BUPA TSL Round 6 Preview
Round six of the Bupa Tasmanian State League is nearly upon us, with a fierce rivalry between two of the state’s great clubs set to recommence, an ever-dangerous Tigers outfit taking on the red-hot Blues and Lauderdale back from the bye against a North Hobart side with a point to prove.
The round will also see players, umpires and officials wearing green armbands as a sign of respect and appreciation for the tremendous role umpires play in our great game.
The event is designed to help with the recruitment and retention of umpires across the state while also helping to generate and foster mutual respect between players, officials and umpires and encourage communication between all stakeholders in the game with a view to building a stronger commitment to eliminating abuse of all participants.
Saturday 5th May
Glenorchy v. Clarence (KGV) – 1:00pm
Last Time They Met: Glenorchy 10.10 (70) def. Clarence 8.7 (55) – Round 21, 2017 at KGV
Form Guide (most recent first): Glenorchy – W W W W B | Clarence – L L W B W
One of Tasmanian football’s richest rivalries resumes in round six, with southern powerhouses Glenorchy and Clarence locking horns.
The Magpies are sitting pretty atop the Bupa Tasmanian State League ladder, while the Roos sit in fourth place with an even 2-2 win-loss record.
Glenorchy have impressed with their immense pressure on the ball carrier, with coach Paul Kennedy conceding after the ANZAC Day match that the side had faded in that department in the second term, keeping the door ajar for the Tigers.
Clarence will look to put this heat back on the Magpies as the two sides battle for southern ascendancy, with Jeromey Webberley’s side also likely to come out with plenty of intent around the stoppages after being beaten by a cleaner Launceston outfit last weekend.
The Roos will again be without star onballer Brady Jones, with Jackson O’Brien and Troy Cunliffe set to against an in-form group of Brayden Webb, Jaye Bowden and Ben Kamaric.
The Magpies are the form side of the competition early in the season, and although the Roos have shown glimpses of brilliance, it is hard to go past the men in black and white at KGV, but as always, a clash between these traditional rivals is essential viewing.
Players to watch:
Daniel Joseph (Glenorchy): Simply one of the best players in the competition at the moment, returning Glenorchy star Daniel Joseph has made a big impression since slotting into a defensive role at KGV. Don’t be surprised if the Roos look to try and clamp down on his influence.
James Holmes (Clarence): A fearless defender who always gives his all, Holmes will have a key role to play in negating the host of names that will roll through Glenorchy’s forward 50.
How to follow:
LIVE Stream of the match via Facebook and YouTube with commentary from Damian Gill, Brent Costelloe and Cam Brown
Score updates via the official TSL App for Android and Apple.
Updates on the TSL Twitter account
Photos and vision on the official TSL Instagram account
North Hobart v. Lauderdale (North Hobart Oval) – 2:00pm
Last Time They Met: Lauderdale 17.13 (115) def. Hobart City Demons 4.9 (33) – Round 19, 2017 at Lauderdale Oval
Form Guide (most recent first): North Hobart – L L L L L | Lauderdale – B W L L L
Lauderdale went into last weekend’s bye full of confidence after accounting for the Tigers at Kingston’s Twin Ovals and will be looking to come back into the season with a win over the Demons.
The Dees will be hurting after last weekend’s big loss to the Northern Bombers, so expect the young side to come out firing, particularly early.
Lauderdale’s experience will make it hard for the hosts to stay in touch for the full afternoon, with the likes of Phil Bellchambers, Ryan Wiggins, Haydn Smith and Nat Franklin likely to stretch this North Hobart outfit.
Smith particularly has been a dominant force for the Bombers across the season, using his mobility and prowess in the air to often give Bellchambers and Franklin first use.
The Demons will also be forced to work out how they best quell the impact of dangermen Tim Mosquito, Henry Kerinaiua and Justin Cooper, all of whom have displayed the ability to tear a game open with their run, precise skills and crafty goal sense when inside 50.
North Hobart have been provided with a timely boost, with 140-game AFL veteran Colin Garland set to rejoin his junior club for the first time since being drafted in 2006.
Garland, who has been assisting Bear Robinson in recent weeks, will provide invaluable experience, leadership and class to an inexperienced side that will again be missing captain Hugh Williams.
The Bombers should be too strong for North Hobart, but as mentioned previously, expect the Demons to come into the contest with plenty of intent and hunger, especially under the guidance of former Melbourne Demon Garland.
Players to watch:
Nathan McCulloch (North Hobart): With skipper Hugh Williams likely to miss again, plenty of leadership responsibility falls on the shoulders of Nathan McCulloch, who has shown he is more than up to the task. A workhorse in the midfield, the Demons will need McCulloch to deliver against the likes of Bellchambers and Franklin.
Ben McGuinness (Lauderdale): Sporting one of the competition’s finest mullets, Ben McGuinness has shown glimpses of being able to take a game by the scruff of the neck, without completely doing so in 2018. Expect McGuinness, particularly if starting forward, to take control of the contest with his aerial prowess and crafty goal sense. One of the competition’s most versatile and dangerous utilities.
How to follow:
Score updates via the official TSL App for Android and Apple.
Updates on the TSL Facebook page, TSL Twitter account
Photos and vision on the official TSL Instagram account
Launceston v. Tigers (Windsor Park) – 2:00pm
Last Time They Met: Launceston 8.20 (68) def. Tigers 9.9 (63) – Round 16, 2017 at Windsor Park
Form Guide (most recent first): Launceston – W B W W L | Tigers – B L L L W
The Tigers will go into this clash at Windsor Park with plenty of optimism and belief, despite going down to Glenorchy last week and having won just the one game for the season to date.
The Tigers competed well against the Magpies on ANZAC Day, while the Blues enter the clash after accounting for Clarence at Blundstone Arena.
Launceston’s forward line, as always, will be a point of focus for the Tigers, with Launceston star Mitch Thorp set to be manned by Tiger defender Jake Doran in a duel that will likely go a long way to determining the result.
Ryan Matthews, Will Campbell and Lachy Clifford will be looking to continue their fine form against a Launceston midfield boasting Brodie Palfreyman, Sam Rundle and Jay Blackberry, with Hamish Leedham likely to give them first use.
Joe Boyce will play a crucial role in defence, as although the Tigers’ forward set-up isn’t as conventional as other teams, its mobility and pressure inside attacking 50, led by Edward Burrows-Cheng, has the capacity to take a team by surprise.
The Blues enter the clash as worthy favourites, with some question marks still hovering over the Tigers’ ability to hit the scoreboard, but if the Tigers can remain competitive for three quarters of the clash, anything could happen.
Players to watch:
Jack Rushton (Launceston): A revelation this season, Jack Rushton provides the Blues with a solid body around the contest and another mercurial avenue to goal at the feet of Mitch Thorp and Rulla Kelly-Mansell. With so many stars around him, a big question surrounds how the Tigers try to curb his influence.
Ryan Matthews (Tigers): After delivering his best game in the yellow and black on ANZAC Day, Matthews will once again be crucial if the Tigers are to cause an upset over the Blues. Expect Matthews to be at the bottom of packs feeding the ball out to the likes of Lachy Clifford and Sam Rice.
How to follow:
Live broadcast on City Park Radio 103.7 and 96.5 FM from 1.55 pm Saturday, also available via online stream at http://cityparkradio.com/online-stream/
Score updates via the official TSL App for Android and Apple.
Updates on the TSL Facebook page, TSL Twitter account
Photos and vision on the official TSL Instagram account
