Anytime Fitness - Colts Grand Final Match Preview

YOUNG MAGPIES UP FOR THE CONTEST IN GRAND FINAL

After a big win in the Preliminary Final the Western Magpies Colts look ready and raring to go against their highly fancied Morningside counterparts in this year’s QAFL Colts Grand Final on Saturday at Southport. Boasting a star studded list, the Magpies know they will need to be at their very best to come away with the Premiership Cup. Always a quality match up, the Colts have beaten the Panthers on two occasions this season, drawn once in a pre-season match and been on the end of a nasty loss a few weeks ago in the Second Semi Final.

The Colts started the year off well, hit a bit wall mid season but have rallied since those rounds to conquer all before them. Whilst many may consider them underdogs this weekend, the boys are full of confidence and belief that their best football is more than good enough to get them over the line.

The young Pies have worked tirelessly over the season to perfect their running style of play and their defensive work around the contest. They will pull heavily on this during the Grand Final as they back their game plan and systems to take them all the way in 2017. Boasting a star studded midfield lead by Caleb Franks, Jacob Sheath and Max Webber, the Pies will look to get first use of the ball through the middle of the ground and shut down the opposition’s ability to spread from contests. Finn Collison and Harry Keenan have been excellent in the middle this season and expect a physical showing from the two young ruckmen this weekend.

Big games are tailor made for quality tall forwards so expect big things from Hamish Campbell, Jordan Bonney and Jack Austin this weekend. All capable of clunking big marks and kicking a bag they will be primed for a big outing on the biggest stage of the year. They will get ample support from small forwards Chris Jenkins and Abdullah Haddad and look for Sam DeNys, who comes back in after missing last week with injury, and Will Gillespie, to add a touch of mongrel to the classy Magpies forward line.

As always the Colts backline will be up against a quality outfit with the Panthers possessing some classy small forwards and dangerous targets. The ever reliable Zac Stegmeyer, Cam Smith and Whitlam Bishop will need to be at their best to curtail these players’ influence and allow Ethan Sivijs, Sam Hartog and Tristan Dowdy to attack on transition.

The Colts have had a solid week on the track, enjoyed each other’s company and focussed on fine tuning some key aspects of their game. The Pies were underdone in the Second Semi Final and will be better prepared this week. The margin in that game was an aberration as the Pies were jumped early after three weeks without a game and just could not get into the contest. A fired up Pies know exactly what to expect this time and will be ready. With a full list to choose from their will be no excuses this weekend as the young Magpies look to take home the Premiership Cup.

QAFL Colts Grand Final-- Western Magpies Colts v Morningside at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport on Saturday, September 23rd at 9 am (Note earlier starting time for finals)

B: Ethan Sivijis, Whitlam Bishop, Tristan Dowdy

HB: Sam Hartog (vc), Zac Stegmeyer, Cameron Smith

C: Noah Resuggan (Co-Captain), Max Webber (Co-Captain) Dan Edwards

HF: Sam De Nys, Jack Austin, Hamish Campbell

F: Jayden Johnson, Jordan Bonney (vc), Will Gillespie

Foll: Finn Collison, Jacob Sheath, Caleb Franks

Int: Chris Jenkins, Abdullah Haddad, Josh Commons, Harry Keenan

Emerg: Tom Slatter, Cameron Macdonald, Tristan Jackson

Previous meetings:

Rd 12  WM 8-5-53 def Morningside 8-3-51 at Chelmer

Rd 17  WM 10-6-66 def Morningside 7-11-53 at Morningside

Second Semi Final   WM4-5-29 def by Morningside 17-10-112