PLACE PREVIEW - NEW LOOK PIES RARING TO GO FOR ROUND 1

The Western Magpies will take the field this year in a new guernsey, with a new coach and a new look team this year.  (though you will have to wait until Round 2 for the traditional Sherwood stripes, as the Pies will wear a clash strip vs the vultures)

The Pies finally play their first match of the 2017 season when they meet old foes Mt Gravatt at Dittmer Park on Saturday.

New Western Magpies Coach Brydan Morgan is pleased with the pre-season work put in by his players but is now thrilled that the season proper is about to start after a later start to the season than usual.

The QAFL is down to 9 teams this year with UQ dropping back to QFA Division 1.

The Pies have new players in Jake de Winter from Kenmore and originally from Tasmania and he will be a key player across half-forward and Harry Marshall from UQ -- a strong marking key defender.

In addition Joe Murphy, a late season recruit last year, will be a key player in the midfield with his strong body and penetrating left foot, Tom Ielasi returns from overseas to add to the midfield mix and a rejuvenated and fit Logan Murray, who also missed 2017, looks ready to put his stamp on senior football.

Aaron Maricic has also been reinvigorated and has been training enthusiastically and young players in Lachie Dennis and Charlie Pershouse look bigger and stronger than last year.

The inclusion from last years Under 19s in big forward/ruckman Aaron Highland and midfield/half forward and last year's captain in Dom Misso brings to six the number of debutants in this match for the Pies (others are Murray, Marshall, De Winter and Murphy). 

Brydan Morgan is not dwelling on any of the list turnover and sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start with a number of new players coming into the side and it may actually be a smoother transition to to implement his new game plan.

The nucleus of the Pies defence will still be strong with Chris Hunt, David Lewis, Luke Mitchell and Harry Marshall forming a strong backline unit. Aaron Maricic may also spend time in the back half. 

Despite the loss of some experienced players, the midfield still looks particularly strong. The addition of the strong bodied Joe Murphy into the midfield mix will counterbalance the loss of Carseldine/McEvoy/Woods and the midfield still has plenty of inside grunt with new captain Drew Mitchell, Ben Jaenke-Cain, Brodie Easton and Gareth Crawfordto be joined at times by Matt Davis , who may rotate into the midfield and also play across half forward where he started his career.  Brodie Easton has put in a good pre-season and will be looking to continue his run of Senior form from the 2nd half of 2016.  Dom Beer may shoulder the ruck duties when he is fully fit after a delayed start to the pre-season but the young but strong Highland will take the ruck responsibilities in this Round 1 as he looks to put his stamp on senior footy.

The forward line will be smaller than previous years with Redland listed Liam Dwyer to play at CHF and Jake De Winter and Aaron Highland to be other forward targets witha mix of Davis, Brenton Saunders and Riley Easton when fit after an ACL reconstruction last year to be the medium and small forwards who can also apply defensive pressure. Redlands listed but ex-Magpie Mitchell Stallard comes into the team for Saturday and he is a classy player who will add to the Pies forward/midfield power in this match. 

Of course the evergreen Val Pope will again be a key player up forward with his deceptively strong overhead marking and ability at ground level to gather the ball at full tilt. The dual Peirce Medallist will play his 200th Senior match for the Pies about mid season to underline his impact for the Pies over many years.

Brady Allen will miss the first half of the season after an ACL reconstruction late last year but his progress has been rapid and is looking to play the latter half of the season.

Western Magpies v Mt Gravatt at Dittmer Park, Mt Gravatt on Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm

B: Logan Murray, Charlie Pershouse, Luke Mitchell

HB: David Lewis, Chris Hunt, Harry Marshall

C: Joe Murphy, Drew Mitchell (C), Aaron Maricic

HF: Mitchell Stallard, Liam Dwyer, Matt Davis (vc) 

F: Val Pope, Jake De Winter, Brenton Saunders ®

Foll: Aaron Highland, Ben Jaenke-Cain, Tom Ielasi

I/C: Gareth Crawford, Brodie Easton, Lachie Dennis, Dom Misso

Anytime Fitness - Coaches Corner - Meet the Stats Guru

SHANE MELROSE - SENIOR ASSISTANT COACH - IT & PLAYER EDUCATION

Shane joined the Magpies last year as an Assistant Coach after a distinguished career with the University of Southern Queensland AFC at Toowoomba.

