24 Fit - Reserves Preview
Andrew Thomson
PIES RESERVES LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK
The Western Magpies Reserves will look to bounce back from a last round defeat when they meet old rivals Palm Beach-Currumbin on Saturday. The Pies are 2-2 while PBC look to have improved this year and are 3-1 after 4 rounds.
The Pies have been strengthened with the inclusion of regular senior full forward Alex Dickfos and half back Ricky Dudley.
Dickfos will be looking to regain the form that had him kicking 60 goals in the Seniors in 2015 and the experienced Dudley comes back after a slight muscle strain last match. Also in is smart young goalsneak Dom Morrison who has been in impressive form in the Colts.
Out are Richard Wenham promoted to the Seniors and Kurt Vine and Billy Johnson back to the Colts.
The Pies forward line looks strong with Matt Hockley at CHF and in full fitness after playing last match with illness. Dickfos will be a strong target and youngster Charlie Pershouse also provides a tall target with strong hands.
Another youngster in Geoff Gibb is showing good signs in ruck and Brodie Easton and Joel Workman should win plenty of midfield ball. Easton leads theseason possession countbut needs to make these more effective with more penetrating kicking, especially with Dickfos and Hockley as targets.
The Pies defence looks solid with a strong half back line of Dudley, Sean McEvoy and Gabe McKinnon and they will be keys to the Pies winning the match.
The Magpies will want to win to keep in touch the ladder leaders and with coach Quentin Johnson having a more settled side will expecthis team to put in a big effort to gain the 4 points
Western Magpies Reserves v Palm Beach-Currumbin at Chelmer at 11.30 am on Saturday, May 7th
B: Jae Humphrey Todd Billing Jamie Page
HB: Ricky Dudley - Sean McEvoy (VC) - Gabe McKinnon (Co-Capt.)
C: Lachlan Dennis - Chris Devlin - Hunter Heath
HF: Charlie Pershouse - Matt Hockley (Co-Capt.) - Jesse Pukallus
F: Stuart Hubbert - Alex Dickfos - Matt Mazarolle
Foll: Geoff Gibb - Joel Workman - Brodie Easton
I/c: Josh Burton - Sam Donovan - Trent Walker - Dom Morrison
Emerg: Matt Davis, Michael Hyndman, James Gainford