PATCHED UP RESERVES GO DOWN

A patched up Western Magpies Reserves team were easily defeated by Wilston-Grange on Saturday.

The Pies went down 16.17-113 to 10.2 -62.

ThePies had 10 changes to the team that defeated Mt Gravatt last week and found the going tough against a strong and speedy Gorilla outfit.  The side was further affected with the late withdrawal of key forward and ruckman Jadan Morton with illness.

The positives are that witha long list of players missing this week the Pies still had the numbers and depth to field a solid Reserves team and it gave several youngsters an opportunity.  Young new players in ruckman Geoff Gibb, wingers Sam Donovan and Josh Burton and half forward Stewart Hubbert all had good debuts for the Pies, the latter 2 late inclusions to the side.  

In hot conditions at Yeronga, the Pies had the better of the early exchanges but could not convert.  Then when the tables turned a little, several defensive errors resulted in Grange kicking a string of easy goals and they were able to get on top and maintain momentum.

The Pies fought hard but coach Quentin Johnson again lamented skills errors , turnovers under pressure and poor decision making. He sad his side were slow to man up at times and Grange are a good side with good disposal which made the Pies pay for their errors.

Best players were Brodie Easton who won plenty of midfield ball, Gibb in ruck, Hubbert in the forward half (2 goals,including a long bomb from 50 near the boundary line after the three quarter time siren),  another youngster in Charlie Pershouse, who slotted 3 goals, Jesse Pukallus, who was busy all match on ball and Luke De Nys, who played well at both ends of the ground and had clean ball handling skills.

Grange 4.4 - 28 | 7.9 - 51 | 12.11 - 83 | 16.17 - 113

defeated

Magpies 2.0 - 12 | 2.0 - 12 | 6.2 - 38 | 10.2 - 62

Best: B.Easton, J.Pukallus, G.Gibb, S.Hubbert, C.Pershouse, L.DeNys

Goals: C.Pershouse 3, S.Hubbert 2, B.Easton, C.Devlin, L.De Nys, H.Heath, J.Burton 1