LUCKNOW
Current position: Second
Points: 36
Strengths: The Magpies have a stoic defensive unit which contains Jessie Pescod, Jack Saulle, Shaun Mooney, skipper Jesse Glassborrow, Sam Park, Tom Southern, Stevie Bertino and Andrew Nelson. They have plenty of tall forwards at their disposal with Dallas and Jackson Smith, Bayley Croucher, John Gooch, Nick Mooney, Jake Richards and some slick small forwards including Brendan Flinn and Damian Hodder.
Weaknesses: Dion Grace is a powerhouse in the ruck, but the loss of Nick George mid season with a serious knee injury is costly. A lot will now depend on the form of Glenn Perkins, Ash and Zac Smith, Joel McNamara and Ryan Halford around the centre, and whether they can get the ball in quick to the forwards, which doesn’t always happen. Most sides think if they can kick 12 goals or more on a given day against Lucknow, that is enough to beat the super defensive Pies.
Key player: Jackson Smith – the Magpies look a different side when he’s operating in the forward 50m, which also allows Gooch to play further up the ground.
Run home: Lindenow (A), Stratford (H), Wy Yung (H), Lakes Entrance (A), Paynesville (H) and Orbost Snowy Rovers (A).
Prediction: The boom side going into the season has delivered without being super impressive. The Magpies have an outstanding tall arsenal up forward, which is yet to fully fire. Most have shown glimpses except Croucher who has struggled. They have the draw on the way home to finish top two, and if it all comes together on the right day, a premiership is a possibility.
IMAGE: Lucknow’s Jackson Smith
