PLACE PREVIEW - MAGPIES FACE TOUGH CONTEST AGAINST RESURGENT GORILLAS

The Western Magpies have the second of  their four elimination finals when they face a resurgent Wilston Grange at McCarthy Homes Oval at Chelmer in QAFL Round 16 action on Saturday.

The Pies have to just keep on winning and see what happens elsewhere. With a bye coming up the Magpies will leave nothing in the tank this week. Coach Brydan Morgan has laid down the challenge to his team to play hard, smart football and if the Pies sneak into the five they will be on a roll and anything is possible. 

The Gorillas caused an upset last week over Labrador and with the inclusion of several NEAFL players are a different proposition to the side that had some big losses mid-season. 

The Pies will be wary  of an ambush and should be fired up to avenge their early season loss on Good Friday --the Pies were ordinary that day, and while there was a host of injury and unavailability, the effort was not QAFL standard.

The Pies have been strengthened by the return of big man Aaron Highlands, who is versatile and can play back or forward and in the ruck, while Dan Edwards, arguably the Pies most consistent player this season,  comes back in onto a wing. 

Out goes Billy Johnson to Redlands and Zane Lovell to the Reserves

A fit and firing Ryan Harwood is crucial for the pies as he leads by example and he is vital for the Pies in the midfield but is also a dangerous forward when rested.

Brodie Lumber just needs to get his goal kicking radar tuned in and he will kick a handful and the Pies need him to continue his spectacular marking form.

Skipper David Lewis has shrugged off a niggling ankle to be back to his best across half back last week and with Jack Goodall was a key player in last weeks victory.

Gerard Moore continues to get better each week in ruck and with Gareth Crawford just loving his footy at the moment and Riley Easton and Will Fletcher both hard nuts the Pies should get enough centre clearances to give Lumber, Highlands and Liam Dwyer plenty of opportunities up forward.

The Pies have struggled to kick big scores but on paper the Pies have a potent forward line so this Saturday may just be the day it all clicks.

With the Pies having more at stake than the Gorillas they should have enough firepower to win and stay in the finals race for at least another fortnight. 

QAFL Round 16: Western Magpies v Wilston Grange at McCarthy Homes Oval, Chelmer on Saturday, July 27th at 2.00 pm

B: Lachie Dennis  David Lewis  Brenton Saunders

HF: Riley Greene, Jack Goodall,  Claye Beams

C: Macauley Lonergan  Luca Winton  Dan Edwards 

HF: Will Fletcher Liam Dwyer  Harrison Kerr

F:  Kale Reed Brodie Lumber  Aaron Highlands  

Rucks:  Gerard Moore

             Ryan Harwood

Rover:   Riley Easton

I/C: Luke Mitchell, Ethan Sivijs, Jordan Bonney,  Gareth Crawford, 

In: Aaron Highlands, Dan Edwards 

Out: Billy Johnson (Redlands ), Zane Lovell (omitted)