Wrest Point TSLW Round 9 Preview

Round nine of the Wrest Point Tasmanian State League Women’s season sees Clarence take on Burnie at Geilston Bay and the Tigers host Launceston at the Twin Ovals, writes TSLW Digital Reporter Olivia Clayton.

Sunday 24^th June

Clarence v. Burnie (Geilston Bay) – 12:00pm

Form Guide (most recent first): Clarence – L W B W W L B W | Burnie – W B L L L L L B

Last Time They Met: Clarence 17.10 (112) def. Burnie 0.1 (1) – Round 4, 2018 at Geilston Bay

Burnie will travel South in round nine to take on Clarence at Geilston Bay. Clarence went down by nine points to Glenorchy in round eight and will be itching to get back onto the winners list, while Burnie won their first game of the season and will enter this clash on a high.

The last time Burnie and Clarence played each other was in round four this year, with the Roos claiming a 111-point victory.

Jacinta Limbrick and Nat Pearce scored four goals for the Roos against Burnie on that occasion, with Darcy Elliston kicking two and Jessica Minifie, Nat Heggie, Tiff Nichols, Chloe Wells, Sophie Pennicott, Chantelle MacPherson and Jenna Farrow scored one each.

Rachel Archer and Loveth Ochayi are out for Clarence this round, whilst Nat Pearce and Zoie Crawford come in. Crawford will be playing her first game for the 2018 season in round nine.

Clarence coach, Andy Smith, says this week’s focus for the team will be to “continue to work on fine tuning our game plan” after going down to the Magpies last weekend.

Burnie only managed one behind against Clarence last time but have struggled this season with players unavailable and injury woes. With their effort last week, and the addition of AFLW player Emma Humphries, they look to be back in form and will be a dangerous proposition for the ‘Roos.

Morgan Wright and Melanie Radford are in for the Dockers this week, whilst Teagan Byard, Kaylah Keogh, Hannah Martin, Finlay Bryan and Shelby Rayner are out for round nine.

Burnie coach, Richard Mulcahy hopes the Dockers can build off the success of last weekend against the Tigers.

“This week we hope to attack more while maintaining our great defensive efforts,” he said.

Players to Watch:

Tahlia Bortingnon (Clarence): Bortingnon played her first game in the TSLW last week against Glenorchy. Bortingnon finished sixth in the best players for Clarence in round eight. Bortingnon has played both games in the AFLW U18 Competition in June this year. In her first match against NSW and ACT she finished third in the best players before being named as best on in her second game. Although she is quite young, and new to TSLW Football, she has made a strong debut and will be a key figure for Clarence moving forward.

Emily Doig (Burnie): Doig has played four matches for Burnie so far in her first year playing TSLW football. Doig has finished in the best players three out of four times, ranking second each time. Although Doig doesn’t have much experience playing TSLW Football, she has proven that she is a reliable player and definitely one to watch for the remainder of the season.

Clarence

B: S. Hinks, R. Long,

HB: D. Elliston, K. Johnson, H. Scott

C: T. Bortignon, G. Pennicott, B. Scott

HF: J. Limbrick, J. Minifie, M. Smith

F: G. Mitchell, S. Pennicott,

R: C. Wells, N. Bresnehan, T. Ford

Int: Z. Crawford, J. Farrow, N. Heggie, N. Pearce

In: N. Pearce, Z. Crawford

Out: R. Archer, L. Ochayi

Burnie

B: K. Johnson, E. Duncombe,

HB: S. Rodman, L. Haines, L. Stevenson

C: S. Langmaid, E. Humphries, S. Sanderson

HF: S. Ferguson-Stevens, C. Haines,

F: B. Smith, M. Radford, N. Whitehead

R: E. Doig, M. Wright, C. Chandler

In: M. Wright, M. Radford

Out: T. Byard, K. Keogh, H. Martin, F. Bryan, S. Rayner

Sunday 24^th June

Launceston v. Tigers (Windsor Park) – 12:00pm

Form Guide (most recent first): Tigers – L L L B L W L L | Launceston – B L W L W B W W

Last Time They Met: Launceston 14.9 (93) def. Tigers 1.4 (10) – Round 4, 2018 at Windsor Park

The Tigers will host Launceston at the Twin Ovals in round nine. The Tigers lost to Burnie at Wivenhoe in round eight and Launceston returns from the bye this week.

The Blues triumphed the last time these sides played each other, running out 83-point winners at Windsor Park.

Mia King was the Blues leading goal kicker with three goals. Emma Manix-geeves, Abbey Green and Ange Dickson scored two, and Brooke Thurlow, Courtney Stanley, Chevy Thuringer, Dearne Taylor and Danika Corcoran kicked one each.

Mia King, Amy Halaby, Meg Radford and Camilla Taylor return to play for Launceston in their first game back since playing in the AFLW U18 State Championships in early June.

The Tigers have had quite a few changes this week. B. McDonald, Olivia McGow, Elizabeth Kirkwood, D Woolley, M Hogarth, Milly Smith and Inez Balon-Rotheram come in. Mikayla Absolom, Maddison Gardner, Jodie Mather, Melinda Green, Priscilla Odwogo and Nicole Durham are out for round nine.

Roxy Tyler was also concussed in the first quarter of the round nine match against Burnie, but has been cleared to play this week.

Tigers coach, Brad Willis knows the reigning premiers will be a big challenge for his side.

“Launceston are a very well drilled and skilful combination and will pose an enormous challenge at home this Sunday, particularly with our list that has been hit hard by injury and unavailability

“Last game we were competitive for 3 quarters but they blew the game open in the second quarter pouring on 8 goals. We must ensure such run-ons do not occur this time.

“The focus will be on accountability and not allowing defenders and mids to drift forward and provide options in the corridor,” Willis said.

Players to Watch:

Gillian Millar (Tigers): Millar played nine games in 2017, scored one goal and was named in the best players seven times. So far this season, Millar has played seven matches, kicked two goals and been named in the best players four times. Tigers coach, Brad Willis, considers Millar “a reliable target” and she will likely be a key figure once again.

Emma Mannix-Geeves (Launceston): Mannix-Geeves played twelve matches in the 2017 season and scored five goals. Mannix-Geeves was also named in the best players three times. So far this year Mannix-Geeves has played three matches and been named in the best players twice, while also kicking five goals, equaling her season total of last year. Although we are only half way in to the 2018 season, Mannix-Geeves looks to have improved since last season making the rest of her 2018 season exciting to watch.

Tigers