Mitchell Magpies optimistic for historic grand final win after 21 years

Mitchell has painted the town black and white ahead of this weekend’s massive grand final event, proving that nothing can stop the tiny town’s mighty mark on regional rugby league.

Mitchell Magpies A Grade will face off against the Red Bulls this Sunday August 27, 2023 to fight for the grand final title.

They might be small but they sure are mighty, with a southwest Queensland town showing unrivalled support for their local rugby league team as they face off in the grand final this weekend.

Mitchell is now a sea of black and white thanks to the dedicated and loyal Magpies fanbase who have been sharing photos and videos of themselves on social media wearing the iconic merchandise.

You can’t walk down Mitchell’s main street without seeing the creative shop front windows all giving their support and well wishes to the town’s beloved ‘Maggies’.

Even the school kids got involved with Mitchell State School declaring that the Friday before the grand final weekend students were allowed to dress up in black and white to celebrate.

Mitchell Magpies A-grade coach John Birkett said he was beginning to feel the nerves ahead of this weekend but was nonetheless excited to score some retribution this year.

Loyal fans have been sharing their support for the Maggies on Facebook in the lead up to this weekend's grand final at Bassett Park Roma, Sunday August 27 2023.

Loyal fans have been sharing their support for the Maggies on Facebook in the lead up to this weekend's grand final at Bassett Park Roma, Sunday August 27 2023.

“The last few weeks have seen a united town even more connected than usual,” Birkett said.

“Hopefully a bit of retribution on last year. There’s been a lot of good news this season, we’re undefeated in A-grade and only one defeat in reserve grade.

“It’s good to experience the grand final week, but we’re just treating it like a normal week and not getting ahead of ourselves.

“We can let our hair down afterwards.

“I was in the winning team in ‘02 and it was very special for me. I hope the boys get to experience it.”

The A-grade side is set to face off against the Red Bulls while the reserve grade will take on the Chinchilla Bulldogs.

Birkett said the team was feeling “very blessed” to have such strong supporters who have ridden with them through the highs and lows.

He said fans from as far as Toowoomba and Brisbane have travelled to watch the games.

“The supporters have been strong regardless. You obviously get more support when you’re doing well, but there’s a good feel at the club at the moment,” Birkett said.

“They’re very loyal and very passionate and players feed off that. We’re very blessed.

“When you take us out of the crowd, it’s not a big crowd usually.

Mitchell Magpies A Grade will face off against the Red Bulls this Sunday August 27, 2023 to fight for the grand final title.

“I’m looking forward to the day. I hate waiting, it makes it a bit more nerve wracking.”

The Magpies are certainly in with a good shot to take out the top prize for the first time in 21 years after their last grand final win back in 2002.

“Everyone does their job. Johnny Russo and Tyson Jackson are new to the club, their first year,” Birkett said.

“Charlie and Lachy have come back. We have four new blokes we didn’t have last year.

“These news guys have fit in real well. We had three out for a long time for injuries but they’ll be back.”

“The playing group are confident, they don’t go overboard and aren’t arrogant.

“We’ve got quality players, they’re just a driven bunch of guys.

“They’ve matured so much in 12 months.

“We just tweaked a few little things from last year. We’re all on the same page, we just need to trust the process.”

Loyal fans have been sharing their support for the Maggies on Facebook in the lead up to this weekend's grand final at Bassett Park Roma, Sunday August 27 2023.

Impressively, the Mitchell Magpies have three of their four grades playing in the grand final, with the under-14s on Saturday and the reserve grade also playing on the Sunday.

“Our reserve grade is just as good A-grade, they could compete in the A-grade,” Birkett said.

Cilla Thornton from Mitchell Pharmacy said they put together a shop front display to show their support for the Maggies.

“They have got to win,” she said.

“We’re all such a close community, everyone knows everyone. We’ve always been supportive of them (Magpies).

“Everyone is in such a good mood. It’s absolutely amazing at the moment, all the businesses have got window displays for the Maggies.”

Thornton said the identity of Mitchell was heavily entwined with the Magpies.

“They’re just Mitchell, it is Mitchell – they make it. The dance, the football, it just makes the town,” she said.

Mitchell butcher Jono Lawson said he was looking forward to cheering them on from the stands this weekend at Roma’s Bassett Park and was confident they’ll bring home the title.

“S--t yeah, they’ve definitely got it in them,” he said.

“It’s been the talk of the town for the last couple of weeks.

“It’s going to be a ghost town here on Sunday, everyone will be in Roma at the grand final.

“I think it’s just a good community and good club, and they’re all very well supported.

“We even got surrounding towns like Charleville and Cunnamulla playing and supporting us as well.”

The staunch supporter’s final piece of advice to the players ahead of this weekend was a simple ‘up the Maggies’, the town’s iconic war cry which hopefully will bring the boys to victory.

Originally published as Mitchell Magpies optimistic for historic grand final win after 21 years