Fitter Futures - Colts Match Preview
Andrew Thomson
EIGHT CHANGES TO COLTS FOR TIGERS CLASH
The Western Magpies Colts will clash with the sixth placed Labrador on Saturday morning with 8 changes to last week’s winning combination. It says something for the Pies’ depth that they will still field a strong team.
Sean Ryan, Zane Lovell and Chris Moloney were all selected for the Reserves while speedster Bruce Reville has family commitments, Dan Edwards is recovering from concussion and Cam Ferguson, Sam Mehari and Ryan Cherry are all rested with a few niggles.
Included in the ins are exciting young Under 16 Queensland State player Darcy Prest while Oscar Prior slots into CHB and Abdullah Haddad goes to a half forward flank to provide the pace that Reville and Mehari gave to the Pies. Mitchel O’Dea slots into CHF and Harry Keenan returns to give Samson Ryan and hand in the ruck. Tom Slatter and Cooper Crowell also come in after working hard on the training track and Ned Short comes in for his first Colts game.
The Pies look strong with Samson Ryan in ruck and Jacob Sheath and Aiden D’Rosa in midfield joined by Chris Jenkins and with Finn Collison a target up forward and Haddad, Jayden Johnson and Crowell at ground level providing the scoring options.
Whitlam Bishop, Charlie Thorpe and Jacob Aurich have all been in good form in defence and should be able to keep the Tiger forwards under control.
The Pies won their Round 9 encounter by 73 point but this will be a tighter contest and the Pies cannot afford any slip up as they chase a top of the ladder finish and a week off in the first week of the finals.
QAFL Round 16: Western Magpies Colts v Labrador at Labrador on Saturday August 4th at 9.30am
B: Jacob Aurich Whitlam Bishop (vc) Tom Slatter
HB: Charlie Thorpe Oscar Prior Ethan Sivijs
C: Ritti Batilimoyo Jacob Sheath Deng Arok
HF: Jayden Johnson Mitchell O’Dea Abdullah Haddad
F: Harry Keenan Finn Collison Cooper Crowell
Rucks: Samson Ryan Noah Resuggan (Capt) Chris Jenkins
I/C: Aiden D’Rosa, Lachlan Pearson , Edward Short , Darcy Prest
In: Tom Slatter, Abdullah Haddad, Mitchell O’Dea, Oscar Prior, Cooper Crowell, Edward Short, Darcy Prest, Harry Keenan
Out: Sean Ryan, Chris Moloney, Zane Lovell (all Reserves), Bruce Reville (unavailable), Dan Edwards (concussion), Cameron Ferguson, Ryan Cherry, Sam Mehari (all injured)