Such is the dedication of Shane that he travels from Toowoomba several times per week to be involved in coaching at QAFL level. He was rewarded for his coaching and dedication by being named as the Western Magpies 2016 Coach of the Year and presented the Russell Green Memorial Trophy at last year’s Presentation Night.

Shane has a coaching role in a football club that did not exist 5 years ago but is becoming essential if club's are to be successful in the modern era of football. He collects match and player statistics and then applies statistical analysis and video to assess player's strengths and weaknesses and conveys that information to senior coach Brydan Morgan so that players can learn and improve their game, work on identified weakness and develop into better players. And this can only help the team overall.

Shane grew up in Melbourne but has played most of his football in Brisbane and Toowoomba as a midfielder/small forward  and he played for USQ Cougars for 15 years before x2 ACL reconstructions ended his playing career.

He then began coaching and has coached at various levels for USQ in the Darling Downs AFL for 15 years. He has coached at Firsts, Reserves and Colts levels and coached USQ Colts and Reserves to premierships and Seniors to several Grand Finals and was Assistant-Coach in two USQ Senior premierships.

He was the first Darling Downs coach to be appointed to the coaching panel for South Queensland for their annual clash with North Queensland, being Assistant Coach in 2015.

He joined the coaching staff of the Western Magpies in 2016 and has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Pies.

He believes that with the new software being implemented on game days to gather statistics and monitor players that this information will be a valuable tool in educating the players and assisting Brydan Morgan to implement the team's game plan more effectively.   

CFMG Capital - Coaches Corner - Meet Damien Soderlund

DAMIEN SODERLUND –RESERVES ASSISTANT COACH

The much travelled Damien Soderlund should know a thing of two about what makes footy clubs tick.

Lucky Starr had a big hit in the 1960s with "I've Been Everywhere" and Damien has almost " been everywhere", playing and coaching for 11 clubs in 11 different leagues. He proudly says he has never played against any of the clubs he played for. 

He also observes that footy clubs are more alike than different and for the most part are made up of good people. He played in key positions from full back to full forward.

Damien joins the Pies this year as Reserves Assistant Coach after a couple of years away from the game but he missed the involvement of footy and wanted to get back in a club environment. 

He grew up in South Gippsland at Foster then moved to Shepparton United as a teenager then to Maffra in the Latrobe Valley League where he began playing senior football.

The wanderlust got to him so he travelled to Fremantle for the 1986 America's Cup. It was supposed to be a short trip-- he says he didn't see any yacht races and stayed in WA for 10 years!

He played for Inaloo ( yes it is true!!) in the WA Amateurs then moved to Geraldton where he stayed for 8 years and played in one Senior and two Reserves premierships for Towns Footy Club. 

It was time go back east and ended up at Eden on the NSW south coast then to Mitta near Albury, the famous "Mountain Men"-- tough men and tougher footballers.

It was back to Melbourne where he coached Reserves at Beaconsfield in the south-eastern suburbs and then played in an over 45 year old Superrules Premiership for the club. ( I know a couple of clubs short in the count!!)

He moved to Brisbane several years ago to be with with his new partner, who in true love story fashion was actually his first girlfriend. His daughter from a previous relationship was already in Brisbane. 

Damien brings a wealth of experience to the Pies, playing in a number of positions in his playing career, and with a youthful Reserves group in 2017 will be great support to coach Craig Allen this season. 

CFMG Capital - Colts Review

COLTS PLAY OUT EXCITING DRAW

Finally the Western Magpies Colts got their first real hit out of the year and who better to play than a side comprising a large part of Morningside’s under 17 premiership team from 2016.

Both teams had a raft of players absent through representative football and holidays which resulted in an even and see-sawing affair. The Magpies were down early by four goals, dominated the second and third quarters to go to a four goal lead by three-quarter time but faded late to allow the home side to claw back to level the scores.

