The Western Magpies moved to fourth on the QAFL ladder with one round remaining after a workmanlike victory over the last placed Sandgate in front of the Pies' 50th year of senior football celebration crowd.

The scoreboard will show a 62 point victory but the Pies were made to work hard for the 4 points by a determined and far from intimidated Hawks team. The Hawks made the Pies fight for every goal in the  16.23-119 to 8.9-57 victory.

The match was played in blustery conditions which made attractive football difficult and the Hawks certainly came to play.

It was the Magpies stronger bodies and extra class that enabled them to run out comfortable victors. The Pies goal kicking accuracy again let them down highlighted by a 2.9 final term. 

Riley Easton had another good match winning plenty of football in the middle of the ground and across half forward and continually harried and harassed his Sandgate opponents into errors which resulted in turnovers. By the end of the match he was certainly a fan favourite with the celebratory crowd

Dylan Adkins played his best game for the Pies in ruck and his recent form has been improving every week leading up to this game.

Midfielders Jono Macanawai and Drew Mitchell were strong at the contest all day and provided overlap run through the middle of the ground. However, Mitchell blotted his copybook with 1.6 on the scoreboard. Ryan Harwood won plenty of hard ball gets and his pace was used to advantage to break away and set the Pies goalwards. He will go close to winning the QAFL Syd Guildford Award as his recent form has been superb. 

Luca Winton was again a tower of strength in the back half and his reading of the play and clean ball handling skills were a highlight. He and Harwood have been the recruits of the year.

Sam Copland had his third 5 goal haul for the season to be leading goal kicker on the day.  

Lachlan Woods was his usual hard at it self with several strong tackles in his 100th Senior match for the Pies. 

Despite the win the Pies face a virtual elimination final when they play Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on Saturday. The way the ladder is, the winner may grab third place and the loser almost certainly will miss out.

The Magpies form in strong, and it is an incredibly tight and committed playing and coaching group.  With the double chance up for grabs, and the ability for all senior sides to bring home some silverware - the vibe is fantastic at McCarthy Homes Oval as we come into the game against Surfers.

Western Magpies 4.5 - 29 | 11.10 - 76 | 14.14 - 98 | 16.23 - 119

defeated

Sandgate Hawks 2.1 - 13 | 5.5 - 35 | 7.6 - 48 | 8.9 - 57

Best: Easton, Adkins, Macanawai, Harwood, Winton, D.Mitchell

Goals: Copland 5, Johnson 3, Woods, Harwood, Goodall, Easton, Corrie, Jaenke-Cain, Ielasi, D.Mitchell 1