McCarthy Homes Match Review - Colts into 2018 Grand Final with strong win
Andrew Thomson
The Western Magpies Colts have won their way into their second successive QAFL Grand Final after an emphatic victory over Palm Beach-Currumbin in the Second Semi Final at Currumbin on Saturday morning.
The young Pies won handsomely in the wet and heavy conditions by 33 points, 9.9-63 to 3.12-30.
The Magpies now await the winner of the PBC v Wilston Grange Preliminary Final after Grange defeated Broadbeach in the First Semi Final.
The Pies were on-song from the first bounce and their cleaner ball skills in the wet and in and around the contest enabled them to establish early ascendancy. Getting on top early in wet conditions is vital and the Pies did just that with a three goal lead at quarter time that in the conditions even then was going to take some reeling in by the Lions.
The Magpies defence was well on top and kept the Lions goalless to half time and to one goal by three quarter time. Even then the Pies only led by 19 points at the final break but went on with the job to boot a further 4 final quarter goals to win comfortably.
Ruck rover Zane Lovell relished the tough going to win plenty of contested football and fellow on-baller Bruce Reville had a clean pair of hands in the wet to show his class with a polished display. Smaller speedsters in winger Dan Edwards and rover Sean Ryan were in their element with the ball on the ground more than usual and they continually drove the Pies forward. Ethan Sivijs was solid across half back and Cam Ferguson and Jayden Johnson both booted 2 valuable goals when goals were double normal value.
It was another strong team effort from the Pies and even saw key defender Whitlam Bishop kick a goal for the Pies.
The Magpies have another week off and no doubt training intensity will be high as the danger facing them is playing only 2 matches in 5 weeks going into the Grand Final.
The Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd at 9am at Yeronga.
Western Magpies. 3.3-21 | 4.3-27 | 5.4- 34 | 9.9-63
defeated
Palm Beach-Currumbin. 0.2-2 | 0.6-6 | 1-9-15 | 3-12-30
Best: Z. Lovell, B. Reville, E. Sivijs, D. Edwards, S. Ryan
Goals: C. Ferguson 2, J. Johnson 2, W. Bishop, S. Mehari, N. Resuggan, J. Sheath, F. Collison