The focus for the Colts on the weekend was building on the positive steps made last year and continuing to work on implementing the team game plan. Whilst, the application of this was often inconsistent it was great to see the boys make a concerted effort to implement the game style and structures we are planning on working with this year.

With a host of new players again this season - more from atop the mountain and few returning from early retirement - this week's game was vital in gaining some much needed continuity and run in the legs.

Efforts now turn to a solid two weeks on the track in preparation for our Round 1 hit out vs. Mt Gravatt in a fortnight’s time.

Things are looking really positive for the Colts this year, with a great bunch of dedicated and talented young men that promise to play some exciting football in 2017.

Best players: Max Webber, Abdullah Haddad, Sam deNys, Sam Hartog, Finn Collison

Scores

Western Magpies 11.9-75

Morningside 11.9-75

Anytime Fitness - Ressies Review

UNDERSTRENGTH RESERVES WELL BEATEN

The Western Magpies Reserves were well beaten by Morningside in a practice match hit out on Saturday.

Morningside have been the standard bearers for Reserves football in the new QAFL in recent years, with 2 Premierships and a Runners Up trophy, so with 15 players unavailable for the clash the Pies were always going to be up against it.

The Magpies called up some Colts and Woodsmen to help put a side together and while they gave a solid contest, fitness and cohesive play is where they were found wanting. The Pies faded in the second half as a result and were defeated 15.18-108 to 6.2-38.

With 10+ teenagers in the 22 and some wily veterans from the Woodsmen, there was an experience and fitness gap in the squad, compared with the well drilled Panthers outfit.

Best players were new full back Tom Hall , who showed some class in the last line of defence, while the returning Bryce Crossley worked hard in midfield and Jamie Page also battled gamely in defence. 

The Magpies will look to the return of a host of players for their first QAFL Reserves match in a fortnight against Mt Gravatt.

Mack Trucks Match Review - Young Pies outfit show promise

The Western Magpies went down by 28 points to Morningside at Morningside in their first practice match on Saturday.

Getting out on the track for a competitive hitout for the first time in 6 months the new look Pies showed they will again be competitive this year in the QAFL. 

The Pies best was the irrepressible Val Pope who kicked 3 goals and should have had a few more. Pope was the shining light up forward. 

Youngster Lachie Dennis found plenty of the ball on a wing and looked right at home in Senior football.

Joe Murphy in his first Senior match for the Pies also had plenty of touches and on baller Gareth Crawford worked his way into the match after half time.  

Young ruckman Aaron Highland also showed he will be right at home in senior football and David Lewis also worked hard in defence for the Pies.

The Pies had more of the ball early but could not hit the scoreboard and the Panthers capitalised with goals from limited forward entries

The Magpies trailed by 3 goals at quarter time and the lead see-sawed from 2 to 5 goals during the match and the young Magpies worked hard throughout.

Coach Brydan Morgan was happy with his teams' endeavour but lamented some poor disposal and that Morningside were able to kick some easy goals.

The  Pies have a break for Easter then meet Mt Gravatt at Mt Gravatt the following Saturday in Round 1 of the QAFL. 

Scores

Morningside 5-29-3 11-5 13-5-83

Western Magpies 2-2 5-3 6-4 8-7-55

Goals V Pope 3 B Saunders 1 D Mitchell 1 J Murphy 1 T Ielasi 1 M Mazarolle1

Best V Pope L Dennis A Highland J Murphy G Crawford D Lewis

Place Preview - Pies meet Morningside in First & Last practice match

A new look Western Magpies take on old nemesis Morningside at Morningside on Saturday  in what will be the one and only practice match before the season proper starts in a fortnight after the Easter break.

The Pies will blood six new players with several from the Colts team last year in young ruckman Aaron Highland, half forward Dom Misso and small forward Rory Johnson.

Tom Ielasi returns after a European venture and new recruits Joe Murphy ( played last few matches in Reserves last year), Harry Marshall and Jake de Winter will be keen to strut their stuff. Redlands listed player Scott Miller lines up in the back pocket and Liam Dwyer and Brenton Saunders return to the Pies as Redlands listed players.

New captain Drew Mitchell moves to the centre and vice captain Matt Davis lines up on a back flank where he had a stellar 2015 season.

