Round 3 - Luke Scott to give Magpies a Boost

The return of favourite son Luke “Jonesy” Scott to the Western Magpies line-up will give the Pies a big boost as they re-group for another tough contest, this time against the Cats at Broadbeach on Anzac Day.

Scott returns to the Magpies after playing NEAFL with Mt Gravatt & Redlands. He was injured in the final practice match and his return will give much needed experience to the side.

The Magpies will need to lift and no better way to get the mindset right than think of how they went about their work against Morningside in the opening round, rather than their poor Round 2 showing against Labrador.

The return of Aaron Maricic to the wing from Queensland Under 18 duties also adds spark and pace to the side.

Out are Redland based players Tyler Jones and Jack Williams, both recalled to the NEAFL after good form for the Pies.

Co-captains Callum Carseldine  and Lachlan Woods are both tough nuts and can win the hard ball and will be needed to do well to get the Pies moving forward from the midfield.

Dom Beer in ruck had his colours lowered last week—a rare event—and with the Pies back-pedalling as a result struggled to get any momentum from the midfield contest. Beer therefore shapes as an important player to get his hands on the ball and give the Pies first use out of the centre. Hayden Thick has been strong at fullback, keeping 2 of the league’s top full forwards to 2 and 3 goals respectively and also being an important player pinch-hitting in the ruck.

Val Pope was his usual busy self,  ranging from forward to the midfield and with Thick arguably was the Pies only two players last week not to be well beaten.

Doug Lawrence has been good at CHB and will appreciate the return of Scott to stand next to him.

Up forward Matt Davis’ workrate cannot be faulted and he will need to be at his best to give the Pies goalkicking opportunities and Alex Dickfos at full forward has got his hands to the ball often enough in the first 2 matches but now needs to hang on to his marks.

Joel Workman and Sam Copland showed enough in their debut matches last week to indicate they will be fine players for the Pies now and in the future.

The Pies are geared for a big match and will seek redemption for last week’s fade out. The Pies need a win to give them a kick start for the rest of the season.

Western Magpies vs Broadbeach Cats @ Broadbeach 2pm ANZAC Day

B: Drew Mitchell - Hayden Thick - Sean McEvoy

HB: Luke Mitchell - Doug Lawrence - Luke Scott

C: Aaron Maricic - Ben Jeanke-Cain - Sonny Aneet

HF: Sam Copland - Matt Davis - Val Pope

F: Matt Thompson - Alex Dickfos - Joel Workman

Foll: Dom Beer - Lachlan Woods (C) - Callum Carseldine (C)

Int: Richard Wenham - Tim McEvoy - Liam Dwyer (R) - Tom Ielasi