Place Preview - Pies meet Morningside in First & Last practice match

A new look Western Magpies take on old nemesis Morningside at Morningside on Saturday  in what will be the one and only practice match before the season proper starts in a fortnight after the Easter break.

The Pies will blood six new players with several from the Colts team last year in young ruckman Aaron Highland, half forward Dom Misso and small forward Rory Johnson.

Tom Ielasi returns after a European venture and new recruits Joe Murphy ( played last few matches in Reserves last year), Harry Marshall and Jake de Winter will be keen to strut their stuff. Redlands listed player Scott Miller lines up in the back pocket and Liam Dwyer and Brenton Saunders return to the Pies as Redlands listed players.

New captain Drew Mitchell moves to the centre and vice captain Matt Davis lines up on a back flank where he had a stellar 2015 season.

Coach Brydan Morgan has his charges ready after a 4 month preseason and the players are itching at the bit to start playing. Morningside will give the Pies an early season test and an idea of where the are in the pecking order. That said the Pies have won only one preseason match in 6 matches in the past 2 years so the take-home message from that is that it is still a practice match and still experimental.

Western Magpies v Morningside at Morningside on Saturday, April 8th at 2pm (pre-season fixture)  

B: Scott Miller (R) Chris Hunt Ben Jaenke-Cain

HB: Matt Davis (vc) Harry MarshallJoe Murphy

C: David LewisDrew Mitchell (C) Aaron Maricic

HF: Tom IelasiLiam Dwyer (R) Dom Misso

F: Val Pope Jake de Winter Brenton Saunders (R)

Foll:  Aaron HighlandGareth Crawford Brodie Easton

I/c: Charlie Pershouse, Luke Mitchell, Lachie Dennis, Logan Murray, Rory Johnson, Matt Mazarolle