The Western Magpies Colts have had a narrow 2 point victory over Wilston Grange in the QAFL Qualifying Final at Surfers Paradise on Saturday. Going is as underdogs against a team that had defeated the Pies twice during the season, the Pies were on song from the first bounce to gain an edge in the first half to lead by 10 points at half time.  

Big Cam Ferguson kicked the first of the 3rd quarter in the opening minutes, before Wilston Grange clicked into gear to kick 6 straight in just a 12 minute period to open up a 21 point lead after a noticeable lift in intensity to match the ferocious Pies who had set the standard in both tackling and attack on the footy. Ferguson hit the scoreboard in time on to reduce the 3/4 time margin to 15 points and it was game on going into the last

The Pies booted an early last quarter goal through Lachie Davies to reduce the margin to single figures and manged to keep the Grange outfit goalless. Jonty McDougall then goaled to make it a 4 point margin with 10 points to play and it became a frantic affair with the young Pies showing outstanding spirit to continue to put their body on the line in the contest and apply ferocious tackling pressure.

The Pies then pushed forward with less than 2 minutes to play before Charlie Thorpe kicked truly to put the Pies in front by 2 points with the siren sounding some 30 seconds later.

The Magpies received a pre-match boost when Queensland Under 17 player Darcy Prest recovered from illness to take his place in the side and he was a fine player in the midfield for the Pies.

The Magpies were well led by key defenders Whitlam Bishop at CHB and Lawson Campbell as they stood up against the Gorillas, especially in the last quarter.

Sam Mehari obviously loves the finals action as last year’s BOG in the Grand Final again won plenty of the football in midfield and across half forward and used his pace to advantage. Lachlan Davies in ruck gave the Pies midfeld a fair share of the ball which centreman Noah Resuggan used to gain plenty of clearances for the Magpies

The Magpies will again travel down the highway this Saturday to play Palm Beach-Currumbin in the Second Semi Final at Currumbin, with the winner progressing to the Grand Final.

Western Magpies 3.0 - 18 | 6.0 - 36 | 8.0 - 48 | 11.2 - 68

defeated

Wilston Grange 1.2 - 8 | 4.2 - 26 | 10.3 - 63 | 10.6 - 66

Best: Bishop, Mehari, Campbell, Davies, Prest, Resuggan

Goals: Ferguson 3, Macdougall 2, Thorpe, Crowell, Paynter, Davies, Prest, Scott