Coach Brydan Morgan has his charges ready after a 4 month preseason and the players are itching at the bit to start playing. Morningside will give the Pies an early season test and an idea of where the are in the pecking order. That said the Pies have won only one preseason match in 6 matches in the past 2 years so the take-home message from that is that it is still a practice match and still experimental.

Western Magpies v Morningside at Morningside on Saturday, April 8th at 2pm (pre-season fixture)  

B: Scott Miller (R) Chris Hunt Ben Jaenke-Cain

HB: Matt Davis (vc) Harry MarshallJoe Murphy

C: David LewisDrew Mitchell (C) Aaron Maricic

HF: Tom IelasiLiam Dwyer (R) Dom Misso

F: Val Pope Jake de Winter Brenton Saunders (R)

Foll:  Aaron HighlandGareth Crawford Brodie Easton

I/c: Charlie Pershouse, Luke Mitchell, Lachie Dennis, Logan Murray, Rory Johnson, Matt Mazarolle

Westpoint Autos Preview - Youthful Reserves Side Ready to Go

The Western Magpies Reserves will be a young team but will also be a tall team when they play their first match of the season in a practice match at Morningside on Saturday.

Comprising 8 players from last year's Colts team plus several new recruits including the return of 2015 B & F winner Bryce Crossley and tall ruckman in Joshua Uebergang, the Pies will still be somewhat of an unknown quantity.  Veteran Gabe McKinnon will try his luck at CHF after many years in defence.

Pies coach Craig Allen  thinks his side will be more than competitive and after missing finals in recent seasons the Pies will be pushing hard for a return to the September action this year.

The Pies are without 14 players on the weekend with absentees including Sean McEvoy,  Todd Billing, Scott Musson (returns from Cairns) and Sean Mewing.

Western Magpies Reserves v Morningside at Morningside on Saturday April 8th at 11.45 am (practice match)

B: Will Burgess Tom HillDom Morrison

HB: Damon Allen Jamie Page Kurt Vine

C: Phil StumerBryce Crossley Matt Cowton

HF: Tom Roderick Gabe McKinnon Scott Taylor

F: Luke Brown Jeremy Derooy James Gainford

R: Joshua Uebergang

Rov: Liam Reynolds

I/c: W Krause

Anytime Fitness Preview - Colts test the 2017 waters

The Western Magpies Colts will test the waters when they have their first hit out of the season when they play  in their first practice match against Morningside at Morningside on Saturday at 9.30 am. The Colts competition this year has dropped from under 19 last year to an 18.5 year old age limit competitionbefore reverting to an 18 year old age limit in 2018.

The Pies are coached by dual premiership Western Magpies player in Reid Dobson and he is confident he has a strong squad this year.

The Colts are also aligned to the Senior competition this year.

Western Magpies Colts v Morningside Colts at Morningside on Saturday April 8th at 9.30am

B: Saxon Pobjoy, Hamish Campbell, Tristan Dowdy

HB: Sam Hartog, Zac Stegemeyer, Cameron Smith

C: Cal Grant, Josh Commons, Tom Cooper

HF: Jayden Johnson, Jacob Sheath, Daniel Grandy

F: Lewis Campbell, Whitlam Bishop, Tristan Jackson

Rucks: Jordan Bonney, Max Webber,

Rov:  Sam De Nys

Int: Abdullah Haddad, Will Gillespie, Hanley Milford, Finn Collison, Tom Slatter

CFMG Capital Coach Profile - Sam Long

Sam Long joins the club this year as forward coach, which is interesting in itself as he played most of his career as a back man!

How does that qualify you to be a forward coach?

Well, as Sam sees it, he has played on some of the best forwards in the QAFL so he reckons he has learnt a thing or two about forward positioning and what worries defenders the most about forwards and forward entries.

Sam arrived from Mt Gravatt where he coached the Vultures Reserves last year and was senior assistant coach there in 2014-15.

He moved across to the Western Magpies this year after Mt Gravatt decided on several changes within the club and he was offered the Colts coaching job but he preferred to stay in senior coaching ranks. 

