METIS WEALTH MATCH REVIEW - PIES SNATCH DEFEAT FROM JAWS OF VICTORY

The Western Magpies threw the four points away when they blew a 5 goal halftime lead to be overrun in the last quarter to go down by 8 points against Broadbeach at Chelmer on Saturday. The Cats kicked a goal on the siren to win 14.11-95 to 12.15-87.

The Pies dominated the first half and should have had the game well and truly won at halftime with 36 inside 50s to the Cats 14. The Pies were wasteful in front of goal and it came back to haunt them in the final analysis. 

The Pies were shell-shocked at the end of the game where they were the better side for most of the first three quarters of the match. The old adage of "not giving a sucker an even break" was never a truer statement as the Pies left the door ajar for the Cats who started to win the mid-field contested ball then took control in the last 15 minutes to boot 5 goals and stun the home crowd into silence.

The Pies called up Luke de Nys for his first senior match as Doug Lawrence was re-called to Aspley. The Pies were up and about early and dominated possession and forward 50 entries but the tale of the day began early with gettable shots on goal going begging. Luke Scott started up forward and turned his opponent inside out 3 or 4 times to boot 2 early goals and set up another. Matt Sondergeld was busy and Mitch Stallard in his return match was getting plenty of the ball across half forward but also missed a couple of shots at goal. Scott was part of a rotation from half back to the forward line with Matt Davis and perhaps in retrosect he should have stayed forward as he always looked dangerous. Davis also played well up forward but played a different role to Scott.

The second quarter saw the Pies again dominate but were unable to capitalise on this and instead of being 7-8 goals up at the long break had just a 31 point lead which still kept the door ajar for the Cats and didn't reflect the dominance of the half.

The Pies intensity dropped off in the third quarter and Broadbeach closed the gap to 2 goals before the Pies regrouped with goals to Stallard and Jadan Morton had the margin at 4 goals at the final break.

Several perplexing umpiring decisions in the third and fourth quarters resulted in turnarounds and the Cats kicked 2 goals from these and it seemed to upset the Pies concentration and reversed the momentum of the game.

The Cats started to win the midfield battles and with early centre clearances booted 2 goals and it was game on. The Pies got 2 back and with 15 minutes to go the Pies still led by 4 goals but the Cats surged and with more run opened up the Pies defence and closed the gap. The Pies still led into time-on but poor decision making in pressure situations with short kicking to contests and missed targets resulted in turnovers which the visitors exploited.

Luke Scott was the Pies best whether up forward or across half back with 3 goals, Jack Goodall presented all day across half forward in his best match for the Pies, Reece Bridge mopped up well in the last line of defence and his depseration in spoiling at the marking contest was a highlight. Matt Sondergeld had plenty of the ball and Gareth Crawford worked hard all day in close. Alex Dickfos also presentedall day but just could not hold on to some of his grabs. Mitch Stallard also justified his inclusion and booted 3 goals and Luke de Nys played well and was not out of place across half back.

Coach Glenn Humphrey was bitterly disappointed in the loss and lamented his team's inability to slow the game down late in the final quarter and close out the victory.

The Magpies have 2 weeks to lick their wounds before they face old enemy Palm Beach-Currumbin before an expected big crowd at Chelmer as President Kevin Kluver will host a President's luncheon before the match.

Western Magpies 3.6 - 24 | 8.12 - 60 | 10.14 - 74 | 12.15 - 87

defeated by

Broadbeach Cats 1.2 - 8 | 4.5 - 29 | 7.8 - 50 | 14.11 - 95

Best: L.Scott, J.Goodall, R.Bridge, M.Sondergeld, G.Crawford, A.Dickfos

Goals: L.Scott, M.Stallard 3, M.Sondergeld, V.Pope, J.Morton, A.Dickfos, L.Woods, M.Davis