Cleaner Blues Bounce Roos

The Blues have bounced back from the bye in impressive fashion, outgunning Clarence by 30 points at Blundstone Arena on Saturday. 

The Blues, who led at every change, looked to be the better side all day, with only a slight final term fade-out keeping the final margin at five goals.

A clear reason behind Launceston’s control over the match was cleanliness and efficiency around the contested ball.

Sam Rundle was brilliant for the Blues, finding plenty of the ball at the coalface and using it cleanly.

Midfield gun Brodie Palfreyman was similarly clean and potent, while big man Hamish Leedham also delivered another impressive performance that contained a magnificent goal from inside the centre square.

Both the Blues and the Roos possess damaging midfield groups, but with Brady Jones missing for the hosts and the likes of Rundle, Palfreyman and Jay Blackberry at the coalface for the visitors, the Blues took the advantage.

“For three quarters we were really well structured. Guys like Sam Rundle and Chris Savage are really starting to find their feet and add to the group.

“Hamish Leedham’s second and third efforts have been fantastic. He is continuing to work on his game and he will continue to develop his game as the season goes on,” Lonergan said.

The dominance around the contest was clear to see, but statistically speaking the contest was much closer in that department.

Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley said so much post-game, lamenting his side’s lack of polish around stoppages.

“I thought we took a step forward as a footy club last week. We really had a crack and matched North Launceston in contested ball and stoppage, and they are the best in the game at that.

“We thought if we brought the same attacking endeavour on the ball this week we would go a long way to defeating Launceston.

“But, if we are honest, they smashed us in that area – their polish around stoppage was a lot cleaner. They played extremely well, so full credit to them, but we were disappointing,” Webberley said.

Clarence face another major test in round six, travelling to KGV to take on an in-form traditional rival, Glenorchy, while Launceston will play host to the dangerous Tigers at Windsor Park.

Clarence                                2.2,  4.3,  5.5,  8.7  (55)

Launceston                          3.0,  8.2,  11.6,  13.7  (85)

GOALS

Clarence: J. Cox 2, J. Harper 2, T. Cunliffe 1, A. Dickenson 1, J. Bailey 1, G. Chambers 1

Launceston: M. Thorp 4, J. Gillow 2, J. Blackberry 2, C. Brown 1, J. Rushton 1, H. Leedham 1, J. Smith 1, J. Donnellan 1

BEST

Clarence: J. Bailey, A. Dickenson, T. Cunliffe, J. Holmes, J. Harper, M. Ling

Launceston: S. Rundle, J. Boyce, C. Brown, J. Gillow, B. Palfreyman, J. Smith