Sam grew up in South Australia and moved to Queensland in the late 1980s with his family and played with UQ. He had a couple of seasons under Quentin Johnson when "Quince" coached the students in the 1990s.

He moved to Mt Gravatt in the early 2000s and played at full back in the Vultures 2002 premiership side.

He started his coaching career as playing coach of UQ Reserves in 2012-13 before moving back to Mt Gravatt to take on the assistants role.

He is pleased with what he sees at the Pies in 2017 and says the Pies more structured approach to training and the coordination between all the coaches across all grades in the club has been as good as he has seen. He is impressed with Senior Coach Brydan Morgan and the professional approach he and the club have taken to keep the Pies at the upper echelon of QAFL football. 

The Pies have lost some tall timber from the forward line this year so Sam has been working on a game plan to suit a fast and smaller forward group.

Although he has been in Brisbane for 30 years, he is still a loyal crow eater and follows the Adelaide Crows.

A mature aged footballer with good pedigree, Sam also immediately took the eye of the Woodsmen, and will be suiting up with the old boys on Friday nights!

Anytime Fitness - Meet your Colts Coach - Reid Dobson

Reid Dobson will coach the Western Magpies Colts in 2017 after coaching the Sherwood U17s last year.

Dobson is a celebrated past player at the Western Magpies, playing in two Senior Premierships, 2006 and 2012, and was awarded the Bill Ryan Medal for best on ground in the 2006 premiership victory over Noosa. He was a tough and strong running rover for the Pies.

He has played over 200 Senior and Reserves matches for the Magpies. He started as a Sherwood junior but played briefly with both Mayne and Mt.Gravatt after the Western Magpies were inexplicably relegated to Division 2 in 2004. 

It did not take long for him to return to his spiritual  home  and he has been a loyal and long serving player and coach at the club ever since. 

He played several years in Reserves and won two Reserves Best and Fairest awards in 2009 and 2010 and also won the League Reserves Best and Fairest Award in 2010. He was also in the club leadership group for several years.

He decided to play for The Woodsmen in 2014 having a stellar 2014 season where he won a Premiership, Best on Ground in the Grand Final and backed it up with the Nipperess Medal for Best & Fairest.  However, just as he was having a wonderful year in 2015 he injured his knee and required an ACL reconstruction which forced his retirement from playing. 

He has continued his coaching development over the past two years and has a strong looking squad primed for a new look Colts competition this year. The Colts competition is now aligned with the senior club and they will play at the same venue as the seniors either at 9.30 am or 4.45 pm under lights. 

For some further background Dobbo appeared in the club's "Blast from the Past" series in 2015 and part of that story is reproduced below.

BLAST FROM THE PAST--2015

Reid Dobson played as an inside midfielder for the Western Magpies after brief stints at Mayne and Mt Gravatt Football Clubs. A Sherwood junior Dobbo played for the state at various junior levels and moved through The Western Taipans ranks onto QAFL footy. Dobbo has played a variety of roles including small back and forward as well as the occasional tag in his journey but it is the roving position that Reid flourished. He was instrumental in the clubs 2006 flag kicking multiple goals including one monster bomb from 55m (does get longer at club functions),in the 2012 he was rock solid in the engine room against Palm Beach and was willing to put his body on the line in extremely trying conditions. A loyal and popular member of the club, the  Art Teacher is now settled just up the road from the club and was recently married to long term girlfriend Jessica (McEvoy, so now fully embedded to the Magpies!!). He is still passionate about his footy and his club and a possible coaching path may lure him back to senior football down the track. Y

Place Profile - Craig Allen - Reserves Coach

Craig Allen will again coach the Western Magpies Reserves in 2017 after resuming the role last year a few weeks into the season when Quentin Johnson joined the senior coaching panel.

Craig and his family relocated to Brisbane in 2003 from Mt Gambier in South Australia.

Craig grew up in Mt Gambier and progressed from Colts to Seniors at North Gambier in the powerful Western Border League. He represented the league in Victorian country championships and played in North Gambier's 1989 premiership as a 187 cm ruckman. He was runner up in the club's B & F that season.

He then joined Kongorong in the neighbouring Mid-South East League in SA where he obtained the nickname "Grievous". You work it out!!

