CK Group - Ressies Preview
Andrew Thomson
BIG INCLUSIONS AS RESERVES IN ANOTHER DO OR DIE MATCH
The Western Magpies Reserves face another do-or-die match when they meet ladder leader Morningside at Hawthorne on Saturday. The Reserves have several big inclusions with regular senior players in ruckman Dom Beer and utility Brady Allen coming into the side as well as Luke De Nys and Rhys Bridge also dropping back to bolster the Pies defence. Billy Johnson comes in after tasting senior football last week and Jake Farrell returns from the Colts.
Out are ruckman Jadan Morton recalled to the Seniors, midfielder Blake McClennan is unavailable, Jamie Page broke his finger at training and Brent Walker and Sam Donovan go to the emergency bench with Tom Roderick going back to the Colts.
Beer and Allen will be keen to play well to force their way back into senior selection calculations and both will have big roles to play as the Pies try to keep their season alive.
This is arguably the strongest Reserves side for the year and coach Craig Allen will relish the prospect of upsetting the ladder leaders.
With new player Joe Murphy a quality player joining the midfield and Matt Green also returning last week the Pies have a strong launching pad to gain early football and therefore dominance in the match.
The half back line of Gabe McKinnon, Rhys Bridge and Sean McEvoy is very strong and with Sean Mewing and Luke deNys in the last line of defence the Pies are well endowed to restrict Morningside scoring.
Up forward the forward line looks potent with Liam Dwyer and Todd Billing the spearheads and Matt Hockley and Jake Heard dangerous across half forward.
With a strong team and a finals spot on the line the Magpies will be confident of defeating the ladder leaders and keeping their finals dream alive for at least another week.
Western Magpies Reserves v Morningside at Morningside on Saturday, August 13th at 11.30 am
B: S Mewing L De Nys H Heath
HB: G McKinnonR BridgeS McEvoy
C: M Green B AllenM Mazarolle
HF: J HeardL Dwyer (R) J Farrell
F: M Hockley T BillingJ Burton
Rucks: D Beer J MurphyC Devlin
I/C : S Taylor S Hubbert, B Johnson, G Gibb