Westpoint Autos - Ressies Review
Andrew Thomson
RESERVES DOWN NARROWLY IN FIGHTING DISPLAY
The Western Magpies Reserves went down to second placed Labrador by 11 points in a fighting display at Labrador on Saturday.
The Pies were slow to get started but a scintillating five goal third quarter put them right back in the contest at three quarter time. In a see-sawing last quarter the Pies made a couple of costly errors which allowed the Tigers to hold onfor a 12-7 -79 to 10-8-68 victory.
The Pies were forced to make a couple of late changes with Bryce Crossley not shaking off a sore shoulder and Rory Johnson a late recall to the Seniors.
The experience of Matt Dillon at CHB and Sean Mewing in the centre showed the way for the young Pies. Dillon controlled the back line and his composure was excellent while Mewing was all class in the midfield.
Youngsters Will Lloyd and Dom Morrison were good players in the middle of the groundand up forward Riley Easton showed why senior recall may not be far off after a long injury layoff. Another youngster in Tom Roderick had his best game for the Reserves with two neat goals. Damon Allen and Kurt Vine across half back were again good for the fourth match in a row and the positive development of all the young players is a pleasing aspect for the coach and the club.
Another pleasing aspect was the return of key senior players in ruckman Dom Beer and key forward Tom Michael, both from long term injury. Both had restricted game time to nurse back into match conditions and both showed good touch when on the ground.
Coach Craig Allen says the display was a positive one with the endeavour shown by the team, the commitment to the contestand the increasing confidence in each other being the most pleasing aspects of the game.
The Pies have winnable matches in the next two rounds and wins in those matches would put them firmly back in the finals race.
Labrador 3.2-20 7.3-45 10.6-6612.7-79
defeated
Western Magpies 1.3-9 2.7-19 7.7-49 10.8-68
Best: M. Dillon, S. Mewing, D. Morrison, W. Lloyd, R. Easton, D. Allen