Sci-Fleet - Reserves Round 7 Preview
Andrew Thomson
RESERVES FACE TEST AGAINST UNBEATEN LIONS
The Western Magpies Reserves face a stern test as they take on the unbeaten Palm Beach-Currumbin at Currumbin on Saturday.
The Pies are missing key players with injury or unavailability and are also a young team except for ageing warriors Peter Kilroy, Gabe McKinnon and Sean McEvoy. Also joined by Ben Jaenke-Cain for this match as he is unavailable in the 2pm timeslot due to work. Kilroy and McKinnon have found the elixir of youth and are among the best players this year, Jaenke-Cain played his best match a fortnight ago in the senior game and McEvoy is regaining touch after a delayed start to the season and he is 3 matches shy of 200 matches for the club in what has been a magnificent career for the Pies over the past 15 seasons. All the other players are quite young with an average age of 20 and they will be keen to inflict the Lions first defeat.
The Pies will miss the class and experience of Chris Hunt, who is unavailable, but welcome the high flying youngster in Jack Briskey to the forward line.
The key to victory will be the midfield battles and Jaenke-Cain, the strong bodied Jordan Bonney and the returning Zane Lovell will be keys for this and if the ball can get down quickly to a strong forward line, the Pies can kick a winning score.
Down back, youngster Hamish Campbell has been a revelation with strong marking at centre half back and Zac Collison has been the Pies best player this year in the last line of defence.
The Pies will need to bring their A game to knock off the Lions on their home turf but coach Kiran Verma will have his side up for the challenge.
QAFL Round 7: Western Magpies Reserves v Palm Beach-Currumbin at Salk Oval, Currumbin on Saturday, May 18th at 11.30 am
B: Sean McEvoy Harrison Radcliffe Zac Collison
HB: Peter Kilroy Hamish Campbell, Isaac Bongaarts
C: Charlie Thorpe Jordan Bonney Mitchell O'Dea
HF: Joel Workman Matthew Mazarolle Chris Jenkins
F: Gabe McKinnon Finn Collison Jack Briskey
Ruck: Monty Vine
Ben Jaenke-Cain
Rover: Zane Lovell