METIS WEALTH MATCH REVIEW - PIES GO DOWN IN CLASSY CONTEST

The Western Magpies were beaten by a speedy and vastly improved Palm Beach-Currumbin at Chelmer on Saturday,  the Pies were defeated by 38 points 19.15-129 to 14.7-91.

The match was a high class affair with the Lions getting a break on the Pies late in the second quarter which they were able to hold onto for the remainder of the match. The visitors were good in transition and had several speedsters who troubled the Pies with their pace and penetrating kicking.

The Lions were able to score 3 cheap late second quarter goals when the ball squirted out the back of the pack deep in the Pies defence, allowing the Lions to grubber them through from the ground inside the goal square which disappointed the coaching staff. 

The Lions skipped to an 8 goal lead mid way through the third quarter but the Pies fought back with 3 goals to give faint hope of a comeback late in the quarter but PBC always had an answering goal to dampen the Pies hopes.   

The Magpies were beaten by a better side on the day but their effort and hardness at the contest was back to the expected high standard this team had set for themselves over the past 18 months. 

The Pies were down to 20 fit men by the last quarter with both Chris Hunt and Drew Mitchell suffering head knocks in the second quarter--Hunt was subbed out and Mitchell returned to the fray but struggled as a result and was taken from the ground early in the final quarter. 

Rhys Bridge in the last line of defence was a fine player with numerous intercept marks and strong spoiling.

Jack Goodall kept presenting at CHF despite a couple of heavy knocks and was rewarded with 4 goals, Brady Allen had his best game for the year working hard back then injecting forward when needed. Richard Wenham returned to his best after several weeks out with hard running and defensive work across half back and in midfield. 

Ben Jaenke-Cain and Gareth Crawford also won plenty of the ball and Luke Scott ranged far and wide up forward to boot 3 goals.  

Senior Coach, Glenn Humphrey had this to say:

“We were just outplayed. They were very good around the stoppages, well organised, and simply outplayed us on the day.

“I think our defensive work was very good at times, as was our offence when we got out the other side of the ground, but they had more use of the football.”

The Pies depth will be tested when they travel to Labrador next Saturday with both Hunt and Mitchell in doubt in what will be a big game for the Pies in the context of the season.  

Western Magpies 4.1 - 25 | 7.4 - 46 | 12.4 - 76 | 14.7 - 91

defeated by

Palm Beach Lions 5.4 - 34 | 10.7 - 67 | 17.13 - 115 | 19.15 - 129

Best: Goodall, Bridge, Allen, Scott, Wenham, Jeanke-Cain

Goals: Goodall, 4, Scott, 3, Lewis 2, Sondergeld, Stallard, Maricic, Pope, Morton