil had a good year. Hampered late in the season with a foot injury, he still provided plenty of grunt in the midfield and this year featured regularly on the goal sheet to add another string to his bow.

Jadan MORTON-- improved fitness and regular availability resulted in his recall to the Senior side this year and his form in the ruck was another reason for the Pies mid season resurgence. His leap enabled him to compete against taller opponents and his mobility made him resemble an old fashioned ruck-rover. His stamina enabled him to cover plenty of ground and his long left footkicks also opened up play and he kicked several imortant goals in a number of matches.

Ben JAENKE-CAIN—the 2014 Peirce medallist had another consistent season in the midfield, working at both ends of the ground. Always works hard back into defence then providesa link forward as well as winning plenty of hard ball in the centre square.  

Not the season he had in 2014 but a fine contributor all season and rarely had a bad game—Mr Consistency.