WESTERN MAGPIES v. PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
Palm Beach Currumbin 1.4, 7.6, 10.12, 16.17 (113)
Western Magpies 0.3, 3.3, 4.7, 4.10 (34)
Palm Beach Currumbin are into the Grand Final, and they did it in emphatic fashion, with a 79-point win over the Magpies.
Here is what we learnt:
1. The Lions are peaking: The last two weeks in the best eight quarters they have played all year. Last week was their best four quarter performance, and this week was even better. Come good at the right time of the year.
2. Woolley on a wing is a masterstroke: Josh Woolley played on a wing today, and it was one of the most impressive individual performances we have seen all year. Breaking lines, kicking goals, getting the ball forward, he did it all.
3. Derrick is a jet: Not to be completely outdone by his mate Woosha, Derrick was the catalyst to his side’s inspired second quarter today. He found room out the back of the stoppage, hit targets by foot that opened the game up completely, and hit the scoreboard in the last to ice the game.
4. Contested ball breathes life into their outside game: Yes the Lions cut up the Magpies on the outside today, but the only reason it got out their was because of their ability to win the 50/50 ball. They beat the Magpies at their own game today.
5. Magpies can hang their heads high: Look, it definitely wasn’t the way they wanted their season to end, but they can be proud of what they have achieved this year. You don’t make a prelim by accident. They spent a lot of petrol tickets getting themselves back into the five after a slow start to 2016, and I think today showed that. They just ran out of legs.
Coaches thoughts:
Chad Owens – Palm Beach Currumbin
Nathan Clarke – Western Magpies
“That’s where we were at. When good sides played well against us, we did struggle.
“I watched what Palm Beach did to Mt Gravatt last week, and I knew that we would have to play our absolute best to beat them.
“They beat us in the contested ball, an area the club has prided themselves on for a while, so full credit to them, and good luck to them.
“I’m proud of our guys. We were seventh when I took over. We have just struggled finding a key defender, but the way that the boys fought out all year was terrific. Today doesn’t diminish anything.
“They are as good of a team as I have coached in terms of effort. What they do is extraordinary.”
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