Westpoint Autos - Ressies Review
Andrew Thomson
RESERVES BOUNCE BACK WITH SOLID WIN
The Western Magpies Reserves overcame 11 changes to the team from last match to have a good win over Sandgate on Saturday.
The Pies chalked up their third win of the season with a 13.15-93 to 5.7-37 win at home.
With injury, unavailability, suspension and late withdrawals from the Seniors, coach Craig Allen had to patch up a side with the help of Thirds (Woodies) players Fraser Bleisner, Elliott Heath, Chris Mihalopoulos and Kiran Verma and all played their part in the win, despite 3 of them backing up from the evening before!
It was a case of the young and the old up forward with young raw-boned forward Jeremy DeRooy clunking a few big grabs and kicking 3 goals while wily veteran Chris Mihalopoulos, helping out due the the Pies long list of missing players, used all his footy smarts to boot 4 goals and missed a few more.
Jamie Page in defence played his best game for the Pies and was in everything all match, but especially in the first half when the match was up for grabs. He was rewarded with a goal in the last quarter after a 50 metre penalty.
Bryce Crossley again had plenty of the football and used it wisely and a trio of youngsters were busy throughout the midfield in Joshua White, Will Lloyd and Rory Johnson. It was Johnson's best game for some time and will lift his confidence and also put him in the mix for a Senior recall.
Joshua Uebergang rucked well all game and won a majority of hit outs.
The Pies will regain quite a few players for their next match against ladder leaders Morningside and will be keen to do well and cause an upset.
3.3-2 | 8.5-53 | 9.10-64 | 13.15-93
2.0-12 | 4.2-26 | 4.5-29 | 5.7-37
Goals: C. Mihalopoulos 4, J. DeRooy 3, G. McKinnon 2, W. Burgess, T. Roderick, S. Taylor, J. Page
Best: B. Crossley, J. Page, J. DeRooy, J. White, W. Lloyd, R. Johnson