Australian Football

Match Report

In the Qualifying Final, the reward for the winner would be a Grand Final play-off against minor premiers the Eagles next week. This years contest would be between the Magpies and the Bloods, who faced each other at Alberton last weekend which resulted in a Port win by 37 points. The Bloods' minor round was only slightly less successful than the 'Pies, with their season finishing with two less victories on the board to slot in at third. But it was definitely an improvement on last year, where they finished ninth on the ladder. The first half of the year was not extremely spectacular on the wins table, but they had taken six wins from nine rounds including a one-goal win against the eventual minor premiers and two percentage-boosting hammerings on the Tigers and the Roosters. They could have been higher on the ladder by the end of the season had it not been for an AFL-laden Adelaide outfit in Round 15, as well as losses to the Eagles and Port during the second half of the year. However, a big win against the reigning premiers in Round 18 would almost ensure their double-chance finish, which was set in stone thanks to the Eagles' win against Norwood in the final round.

The Magpies had some early slip-ups this year against the reigning premiers and the eventual minor premiers, but would finish the first half of the year strongly to drop just two games out of nine. The second half began with losses to Adelaide and the Redlegs on either side of a bye as well as a surprise loss to Sturt in Round 15. But wins against the Eagles and a final round win against the Bloods made sure they also bagged the extra chance slot.

The Magpies would start off strong in the opening term, Paul Stewart and Luke Reynolds kicking the first couple with the latter bagging one for the highlight reel from about 35 metres on the boundary. More of those soccer skills was needed for the Bloods to take their first goal through captain Chris Schmidt, which would be their only goal among three scores for West as two more majors to Port along with two misses saw them up by 18 points at quarter-time. The Bloods would turn the tables on the Magpies in the second, after eight minutes Port's goal by Ben Sawford would be their only goal for the term as the Bloods brought the gap back to a single kick by the long break after kicking 3.3 to the 'Pies single goal, at half-time it was Port by three points.

The Magpies third term could only be seen as completely dismal and not Port-like as the Bloods opened up on them as the clouds gathered again and the lights went on. Kaine Stevens would kick the first goal for the second half, followed by Travis Tuck's goal after the ball slipped straight through the fingers of the Port defence. A further 2.3 to Port's two behinds saw the Bloods up by 21 points at the final change. The Magpies would be unable to bridge the gap in the final term, the Bloods were already on their way to a meeting with the Eagles next week as they added 2.3 to Port's 1.1 to win by 29 points.

AFL scouts didn't think too highly of Will Snelling, but by full-time they may be re-considering that though after he scored best afield honours for West. The Magpies named Sam Colquhoun as their best on ground.