Pies swoop in premiership quarter

Mt Barker coach Shane Thompson has jumped to the defence of his side’s indifferent start to the season believing their season is still heading in the right direction despite slumping to their fourth loss from six games on Saturday.

While the Bulls’ 37-point loss to Denmark-Walpole was their fourth to start the season, the Magpies surged two games clear in third spot on the Great Southern Football League ladder with their fourth win in a row for the first time under second-year coach Matt Candy.

The Magpies broke the contest open in the third term with five unanswered goals in a decisive 15-minute period after a grinding first half in muddy conditions again at their home ground McLean Park.

For the second week in a row the Bulls struggled to adapt to the wet conditions, booting only six goals for the match and were strangled by the Magpies defensive game plan internally known as “The Minion”.

Missing key defender Adam Tissot to injury, the Bulls could not contain towering forward Shayne Zanetti who roamed freely from centre half-forward in a best-on-ground performance.

While some of the Bulls recruits struggled, Magpies trio Zanetti, veteran Dionne Woods and rugged defender Ashley Smith shone.

Shane Thompson’s men led by two points at quarter time but lacked structure up forward in the first half with key forwards Paul Talbot-Smith and Ben O’Sullivan rarely sighted.

Midfielder Tyron Miller was once again impressive in the tricky conditions and besides veterans Peter Taylor and Sam Lehmann, the Bulls once again lacked consistent contributors.

The Magpies have kept their opposition to only 28 goals in the past four matches with Candy once again pleased with the even team performance and their resulting fourth win in a row.

“It’s just built on strength and confidence. Confidence is a great thing among the group and the biggest thing is they believe in each other and know how each other works,” Candy said.

“I know the paper has said we are fighting off for a three finish but that has never been our plan, to be honest our plan is a one or two finish, that’s our aim.”

Bulls’ coach Thompson said his side were on track but faced a crucial contest for their finals aspirations this Saturday against the battling Railways.

“Our depth has been pushed a fair bit. Losing Luke (Hammond) early to a knee injury hurt our rotations in the midfield and we are running out of legs,” he said.

“We are still being competitive but we are just not getting reward for effort.

“It is extremely hard what we are trying to do even some of the Perth guys have been away and we haven’t had that same 22.

“We have to get stronger, it’s hard but we are definitely heading in the right direction.”