BUPA TSL Round 2 Forward of the Week
Round two of the Bupa Tasmanian State League finished is done, with Glenorchy, North Launceston and Launceston all registering big wins.
We want to know who you considered to be the premier defenders, midfielders and forwards of the round.
In this edition we are taking a look at the forwards with two of the off-season’s biggest recruits standing tall – Launceston’s Mitch Thorp and Glenorchy’s Mitch Walker.
Mitch Thorp (Launceston)
Thorp made himself at home at Windsor Park with a dominant display against North Hobart, booting 7.8 in a performance that outlined his aerial prowess.
Serviced with exquisite delivery, Thorp was too much for the Demons to handle, using his wealth of experience and big frame to patrol the forward 50 with excellence.
Thorp also served as a ruckman inside forward 50, providing more than adequate assistance to big man Hamish Leedham.
After kicking two majors in round one, Thorp has reaffirmed his status as one of the power forwards of the competition, and if this performance is any indication, opposition defences may be in for a long season.
Mitch Walker (Glenorchy)
After impressing during his time at the Twin Ovals, Mitch Walker’s return to junior club Glenorchy was everything Magpie fans could have ever hoped for.
Walker provided a key target inside forward 50, displaying his strong game sense, aerial capacity and tidy kicking skills in a strong display.
With five majors to his name, Lauderdale had no answer for the 21-year-old, with his efforts made all the more remarkable after the game when coach Paul Kennedy conceded he nearly didn’t play Walker after a persistent foot injury throughout the offseason had hampered his preparations.
