Underrated Magpie Flying High
Fresh off the back of winning the ANZAC Medal for an impressive display against the Tigers last week, Glenorchy midfielder Ben Kamaric insists his side has the hunger to do well in 2018.
Kamaric played a starring role in the Magpies’ hard fought 20-point win at Kingston’s Twin Ovals, stepping up on the big ANZAC Day stage with aplomb.
“It was nice to play well individually, but overall the team was able to stand up together under quite a bit of pressure from the Tigers.
“I feel like I have been getting better. I missed the early part of pre-season, and now I feel like I’m getting fitter with my match fitness as I start to roll into it,” 20-year-old Kamaric said.
Kamaric impressed on the ANZAC Day stage, being awarded with the ANZAC Medal as best afield, an honour Kamaric doesn’t take lightly.
“It means a lot to me. It is such a historical day and not many people get the chance to play football on ANZAC Day, let alone win a medal,” he said.
With the likes of Brayden Webb, Jaye Bowden and Rhys Mott usually the first names off the tongue when discussing Glenorchy’s side, Kamaric adds another string to Paul Kennedy’s lengthy bow with his ability to win the ball and use it well alongside these big names.
“It’s easy to gel [as a midfield group] when you have Pidge (Brayden Webb), Jaye Bowden and Rhys Mott in there – they really lead the way and I just try to stay with them.
“We are all very different. Pidge is the guy on the inside and Motty is the player we try and get the ball to. I try to play a bit on the outside and inside,” Kamaric said.
Glenorchy has made an eye-catching start to life under new coach Paul Kennedy after bowing out of the 2017 finals series in an elimination final upset to Launceston the year after tasting premiership success.
“PK has really come in and brought in little things, not a whole lot has changed. We were really disappointed with the team we have to get knocked out in the first round coming off a grand final. We had a big pre-season with some long nights and it’s starting to show now with our performances.
“We only have eight or nine from the 2016 premiership team left. We have always been a very player-driven group and don’t want to just win one.
“Not many people get to play in a grand final let alone win one, I want to get back there and do it again,” he said.
The Magpies have gone through the opening five rounds of the season undefeated, having won three matches against North Launceston, North Hobart and the Tigers in an 11-day window.
“All the games, even if they haven’t been competitive on the scoreboard, they have been really physical. We have stuck to our game plan and gotten into it. Against the Tigers, they were really good at slowing it up and making it a scrappy game. It was really good to come into that, being the third game in 11 days and perform like we did,” Kamaric said.
After spending much of this week off to refresh, the men in black and white won’t have too long to recover, facing the daunting tasks of Clarence and Launceston in the next fortnight.
“We are just working on getting our bodies fresh after three days in 11 games and roll into it.
“I hope we don’t lose a game all year, but we will take it one week at a time. We have got Clarence this week, and they are a really tough outfit when they are on. We saw last week against North Launceston that they took it right up to them, and they were really competitive against Launceston – if we’re not switched on, anything could happen,” he said.
Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy insists his focus is firmly on the Roos ahead of the round seven blockbuster at KGV.
“The first thing I was told when I arrived at the club by the supporters was that it doesn’t matter how many games you win, as long as you beat Clarence in all three games. It’s a big rivalry, I’m new to it but the players all know how big and important it is,” Kennedy said.