On arrival in Brisbane his boys started playing with Kenmore where he assisted in under 12s and under 14s. 

His eldest son Jackson joined the Magpies in 2007 and Craig also came across and was assistant coach in Sherwood U16s and then in U18s as Jackson rose through the age groups. 

Craig then became senior assistant coach to Paul Grentell in 2008-09-10. 

Another son Brady also joined the Magpies in U18s in 2012 and Craig became the 18's coach that season. In the same year Jackson was drafted to the Gold Coast, where he played 4 senior AFL matches in 2 years.

Craig had a year off in 2013 then rejoined the coaching ranks as Reserves coach in 2014, became a senior assistant coach in 2015 and after deciding he needed a break was about to have 2016 not coaching and simply watching his 3 sons play football but again stepped into the breach last year to almost lift the Pies Reserves to the finals after a slow start to the season.

Craig has an astute football brain and good man management skills and this season with an influx of youthful players will look to not only have the Pies Reserves  push for finals berth this year but also provide a positive and learning environment to develop players for senior football.  

Mack Trucks Media - Meet the Senior Coach - Brydan Morgan

Brydan Morgan comes to the Western Magpies with over 15 years experience within various levels of senior football. As a player and coach he has been directly involved in many successful teams across various levels of football. Most of his playing experience stems from Victoria with the Romsey Football Club and a stint at West Adelaide in the SANFL in 2006.  He was made captain of Romsey (Riddell DFL--just north of Melbourne) as a 21 year old and played over 100 games with the club over seven seasons.  Brydan enjoyed premiership success with Romsey in 2003 and made grand finals in 2005 and 2008 (Heathcote Football Club). 

At 27, ongoing shoulder injuries and a career opportunity in the fire service prompted Brydan to retire from football and move to Queensland. Prior to working in the fire service, Brydan was a Physical Education teacher for 5 years which he believes is a good training ground for the communication and organisational skills a senior coach needs to get the best from his players. 

After 5 years away from the game, Brydan served as an Assistant Coach with the Western Magpies in 2015. His influence in 2015 at the Western Magpies led to an assistant coaching role at the Aspley Hornets NEAFL in 2016, where the club made a preliminary final. 

Brydan believes the year spent under the wing of one of Queensland football’s biggest names in John Blair has equipped him with extra knowledge and confidence to be a top line coach as he prepares to take flight with the Western Magpies in 2017.

“He’s a great football person and man manager. He gets the best out of people,” Morgan said of Blair.

“I learnt from him that it’s not rocket science or amazing game plans that made Aspley successful — it’s just a strong, winning culture. That shocked me a little bit to be honest."

He says the culture at the Western Magpies is strong but success in the past is no guarantee of success in the top level of the QAFL. 

“It was good to be involved at Aspley but I wanted to take the reins myself. I’m really looking forward to that. It’s a tough gig as an assistant in some ways — you can look after the defensive group and they have a good day but still lose.”

“I took the (Magpies) job on knowing there would be a bit of change but the nucleus is there to still aim to finish in the top three."

The Pies finished second and third on the ladder in the past 2 years but had poor finals series in both years, a record he wants to address.

He has his players fit and has structured a game plan based on a strong defensive work ethic then to move the ball quickly into the forward line, which will be a smaller and faster unit this season. He will still have a strong midfield and the back line will also be largely intact this year. 

Returning to the Western Magpies with undeniable passion and knowledge of the modern game, and of the Western Magpies playing list. The club looks forward to the on going development of the Western Magpies Football Club under his tenure. 

Westpoint Autos - Junior Jumper Presentation

On Saturday 25 March, the Sherwood Magpies successfully held their jumper presentation and season launch.

Held in conjunction with the first hitout for the senior playing group in an intraclub practice match, it was a great day at the Nest with junior and senior players all buzzing about the club and interaction between players, parents, volunteers, coaches and sponsors great to see.

During the jumper presentations, guests were addressed by various junior coaches - the Junior President - Scott Matthews and Senior Coach Brydan Morgan also spoke to junior players and their parents about all working together and how Sherwood will really be known as a 'teaching club' focused on developing all players to be the best they can be as footballers and great citizens off the field.

