Gut Feelings VI - Brought to you by Regis Aged Care
Andrew Thomson
The Magpies had another good weekend with 4 out of 4 last weekend. The Seniors had a tough hitout against the last placed Sandgate but all it underlined was that the QAFL is a tough competition and there are no easy games. For the purist this is a great thing but for the Magpies faithful it can cause a few heart palpitations!! The Reserves, Colts and Wodsmen all had victories in matches they were expected to win
The Woodsmen after a comfortable win vs UQ last weekend then took on Jimboomba on Friday night and were well beaten in tough conditions. It’s a bit of a consistent theme with the old lads in this side, they don’t do well in tough conditions when speed and fitness are as important as skill and experience!
Certainly doesn’t help when they had yet another 8 changes from the week before!
Well, well, there's life in the old dog yet! Gareth Crawford has turned back the clock to his League and Bill Peirce Medal winning ways with two superb games of footy, easily being the Pies best player in the past two matches
In last Saturday's match at Sandgate, Crawford was instrumental in keeping the Pies in the contest after the home team had slammed on four first quarter goals to have the Pies supporters just a little bit nervous. He then continued to win the footy in contest after contest to propel the Pies into the lead then hang onto a hard fought 12 point victory. Crawford spent most of last year in the reserves and was largely content to play there but he has rejuvenated himself this season and is relishing his footy and the challenge of being the old dog in a young team.
Crawford polled 10 votes in the Syd Guildord QAFL player voting (a reminder this is voted on by both coaches and the maximum votes is 10) and he now has 17 votes to be third on the voting, only 2 votes behind the joint leaders. Dan Edwards polled 4 votes and again underlined his enormous potential with another polished display for a youngster and he impressed with his clean ball handling in wet conditions and also adds much needed pace to the Pies line-up. Jack Goodall also polled 4 votes to have 13 votes and other Pies to poll a vote were Drew Mitchell (3), Riley Greene (1) and Luca Winton (1).
Reserves tall forward Jesse Hampel is putting up a strong case for a Senior debut after another 5 goal performance which takes him to 17 goals and second on the QAFL Reserves goalkicking list. Hampel marked strongly and is a long accurate kick--he has a perfect kicking action which means he can perform week in-week out regardless of the pressure and game situation.
The Colts returned to the winners list with a solid display and from all reports will be stronger in coming weeks with the return of their Brisbane Under 18 Academy players. Forward Cooper Crowell booted 4 goals again after a 4 goal effort 2 weeks ago before missing last weeks clash. He is also a strong mark and has a good kicking action and he has 13 goals for the season to be third on the QAFL Colts goalkicking list.
You may have noticed that each week for the past couple of weeks a Sherwood Team of the Week is posted with the players adjudged to be the best in their respective teams from Under 8s through to the Seniors. A great innovation and creates a lot of interest. I am sure the younger players will be stoked to be mentioned in the same team as Gareth Crawford!! Younger platers will be very happy to see their name on the Team of the Week and it is a good way to foster the one club environment.
PBC next week--huge challenge for the Pies--PBC on top of the ladder in 3 grades--undefeated. Likely celebrating their 1999 and 2009 Premiership reunions after their 2009 opponent remains at lower levels and the Magpies were their greatest rival from that era before being promoted in 2009 to the NEAFL.
the Magpies will be hosting Morningside on Sunday May 26 to celebrate Indigenous Round and will again sport a special edition guernsey for the game. This year the jumper will be very different from the 2018 edition and is derived from original artwork specifically for the Magpies arranged by Chris Hunt.
Grey Magpiees Co-ordinator Shane Bridley has done a great job in creating interest among the Past Players and he informs GUT Feelings that he has been able to secure Hawthorn, Carlton and AFL legend David Parkin as a guest speaker for an event to be held at McCarthy Homes Oval at Chelmer on Saturday July 20th when the Pies host Sandgate.
The final format is yet to be determined but put this date in your diary as it promises to be a great day and Shane is hopeful of attracting a bevy of Sherwood past players and officials home for the weekend.
There were 6 Magpie Lads at the recent state U15 carnival, with 5 in the Met West side and 1 in the Darling Downs side. Another 6 will be at the U12 carnival, 5 in Met West and 1 in Met East, while club stalwart Brett Noodles McEvoy will coach Met North and also the State Side, though unfortunately young Elliot Sinfield will have to relinquish his place after a broken collar-bone last Friday night put him out for an extended period, a similar fate suffered by young gun Jacob Edwards in 2018 when he broke his arm and missed the carnival