"Gut Feelings" IV - A WEEKLY COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS FROM INFLUENTIAL MINDS DEEP INSIDE THE NEST

"Gut Feelings IV"

Some deep thoughts from deep in the nest!

• Jake De Winter bagged 10 on the weekend, matching other memorable 10 goal hauls from Senior Magpies in the last decade such as teammate Anthony Corrie in 2012 vs Mayne and one of the Pies greatest goalsneaks in Adam Gillespie who kicked 10 vs Springwood in 2008.
• De winter was one of 3 players in the QAFL in Round 5 to poll the maximum 10 votes in the Syd Guildford Medal.
• Luke Mitchell with 8 votes obviously caught both coaches eye, while Aaron Highlands polled 5 and Luca Winton polled 2
• Luke Mitchell played arguably his best Senior game in Magpie colours with 25+ quality disposals, poise in traffic and faultless decision making.  Pint point disposals while also maintaining a strong work-rate, applying plenty of pressure to the opposition ball carriers
• Luca Winton also played a sterling game in his 4th senior match at his junior club after returning in 2018.  Reading the play beautifully, Winton was the intercept king on the day - particularly in the 3rd quarter when he racked up 5+ marks and 10+ disposals alone.
• Also in the back 6, Coach Brydan Morgan was effusive in his praise.
• Aaron Highlands took yet another step forward as a senior footballer playing a quality match at Centre Half Back, displaying maturity beyond his years.  Several key contested marks were a highlight.
• 19 year old Sam Hartog impressed with his attack on the footy, and in one passage he laid three consecutive tackles to thwart what appeared a certain Surfers Paradise goal.  Repeat efforts are a great way to earn respect from the Magpie crowd!
• Dave Lewis, played like...well he played like Dave Lewis and Dougy Lawrence was damaging in the air, swithcing play, shutting down key forwards and also just for good measure, chased down a flying Demons midfielder on the wing to lay a textbook tackle and win a free kick.
• In the Reserves, youngster Sam 'Snowy' DeNys continues to impress and hasn't yet produced a bad game, a great way to put you name forward for Senior selection.
• Des Lashman struggled for words that could be repeated in polite complany after his  Reserves lost on Saturday. Des had  a few choice words to describe the overall effort of his side and as we know Des can be the user of "colourful" language so anyone who knows Des will have a fair idea how he described his team's performance. That said Lasho is working hard to turn his team's fortunes around and the Reserves should return to the winner's list against Sandgate this Saturday.
• Des was also seen  to infiltrate the Seniors winners circle singing the club song after the a great win--some wags suggested he was subbing in for Heathy!!  Heathy was also there to help sing the song and he decided this was more important than escorting the umpires off the ground--good to see Heathy has his priorities in order
• The Colts had a comfortable victory in the twilight game on Saturday and coaches Jake Fuentes and Kiran Verma have their side playing an exciting brand of football. Blessed with a fleet of nippy and fast onballers and forwards in Jayden Johnson, Deng Arok, Abdullah Haddad, Sean Ryan, Dan Edwards and Ritti Batilimoyo the Pies moved the ball quickly into the forward line and their skill levels were excellent.
• Young Toowoomba product, ruckman Samson Ryan brought tears to the old timers eyes with some brilliant tap work where he put the ball in the bread basket of his onballers several times to remind everyone there is still a role for the tap ruckmen. Some of his outstanding work directly resulted in Pies goals.
• It is still frustrating to watch the boundary umpires looking over shoulders and waiting for the ruckmen to arrive and set themselves for a boundary throw in. As suggested last week, get rid of the nominated ruckman rule, throw the ball in as soon as possible and get the game moving.  This pause is one of the greatest causes of congestion at any level of footy!
• This pause also lets ruckmen get a 'free rest' too as they dawdle to stoppages knowing umpires will wait.
• The crowd at McCarthy Homes Oval on Saturday was very healthy, and was swollen by the beautiful ladies of Chelmer who enjoyed the Pies victory from the sideline marquee.  Certainly added a touch of glamour to the 'Berg' and hopefully the champagne glasses were clinking as the Magpies posted each goal.
• Speaking of major sponsors McCarthy Homes - they were pleased to get one up on their friendly competitor Metricon Homes who sponsor Surfers Paradise Demons!
• With the Woodsmen having a bye, a couple of lads took the opportunity to have a kick with local Division 3 club the mighty Moorooka Roosters, with Kiran Verma and Matty Prior almost helping them to their first win in some time before going down by just 5 points.  'Special K' was happy to report to anyone that would listen that he had a severe bout of leather poisoning,
• Regular back pocket Matty Prior, when asked, told the Roosters coach he was a mid/forward and as a result managed to snag a couple of sausage rolls for his troubles.  Miracles never cease!
• Keen observers of the Woodsmen would have noted the match report from their recent loss to Jimboomba.  The scribe certainly pulled no punches!
• While it was their first loss of the season, our correspondent did not pull any punches in assessing the collective effort of the side on a cold and miserable night down the Mt Lindsay Highway.  Most frustrating for the suitably chastened group is that they then encountered the bye so have had to wait 2 full weeks to redeem themselves against UQ this wee,
• It must be said, the result was not the issue, but rather than effort.  As the author stated "This side has suffered far greater defeats when the stakes were higher, but never has he seen such a lack of effort from a traditionally proud and never say die footy side."

Important Note:

Sherwood Footy Club Celebration of 50 years of Senior Football is scheduled for Saturday August 18 when the Pies host Sandgate.  Celebrations will encompass all eras under the Sherwood Football Club banner. (Sherwood, West Brisbane, Western Magpies, Woodsmen).  There will be a commemorative guernsey with names of all players who have donned the black & white at open age level.

Combined 1978 and 2008 Premiership Reunions -  celebrating 40 years and 10 years respectively will be Saturday 21 July when the Pies host Palm Beach Currumbin at home.  The 1978 team in the middle of a dominant run of 8 consecutive flags(!) had an easy win over arch rivals Mt Gravatt while the 2008 Premiership is legendary at the club after coming from 45 points down for an improbable win against the hot favourites in Palm Beach Currumbin.