McCarthy Homes Match Review - Magpies prevail after early challenge
Andrew Thomson
The Western Magpies survived a scare at the hands of Sandgate to pocket the 4 points after being challenged early in the game when the home side booted the first 4 goals of the match to have the Magpies on the back foot and digging deep.
Sandgate came out of the blocks on their big home ground from the first bounce and with several pacy players were able to isolate the Pies backmen and boot 4 goals before the Pies had troubled the scoreboard or even had an inside 50!
The heavens opened up for the last 10 minutes of the first quarter and the match then became a hard fought contest but the Pies were able to steady then match the intensity of the Hawks before wresting control of the middle of the ground.
The Pies did not panic and decided to go with a smaller faster forward line which proved effective and then worked their way back into the contest then dominated the second and third quarters to claw their way to a 21 point three quarter time lead. In the slippery conditions this was a formidable lead but if the Pies thought they were going to run away with the match the Hawks had other ideas and kept the Magpies honest with a 5 goal quarter. Luckily for the Pies they were also able to kick 3 goals themselves and the 12 point final margin was the closest Sandgate got in the last quarter.
The Magpies had 12 more scoring shots in winning 10.14-74 to 10.2-62. In the circumstances a win is a win, especially after giving up a 4 goal start.
The Pies had to make a late change to their side with Luke Mitchell being rushed straight back into the side after key forward Brody Lumber was a late withdrawal due to upset travel plans
Mitchell repaid he faith of the selectors by being one of the best players and he showed his class with clean ball handling skills in wet conditions.
Gareth Crawford continues his fine vein of form with another hard working contribution with well over 40 disposals and Dan Edwards on a wing confirmed he is right at home at QAFL level with a class display, also showing clean handling skills in difficult conditions. Crawford and Edwards, along with Will Fletcher, kept the Pies in it in the early stages of the match.
Riley Greene kept one of the Hawk's key forwards quiet in a disciplined display and he is growing in maturity and stature in each game he plays.
Jack Austin was thrown into the ruck after half time and did a fine job, competing hard all around the ground and stand-in skipper Jack Goodall presented all day at CHF and Doug Lawrence was solid at CHB. Ben Jaenke-Cain and Kale Reed both played their best games to date to also be good contributors for the Pies.
The Magpies had the bye in the most recent weekend before taking on the undefeated Palm Beach-Currumbin at Currumbin this Saturday. The Magpies will regain a few key players and have a good record at Salk Oval so this shapes as one of the matches of the season to date.
Magpies: 0.3-3 | 4.5 -29 | 7.11- 53 | 10.14-74
Hawks: 4.0-24 | 5.2-32 | 5.2-32 | 10.2-62
Best: G. Crawford, D. Edwards, W. Fletcher, R. Greene, D. Lawrence, J. Goodall
Goals: J. Goodall 2, L. Dennis, L. Dwyer, M. Lonergan, J. Austin, D. Edwards, K. Reed, B. Jaenke-Cain, D. Mitchell