Bupa TSL Round 14 Preview
In a season full of twists and turns, round 14 of the Bupa Tasmanian State League will see matches that are likely to have significant ramifications on the make-up of the top five.
Check out all the team selections here.
Saturday 30th June
Glenorchy v Launceston – KGV Oval (2:00pm)
Last Time They Met: Launceston 12.9 (81) def. Glenorchy 13.2 (80) – Round 7, 2018 at Windsor Park
Form Guide (most recent first): Glenorchy – W W W L L | Launceston – L B L L W
Launceston will have a point to prove when it meets Glenorchy at KGV this weekend, with the side desperate to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Blues just held on last time the two teams met at Windsor Park in round seven, but have won just the one match since, dropping to fourth on the ladder in the process.
Without question one of the competition’s premier outfits when firing on all cylinders, Launceston will be looking to bounce back against the Magpies, particularly with the announcement during the week that Sonny Whiting has parted ways with the club.
Whiting’s absence will be a blow, but the return of Allies gun Ethan Jackson will boost Sam Lonergan’s side.
Glenorchy will enter the match with confidence after comprehensively accounting for the ‘Roos last weekend, and despite going down to the Blues just over a month ago, will also take heart out of that effort.
This match will pit two of the competition’s best ruckman against each other in Hamish Leedham and Cameron Duffy, while the likely match up of Josh Grant on Mitch Thorp will also be fascinating viewing, particularly after Thorp was kept to just one goal last weekend.
The Magpies, despite having several stars out, are a very dangerous outfit and will enter the match with confidence after three wins on the trot but will need to be wary of a wounded Blues side.
It was a thriller last time these sides met, and we can expect more of the same this time around. This should be a genuine cracker.
Tip: Magpies by 5 points.
Players to watch:
Mitch Rainbird (Glenorchy): Started last weekend’s match in a blaze of glory, Rainbird was crucial in helping the Magpies get off to a strong start against the ‘Roos. Rainbird is equally damaging in the contest and on the outside and will be a key player if the Magpies are to get on top in the midfield.
Sam Lonergan (Launceston): The coach returned to the senior side last week and kicked three goals in a bright performance in an otherwise disappointing display for his club. Lonergan will be better for the run after an injury-plagued start to 2018 – expect him to play a key role inside forward 50.
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
Saturday 30th June
North Launceston v Lauderdale – UTAS Stadium (2:00pm)
Last Time They Met: North Launceston 19.19 (133) def. Lauderdale 5.9 (39) – Round 7, 2018 at UTAS Stadium
Form Guide (most recent first): North Launceston – B L W W W | Lauderdale – W W B W W
Last season’s grand finalists will meet for the second time since last year’s decider, and the southern Bombers will have a point to prove after losing its last three matches at UTAS Stadium by an average margin of 91 points.
There is a different sense and feeling surrounding Lauderdale heading into this match, however, with Darren Winter’s side finding some touch after a tough start to the year.
Lauderdale have gone from a 0-3 start to now sit level on points with Launceston at 6-5.
Lauderdale will need to have their stars firing, with the return of Phil Bellchambers from suspension set to provide a timely boost. Nat Franklin, Josh McGuinness, Ben McGuinness and Ryan Wiggins will also have key roles across the ground, with the depth of talent within this North Launceston side well documented.
North Launceston is clearly the premier side in the competition, however, and will be a serious mountain for the southern Bombers to climb.
With the likes of Whitford, Lee, Burt, Bennett and Ponting all taking impressive form into the bye, it is tough to see North Launceston falling short in this one, but if Lauderdale can get off to a fast start against a team coming off the bye, anything is possible.
The prospect of a North Launceston team coming off a loss (albeit with a bye since) is a daunting proposition. Expect the reigning premiers to be too strong once again.
Tip: Northern Bombers by 30 points
Players to watch:
Taylor Whitford (North Launceston): One of the competition’s premier players this season, Whitford’s run and carry and precise kicking inside forward 50 are a handful for opposition clubs. If Lauderdale can curb Whitford’s influence, it will go a long way to sparking an upset.
Josh McGuinness (Lauderdale): Lauderdale’s defensive general, McGuinness will need to be at his best to curtail North Launceston’s dynamic forward group of McCulloch, Burt and Bennett, while also generating
LIVE Stream of the match via Facebook and YouTube from 1.50pm with commentary from the team at City Park Radio
City Park Radio live broadcast also available on 103.7 FM and 96.5 FM and online
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
Saturday 30th June
Clarence v Tigers – Blundstone Arena (2:00pm)
Last Time They Met: Tigers 1.8 (14) def. by Clarence 8.17 (65) – Round 7, 2018 at Twin Ovals
Form Guide (most recent first): Tigers – W L L B L | Clarence – L W W W B
A fortnight ago this match would have been considered as a fairly easy one to tip, with the ‘Roos riding a wave of momentum and the Tigers consistently falling just short of the opposition.
Fast forward to this week, however, and the Tigers will now enter this clash with a renewed sense of optimism and expectation after breaking through for a big scalp over Launceston.
The Tigers will now need to ensure that they can play with the same hunger and vigour on a consistent basis, and there would be no greater opportunity than a clash with one of the competition’s pacesetters this weekend.
Marcus Davies will be a big inclusion for the Tigers, as will Hugh Johnston – particularly with Clarence ruckman Ryan Bailey’s standing as one of the competition’s most in-form players.
Clarence will be bolstered by the return of late withdrawal James Holmes, especially with the mobile and nimble forward line of the Tigers, one that is mirrored by the ‘Roos.
The Tigers are a difficult team to put away and will not make things easy for the ‘Roos, but the class of this Clarence outfit, and a desire to bounce back after last week’s loss to the Magpies, should see the hosts pull away and get back on the winners list.
Tip: ‘Roos by 24 points
Players to watch:
Chris Nield (Clarence): Coming up against his former side for just the second time, Chris Nield will be eager to have a big say in how Saturday unfolds. In fine goalkicking form this season, Nield’s capacity to compete at ground level and aerially makes him a dangerous match-up.
Nic Hutchinson (Tigers): After an injury interrupted start to his 2018 campaign, Hutchinson is starting to find some of his best form as part of the Tigers’ back six. More than capable of locking down gun forwards and providing bounce out of the back half, keep a close eye on who Hutchinson goes to and how he balances these two parts of his game.
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
