PLANETS BEGIN TO ALIGN FOR RESERVES AS BIG WIN PUSHES THEM INTO 5

The Western Magpies Reserves have moved into fifth place on the ladder after a big win over Sandgate on Saturday.

The Pies were keen to boost their percentage to enable them to go past Morningside which they achieved but the equation is now much simpler after the Panthers went down to Labrador.

The Reserves, like the Seniors, simply have to win to secure a finals berth-- a loss and they miss out. 

The Pies won by 161 points, winning 26-22-178 to 2-5-17 and boosted their percentage from 106 to 123.8%.

The Magpies largely controlled proceedings all match.

It was the veterans who put a show, with Val Pope back to vintage form with a skip in his step as he reminded everyone of his skills and one touch football. 

Gareth Crawford returned after a two week break to win plenty of ball around ground and Gerard Moore again dominated in ruck giving vintage silver service to his on-ballers.

Peter Kilroy ranged up and down the ground to continually drive the Pies forward, while Sam De Nys was everywhere.

Brodie Easton had leather poisoning in the centre and Jeremy DeRooy finished the day with 5 goals and some strong marking late in the game. Sam Parker bobbed up with 4 goals, Jack Austin bagged 3 goals and Brenton Saunders was also in good form with 3 goals. 

The only dampener for the Pies was a knee injury to ruck-rover Logan Murray.

The Reserves will be further strengthened next week in a must win match with the return of Sean Mewing and Nathan Congram and one from the Seniors to make way for the return of Jake De Winter. This team is getting stronger and stronger and they are more than capable of four wins, all in elimination matches, to reach the Grand Final and then who knows!!!

Western Magpies.   7.6-48 | 11.11-77 |  19.16-130 | 26.22-178

Sandgate.                1.1-7  |  1.4-10 | 1.5-11 | 2.5-17

WESTERN MAGPIES

Goal Kickers: J. DeRooy 5, S. Parker 4, V. Pope 3, J. Austin 3, B. Saunders 3, G. Crawford 2, G. Moore 2, L. Dennis, B. Easton, P. Kilroy, R. Johnson
Best Players: V. Pope, G. Crawford, B. Easton, G. Moore, P. Kilroy, J. DeRooy