"Gut Feelings VII"

Some deep thoughts from deep in the nest!

• What a big weekend of footy at McCarthy Homes Oval at Chelmer this Saturday with 4 big games against Morningside, with the ladder topping Colts starting the day at 9.30 am followed at 11.30 am by a Reserves team expected to be bolstered by a few key inclusions and hopefully a determination to right the wrongs of last week. The Seniors clash at 2 pm in what is an old fashioned "Match of the Day"  and The Woodsmen aka the Western Magpies QFA team line up at 4:45 pm.

• The Magpies Seniors defeated Labrador and what a fighting win it was. The Pies were challenged several times but fought back and this time were able to emerge victorious in a tough encounter. Coach Brydan  Morgan was wrapped in the win which he described as a dour, arm-wrestle.
• The Pies were have been robbed of at least two, and possibly three goals on Saturday with Anthony Corrie kicking one from a tight angle on the boundary for the goal umpire to signal a behind, while De winter looked to slot one clearly through the big sticks from a 45* angle after taking a mark of the year contender--both players and teammates were celebrating and opposition players were heading fro the middle, a sure sign they had kicked truly!
• The final goal called a behind was a touched call against a Liam Dwyer goal which cleared the player on the mark by a metre but he clapped and the umpire was tricked into thinking it was touched. The Tiger players tried this trick a few times throughout the game and it finally played off in the final quarter. Luckily the Pies put this behind them and booted 2 quick goals to seal the match, but the filed umpire was clearly 'sucked in' by the tactic.
• Jake De Winter has taken another hanger and that is 2 so far this season that feature in "Mark of the Day" and watch this space because the exciting Magpie forward will take a few more speccies before the season is out.

• Not to be outdone, the old General - Anthony Corrie may have missed a couple of set shots, but banged home some crucial goals at important times, including this one winding back the clock to be nominated for Goal of the Week

• The Pies took most of the Syd Guildford votes with key defenders Stephen Mills 8, Brady Allen 6 and  Luca Winton 5 votes all leading the polling. The other vote getters were Billy Johnson and Kale Reed 2 each.
• 3 out of 4 for 2 weeks in a row ain't bad but the disappointing loss from last weekend was the Reserves who coughed up a 5 goal half time lead to go down by 2 points in a loss that could be costly at season's end. Coach Des Lashman was lost for words after the game and woe betide any player who does not give 100% this weekend.
• The Colts are equal top of the QAFL ladder with only one loss and if form is any guide the Pies look to be have the measure of Morningside but as everyone knows the Panthers have been great rivals to the Pies at junior and Colts levels over many years and will lift for this clash. The Pies Colts will need to be on their guard to match Morningside
• The Woodsmen returned to the winner's list last week and are currently second on the QFA ladder and should be too strong on paper for the sixth placed Morningside. A mix of experienced veterans led by coach and 3 time Senior premiership captain Chris Mihalopoulos with a number of young players provides a good mix for the Woodies.
• Mihalopoulos has played well over 300 matches for the Pies in Senior Football
• David “Barts” Bartlett is a fixture at Chelmer and does a power of work off the field to ensure the precinct at McCarthy Homes Oval is presented at its best each week.
• Barts is a Life Member of the club and continues to give his all to his beloved Pies. He has once again manned the hamburger stand and the famous 'Barts Burgers' are well known as the best in the QAFL!
• Bart’s offsider on the BBQ is Robert Hartley who also helps out at Sherwood junior matches where his grand-son Keaton plays in the Under 14s. Robert says he helps out at the seniors to ensure his grand-son still has a club he can progress to in Senior Football. And he must have been a handy footballer in his day, playing with Sturt in the SANFL and Sandy Bay in Tasmania FL.

NOTE: Barts informs us that Robert is unavailable this week so he is looking fior a few volunteers to help out thius saturday

• Magpies Football Director Paul Grentell commented  in the Sherwood Past Players Facebook page on the Senior win and suggested past players could catch up with some old mates by coming down this Saturday for what is shaping as a blockbuster. "This is the best opportunity to catch up with old mates, create new ones, bury hatchets and tell some tall stories!!! Been great to see all the chat about the past players who played who didn't etc and a bit of banter as well...normally this is followed by "we should catch up". Well you can at any home game or even better at the 50 years of senior footy celebration in August - See ya at the footy!"
• Paul also noted that several Reserves players have voluntered to run the water for the Seniors which is fantastic from a clubman point of view but is asking for any supporters who would like to be involved to help out with running the water on game days. If that is not your cup of tea there are plenty of roles at the club if you want to get your footy fix and be part of something big that is building at Chelmer.
• Sherwood hosted the Queensland Under 12 Carnival on the bye weekend and everyone was impressed with the Colts boys who came down to help out . Colts coaches Jake Fuentes & Kiran Verma not only have their side playing exciting football but  also emphasising to players the need to be good citizens at club and community level.
• Finn Collison, Lachlan Pearson, Aiden D'Rosa, Jacob Aurisch, Cooper Crowell and Harrison Radcliffe all came down to help out at the BBQ and Jacob and Harrison along with senior player Aaron Highlands and Senior coach Brydan Morgan welcomed the Cape York Crusaders and took them under their wing.
• Perennial helpers Rob Lawson and Bruce O'Neill also were on hand to make sure the ground and facilities were all in order for the 4 days of the carnival.
• Sherwood U16 players Darcy Prest and Jack Briskey are in the Qld State Team contesting the U16 National Championships.
• 7 of our Sherwood U12 Black team members were selected to participate in the U12 carnival-- Finn Mahoney, Kye Van Beest, Jaydon Macauley, Cooper Rowlings, , Jacob Edwards, Jed Bostock and Jed Hooper – a bright future for the WM!
• Ex Magpie Brett 'Noodles' McEvoy coached the Met North side with the help of Kiran Verma, and is also the QLD U12 coach.
• Current Woodsmen 'spearhead' Matt Hockley was also spotted watching his nephew and offering plenty of assistance where needed
• After some shuffling of divisions in the opening rounds our U12 and U14 teams have hit their straps with a number of convincing wins in the last three weeks to see them steadily climbing the ladder.  Two months out from finals and they are building nicely
• Good to see past President Mark Blackberry at the football last Saturday and he was accompanied by Richmond legend and Brisbane Lions Player Development Manager Craig Lambert. Might be interesting this Saturday if they turn up as Lambert's son is playing for Morningside
• Queensland Umpiring Legend and games record holder, Tom McArthur passed away recently. He umpired 502 Senior matches in the QAFL but he also umpired schoolboy matches on Friday afternoon at Graceville Oval from the mid 50s to the mid 80s and would often umpire 4 matches in a day. It is estimated he umpired over 1000 schoolboy matches as well.
• He played football at Western Districts before injury forced him to take up umpiring. He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame several years ago. Legend has it that some players thought he would not report players for violent conduct as he worked night shift and could not attend tribunals but he soon put that to bed by reminding players that there is such a thing as " long service leave!!"
• Players and supporters of Sherwood DAFC join all AFL lovers in recognising the enormous contribution he made to our game in Queensland. For more on Tom McArthur check out the AFLQ website.