Sherwood have returned to Senior Queensland Football 52 years after the first Sherwood Senior team donned the black & white in 1968. Sherwood as the dominant SQAFA side who were finally promoted to QAFL in 1983 after years of politics prevented their entry finished as Senior QAFL club in 1990 when it merged with Western Districts before the merger failed in 1997 and the Magpies returned as a standalone side in 1999 as the Western Magpies. The Western Magpies era lasted exactly 20 years before an official return to the traditional Sherwood moniker was launched for the 2020 season.

What better way to start than with a Round 1 blockbuster against the oldest Sherwood rival, the Mt Gravatt Vultures.

The Magpies will have 4 debutants in the Black & White with ex Brisbane Lion, Liam Dawson, SANFL Premiership Player from West Adelaide, Errin Wasley-Black, ex local Kenmore junior and experienced VFL, NEAFL and QAFL player Alex Mitchell and young QAFL ruckman from Sandgate, the 208cm Tristan Juffs-King.

The Pies have also welcomed back their NEAFL bound players in Riley Green, Dan Edwards, Bruce Reville and Tom Baulch who were all primary listed Magpies in 2019 and welcomed back Billy Johnson and Caleb Franks. This season, with limited football being played, and AFL talent programs largely suspended, clubs can also name a ‘23rd’ man who must be under 20 and have played less than 10 Senior QAFL or NEAFL games to expose the players to recruiters and gain experience in senior football.

The Pies will be keen to start the season on a winning note, having dropped their Round 1 game the past 2 years by less than a kick. In a pleasant change, Sherwood will be at home in Round 1 for the first time in 5 years!

After 3 years of strong development, the Magpies are now a very good mix of youth and experience with 12 players 21 and under and just 3 players over the age of 30 with the core group in the middle being laden with talent such as captain Dave Lewis, reigning B&F Winner Luca Winton, Jack Goodall, Ryan Harwood, Claye Beams and Liam Dawson to name a few.

A great crowd is expected with a full day of footy and the Womens team after the Senior game.

QAFL Round 1: Sherwood vs Mt Gravatt, McCarthy Homes Oval, Sat July 11 - 2pm

B: Lewis (C) - Winton - Saunders

HB: Wasley-Black - Goodall - Greene

C: Edwards - Harwood - Reville

HF: Beams - Lumber - Dawson

F: Johnson - A.Mitchell - Easton

Foll: Highlands - Baulch - Franks

INT: Sivijs - D.Mitchell - Fletcher - Juffs-King - Scott

EMG: Gallagher - Resuggan - Paynter - Dennis