Regis Aged Care - Gut Feelings XVI

• The Colts were fantastic in the semi final in wet conditions to defeat Palm Beach-Currumbin on their home ground. The Pies executed wet weather skills brilliantly on the smallish Salk Oval and it was really a class display in unfamiliar rainy and muddy conditions.

• The Pies established the ascendancy early and after going to a three goal lead early were able to maintain control of the game to advance to this week's Grand Final, ironically against Palm Beach again after they defeated Grange in the Preliminary Final

• Coach Jake Fuentes and his Assistant Kiran Verma have developed a team first ethos and the Pies share the footy and play a very team orientated brand of football.

• They have an impressive hand and foot skills and work hard at the contest then run hard offensively and defensively.

• There are few if any weaknesses in the side with a tight knit defensive unit headed by CHF Whitlam Bishop, FB Chris Moloney and tough and skilful half backs in Chris Jenkins, Aiden D'Roza, Charlie Thorpe and Ethan Sivijs.

• The midfield is headed by Jacob Sheath with Deng Arok and Dan Edwards on the wings to provide plenty of pace through the centre of the ground. Sheath, last years Maurie McNamee Medal winner has been a model of consistency again this year and he loves the contest and uses the ball very well.

• Samson Ryan has been a revelation in ruck with brilliant tap work giving his on ballers better than even chance to win the ball. Sean Ryan, Zane Lovell, skipper Noah Resuggan and the silky Bruce Reville form a very strong engine room with toughness combined with polish.

• Up forward big men Cam Ferguson and Finn Collison don't mind crashing the pack and if they don't mark the football then the likes of Jayden Johnson, Sam Mohari and Ritti Batilimoyo are ready to pounce on the loose ball.

• Last match the Pies had some good players starting on the bench which gives the side plenty of depth. Strong bodied Jacob Aurisch and Ryan Cherry provide options forward or back and Lachlan Pearson can be dangerous up forward.

• The QAFL Grogan Medal count was held at the Gabba on Sunday evening where Riley Easton was the winner of the 2018 QAFL Rising Star, Jake de Winter won Mark of the Year and Ryan Harwood was surprisingly the only Magpie in the QAFL Team of the year.

• Former Magpie favourite sons Jimmy Rozynski and Luke Scott met Newbridge in the Loddon Valley League Grand Final where they went down by 44 points. In true Rozynki fashion he was one of his sides best, but to show its a small world - he was up against current Club President Andrew Thomson’s cousin in Jack Fowler who was named best for the Premiers on the day after a superb performance in the midfield.

• The Loddon Valley League is located to the north and west of Bendigo about 2 hours drive from Melbourne. The Queensland boys flew to Melbourne early each Saturday morning to then drive to matches then drive back to Melbourne on Saturday night and catch a red eye home.

• Another ex-player in a Grand Final was Joel Workman who lined up for Park Ridge Pirates when they defeated Beenleigh Buffaloes in the Division 2 Grand Final at Yeronga on Sunday.

• While on past players popular ex-Pie Matt "Clock" Thompson was on fire for Ainslie Reserves in their Premiership win over Queanbeyan at Manuka Oval last Sunday. After going down by 5 goals in the Second Semi Final, Clock came out and put the game beyond doubt with 5 first quarter goals and 7 for the match as the Tricolours reversed the semi final result to win by 6 goals. He was named man of the match. His brother Andrew was co-coach and also played well at centre half back. Ainslie scored the trifecta in winning all three grades and it was three in a row in Seniors and Reserves.

• The Magpies are more than the Western Magpies and while Gut Feelings primarily concentrates on the Senior side of the club, the Pies have a strong junior division--after all the club is still officially named "Sherwood DAFC Incorporating Western Magpies AFC" and started as a junior club.

Sherwood have the following teams in the Brisbane Juniors competition.

--Under 8s - 4 teams

--Under 9s - 3 teams

--Under 10s - 3 teams

--Under 12s - 2 teams

--Under 14s - 2 teams

--Under 16s - 2 teams

• Great to see so many current and former Senior players involved in coaching throughout the various age groups.

• Thanks to the 3 people who commented on Gut Feelings on the Facebook page and the enjoyment they had reading the inside stories from the Nest. Well there are a few more stories to come and I and my colleagues inside the Nest trust there are plenty of the Magpie family who have had a few more insights into the Pies this season.