Sci Fleet Taringa - Ressies Review
Andrew Thomson
RESERVES BLOW CHANCES
The Western Magpies Reserves blew a golden chance to play finals football when poor kicking for goal cost them a chance of victory over ladder leaders Morningside. The Pies dominated the first quarter but wayward kicking for goal when they booted 1-9 cost them dearly in the final analysis.
Inaccuracy aside, it was a high quality Reserves game and the Pies had enough of the ball to win the match but went down by 8 points, 10.11-71 to 8.15-63.
The Pies are mathematically still a chance to make the five but must win over third placed Surfers Paradise on Saturday and rely on Wilston Grange defeating Mt Gravatt. Grange can still also make the five if they win and the Pies lose so will be coming hard at the Vultures and for the Pies this means where there is hope there is life!!
The Magpies missed half a dozen gettable goals in the first quarter on Saturday and if they had converted these then may have had a lead they could have maintained until the final siren. The Pies again missed several easy goals in the third quarter and had 4 more scoring shots than the Panthers.
Unfortunately when the match was up for grabs in the third and final quarters the Magpies did not work hard enough and at times were lazy, especially when Morningside had the ball.
Half backs Rhys Bridge and Sean Mewing put their hands up for a senior recall with strong games and fullback Luke de Nys was solid in the last line of defence.
Brady Allen in midfield was also a good player without dominating but did enough to be also be in the reckoning for a senior recall.
Another for senior consideration is new player Joe Murphy who had plenty of the ball playing in the middle and usually found a target. Jake Farrell booted 4 goals up forward, with two in the last quarter to keep the Pies hopes alive until the last few minutes.
Coach Craig Allen lamented a missed chance but will stress to his charges that they must approach this week's match as an elimination final with a win a must and then hope Grange can get over Mt Gravatt.
Morningside 1.2-8 | 4.4-28 | 6.8-44 | 10.11-71
defeated
Western Magpies 1.9-15| 3.9-27| 4.14-38 | 8.15-63
Best: R. Bridge, S. Mewing, L. De Nys, J. Murphy, B. Allen, J. Farrell
Goals: J. Farrell 4, W. Johnson, T. Billing, S. Hubbert, B. Allen