It was also great to see the newly appointed Senior Captain Drew Mitchell, involved with fellow senior players to present youngsters their new Magpie jumpers and conduct a coaching clinic.

No doubt Drew as a Sherwood Junior himself was able to pass on plenty of useful tips about growing up around this great club!

Place Update - Western Magpies unite as 'One Club' in 2017 and beyond

The Sherwood Football Club Board of Directors have instituted a strong and united "One Club" Policy, with the Sherwood juniors, Western Magpies Seniors and the Woodsmen all to wear the traditional Sherwood guernsey as worn by the juniors in recent years and the Magpies seniors from 1963 to 1996. The Woodsmen, who have spent 7 seasons as a separate entity will also be re-incorporated into the overall Sherwood club structure.

The Woodsmen will now be also known as the Western Magpies in the rapidly growing Friday night competition and will return to the black and white stripes while still retaining the Woodsmen logo on their guernseys as a nod to their history. The Western Magpies will also retain the 'Western' Magpie logo on their guernseys.

The club has decided to retain the Western Magpies name for the Senior playing group as Sherwood Football Club plays an important role as a pathway club to QAFL football and beyond for other clubs in the western suburbs of Brisbane and the name was retained to reflect that.

This new initiative is not just reflected with on-field apparel, but is also reflected in all aspects of the club.  The junior and senior clubs will be working together in a more coordinated manner and sponsorship, events, fund raising and more will all be incorporated under one banner.

Senior and Junior coaches to develop coordinated approach to coaching throughout the club

As part of the policy a much closer relationship between the senior and junior clubs will occur with senior coaches under Senior Head Coach Brydan Morgan working closely with junior coaches to develop consistent guidelines for coaching throughout the club.

The club will adopt consistent coaching guidelines and "speak the same language" throughout all grades within the club.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY - SIGNAGE

Mack Trucks - Meet the Directors # 8 - Scott Matthews

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

SCOTT MATTHEWS

VICE-PRESIDENT and JUNIOR CLUB CHAIRMAN

Board Member 2016-2017
Vice President and Junior President 2016-2017

Junior Coach – 2013-2016

Scott’s passion for AFL began in his early childhood when growing up in Victoria.  A keen Collingwood Football Club supporter, Scott continued his love for the game after his family relocated firstly to Cairns, then Brisbane.  Although primarily a basketball player in his youth, Scott is proud to say he was a member of the undefeated U13 Sherwood premiership side of 1989!

A graduate of a Bachelor of Economics and Commerce at the University of Queensland, Scott is the Joint CEO of Austral Plywoods.

Scott and his wife Sonessa continue to proudly support the Sherwood Juniors and enjoy watching their two sons Toby and Jack play footy in the black and white.

Place Graceville - Meet the Directors #7 - Peter McClennan

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

PETER McCLENNAN

DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL

Board Member 2013-2017
Director of Football 2013-2017

Senior Coach 2011-2012 (Premiership 2012)

Reserves Coach 2008-09-10

Peter is looking forward to continuing his role at the Western Magpies as Board Member and Football Director. His background and achievements in both business and sporting environments will underpin his effectiveness for the Western Magpies going forward. His extensive background in business includes:

• General Management experience in a leading advisory/consulting software technology and development company to the global mining industry
• Fifteen years management and operational experience in the logistics sector
• Thirteen years Senior/Executive Management in the environmental waste management sector, strategic development and marketing sectors
• Seven years experience as Transpacific Industries ($2.2b) Group Sales-Marketing and Strategic Development Manager.

Peter was born in Brisbane and brought up on AFL football, and attended various schools where the only option was to play Rugby League or Rugby Union, and of course Cricket in the summer. Peter is proud father of four sons, who also enjoy and participate in playing all sports (including AFL--son Blake was Reserves B & F winner in 2016 and will push for senior selection in 2017). Peter has represented Queensland in both Australian Rules Football and Rugby Union as a school boy. Peter has a long family history associated with Mt Gravatt AFC. He was involved at Mt Gravatt as a player and coach, with the oval being named after his father.

