The Western Magpies are hoping their competitive form this season will translate into wins, starting against Aspley at Chelmer on Saturday.
Tuesday 29 June 2010
The Western Magpies are looking to end one of the longest losing streaks in QAFL history when they host Aspley at Chelmer on Saturday.
The Magpies have not been successful in any of their 29 matches since re-entering the State League at the start of 2009, and lost the last six games of their previous stint in 2004 to take the streak to 35 games.
The black and whites have shown plenty of starch throughout the tough stretch and were big winning chances this season against Aspley (Round 2), Redland (Round 3), Mt Gravatt (Round 5) and the Brisbane Lions (Round 8) without being able to take their chances.
If there is any omen, it is that their last win came in Round 12 of 2004 when they held of Labrador 9.14 to 9.5 – and this week is Round 12.
The concern for the Magpies is that the Hornets have jumped them on all three occasions they have met over the past 15 months.
Aspley kicked seven of the first nine goals in Round 2 at Graham Road before the Magpies stormed to within striking distance in the third quarter. The Hornets steadied in the crisis to win 17.11 to 12.11.
It was a similar story in Round 5 last season when the Hornets played some good football to lead by 44 points late in the third term at Chelmer, only for the Magpies to unleash a withering run and tie the scores, before falling by seven points.
Their total of 17.9 (111) that day is their highest score of the past two seasons.
Aspley ensured there was no repeat in Round 14, kicking out to a nine-goal lead at halftime, withstanding the traditional Magpies surge in the third term to run out handsome 20.13 to 12.9 victors.
Val Pope recorded the most goals by a Magpies player in a single game since their re-entry to the State League that day with seven quality majors.
The Magpies have added incentive for victory with co-captain Chris Mihalopoulos celebrating his 200th senior game for the club, stretching across State League and the Pineapple Hotel Cup Division 2.
