QAFL Place Preview - Season starts again for Sherwood

The shortened QAFL season starts again for Sherwood when they host the cross town Wilston-Grange at McCarthy Homes Oval at Chelmer today.

With 4 rounds of the 8 round season completed, Sherwood are one of 5 teams on one win and sit in fourth place on the ladder. The Magpies have played the top three teams and should have nabbed a win or two, but some short lapses were costly. Positions 4 to 6 on the ladder are up for grabs so today s the start of a mini-finals campaign for the Pies as they play the other teams in the fight for the last three places available for the finals.

Sherwood selectors have made two forced changes with Billy Johnson missing with a shoulder injury and impressive youngster Jack Briskey called up to Brisbane Lions Academy duties. In comes back pocket Brenton Saunders after missing for one week with soreness and utility Aaron Maricic after impressive Reserves form.

Coach Anthony McDonald will ask his team for a four quarter effort after the Magpies have had inconsistent form in the four matches to date, having at least one bad patch in each game which has cost them a chance of victory in the three losses this season.

He will hope some of the consistency of on-ballers Ryan Harwood and Will Fletcher will rub off on their teammates and needs his midfield to fire from the first bounce.

When the Pies struggle to win the midfield contested ball is the time they give up goals so getting first use of the football is a must if they are to get back to winning football.  Given a fair share of the football, Sherwood’s forward line is capable of kicking a big score with Liam Dawson and Brody Lumber forward targets and Claye Beams capable of kicking a handful.

In a rare event, Luca Winton had a bag kicked on him last week, so he will be keen to be on top at fullback and with support of Ethan Sivijs and Errin Wasley-Black will hope to blanket the Gorilla forwards.

It is a big game for the Pies and a win will put them on the path to a finals berth, a loss puts them back in the chasing pack.  

QAFL Rd 5:  Sherwood v Wilston-Grange - McCarthy Homes Oval, Sat, August 8th @ 2 pm
B: Brenton Saunders Luca Winton  Ethan Sivijs

HB: Errin Wasley-Black  Aaron Highlands Jack Goodall

C: Dan Edwards  Will Fletcher  Bruce Reville

HF: Claye Beams  Jack Austin  Brody Lumber

F: Riley Easton Liam Dawson Caleb Franks

Foll: Samson Ryan  Ryan Harwood Tom Baulch  

Int:  Jayden Gallagher, Drew Mitchell, Cade Scott, Aaron Maricic, David Lewis (Capt)

Emerg: Trystan Juffs-King, Sam St John, Zac Collison, Sam Hartog