Peter joined the Western Magpies in 2008 as Reserves Coach and then became Senior Coach in 2011-2012, guiding the Magpies to the 2012 Premiership.

Apart from business and sport, Peter loves the opportunity to travel, has a passion for good food and wine, and loves to relax on the beach.

As Football Director, Peter has driven the club to be more professional and has set high standards for on and off field behaviour and attitudes at the club at both junior and senior levels. His dream is for the Western Magpies to be the club of choice for players in the western suburbs and for players moving to Brisbane from other regions. 

Bodykey Chiropractic - Meet the Directors # 6 - Chris Dennis

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

CHRIS DENNIS

DIRECTOR—INFRASTRUCTURE and FACILITIES

Board Member 2011-2017
President 2015

Vice President and Junior Chairman 2012-2014
Junior Clubman of the Year 2011
AFLBJ – Club Volunteer of the Year 2014

Chris grew up in Melbourne and played early football with Beaumaris then played in SA, Queensland and NT, as work took him to these places. Chris loved playing the game and have kept involved, coming to Sherwood in 2006 and has been a junior coach at the club for five years.

Chris worked in banking and finance until he was 25, and then moved to a national painting contracting business as GM in Victoria. Relocated to Brisbane in 2001 as State Manager for Higgins Coatings, overseeing the growth of the business to now include four offices and 250 staff.

Chris lives in Sherwood and it was a pleasant surprise to find an AFL club down the road and the rest is history. Chris is married to Rhonda with two teenage children (Alexandra & Lachlan) who both participate in sport, with Lachie playing for Sherwood as a junior and making his Senior debut for the Western Magpies in 2016 and is listed with the Lions NEAFL side n 2017.

Interests include AFL, golf, surfing, reading a good book, watching sport at any level, being involved at local AFL level and rowing. Passions include grass roots footy in providing a program that encourages people of all genders and ages to participate.

At Sherwood, it is a goal of Chris, and many others, to ensure that we continue to play at the best level in SE Queensland, and we are seen as a like minded community club that attracts people to play at the club because we offer the best programs, facilities, grounds and coaching in the western suburbs.

Chris believes Sherwood should not be just known as a football club, but should be promoted as a ‘Community Minded Sporting Club’, and as such, has been actively involved in achieving grants for the development of facilities at the club.

Charles Kemp Group - Meet the Directors #5 - Andrew Thomson

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

ANDREW THOMSON

DIRECTOR - SPONSORSHIP

Board Member 2015 - 2017

Woodsmen President 2013 - 2016

Premiership Player 2009 & 2014

Andrew was born in Bendigo and grew up in country Victoria with a passion for Australian Football & cricket and is an avid follower of Collingwood Football Club.

At the age of 14, the family relocated to Queensland where Andrew attended Ipswich Grammar School and was an keen sportsman.

After completing studies at IGS, Andrew attended the University of Queensland and Kings College where he continued to play cricket & rugby at an elite level, but regrettably lost touch with his preferred sport of Australian Football.

Graduating from UQ, Andrew has held senior roles in property & financial services at a variety of organisations in Brisbane and is the current General Manager for a boutique Funds Management & Development Company.

Despite going 10 years with no involvement in Australian Football, Andrew maintained his passion for the sport via his support for Collingwood and working in marketing for a major sponsor of the Brisbane Lions for a number of years.  Upon moving to the Chelmer area to start a family, Andrew found himself continually drawn down to the Chelmer Ovalto watch the club play in his beloved black & white and was eventually drawn out of sporting retirement to play for the Western Magpies in 2008 before being involved in the formation of affiliate club Woodsmen AFC, which is now back under the Western Magpies banner.

Andrew is married to primary school teacher Lauren, and has 4 children - Charlotte 10, Harry 8, Georgia 5 & Sam 3.  Harry currently plays U/9's for the Sherwood Magpies and loves his footy.

Andrew looks forward to working with the newly formed Western Magpies Board and assisting in marketing the club and securing long term sponsors for a sustainable & successful presence at the highest level of Queensland Football and a positive and inclusive environment for young footballers in the local area, including his own children in the future.

He also hopes to keep playing for a few years yet!