Bupa TSL Round 15 Preview
Three of the competition’s hottest rivalries will heat up once again in round 15, with all games more than capable of going either way.
Check out all the team selections here.
Friday 6th July
North Launceston v Launceston – UTAS Stadium (7:00pm)
Last Time They Met: Launceston 7.8 (50) def. by North Launceston 15.13 (103) – Round 8, 2018 at Windsor Park
The Launceston derby will pit two sides at opposition ends of the form spectrum against each other this Friday night.
North Launceston enter the clash on top of the ladder and fresh off a hard-fought win over Lauderdale, while Launceston are coming off the back of four straight losses and in serious need of a boost to keep in touch with the top three.
Clashes between these two sides are always essential viewing, and despite their difference in form, expect the Blues to enter this match all guns blazing and take It right up to the Northern Bombers.
Some of the competition’s prime movers will go head to head, with both sides possessing stars on every line.
Will the Blues try and shut down Taylor Whitford? Will the Bombers try and clamp down on Brodie Palfreyman? These midfield battles will be fascinating to watch, with both sides boasting bona fide gamebreakers through the middle of the park.
How Launceston combat Tom Bennett, Bart McCulloch and Zach Burt will be crucial, while Mitch Thorp at the other end is also likely to cause the Bombers some headaches.
The Blues will come out with a point to prove and will cause the Bombers plenty of trouble, but expect the reigning champs to take the chocolates in a hard-fought affair under the Friday night lights.
Tip: Northern Bombers by 16 points
Players to watch:
Beau Sharman (North Launceston): The former Devonport co-captain played his best game as a Bomber to date against Lauderdale, kicking two goals and dominating the game out of the middle. Capable of adding a touch of class wherever he goes, expect Sharman to cause havoc against the Blues.
Brodie Palfreyman (Launceston): Launceston’s prime mover in the middle, Palfreyman’s 2018 output, although solid, hasn’t quite matched his breakout 2017 form to date. Palfreyman is capable of turning a game on its head with his skill, strength and footy smarts, and against the deepest midfield in the competition, will be setting himself for a big game.
LIVE Stream of the match via Facebook and YouTube from 6.55pm 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
Clarence v Lauderdale – Blundstone Arena (2:00pm)
Last Time They Met: Lauderdale 13.15 (93) def. by Clarence 16.11 (107) – Round 8, 2018 at Lauderdale Oval
Rivalries don’t get much bigger than the Eastern Shore rivalry between Clarence and Lauderdale, but with the Speak UP! Stay ChatTY Cup up for grabs, this weekend’s match takes on even greater significance.
Now an important tradition on the TSL calendar, the Stay ChatTY cup pits two of the competition’s biggest rivals against each other while raising awareness for a hugely important cause, suicide prevention.
Lauderdale have gone down to Clarence on both occasions so far this season, but could have easily won both had chances been taken throughout those two matches at Lauderdale Oval.
With Lauderdale hoping to gain x-factor Thor Boscott and the ‘Roos set to miss Jackson O’Brien for an extended period, selection will be very interesting come Saturday morning.
Jake Cox typically has a day out when he lines up against the Bombers, so expect plenty of focus to be put into him during the match.
Whether the ‘Roos persist with young talent Conner Berry in the ruck will be interesting to watch, with this move allowing Ryan Bailey to spend greater time forward of centre, where he is more than capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and kicking a bag.
Expect both sides to bring everything to the table for the occasion, and with both sides approaching the game in reasonable form, this could go either way.
Tip: ‘Roos by six points
Players to watch:
Jake Cox (Clarence): A star of the competition, Jake Cox appears to enjoy playing against Lauderdale more than any other side, often saving his most mercurial efforts for the Eastern Shore rivalry. Whether rolling through the midfield or playing as a forward, Cox will be a handful.
Thor Boscott (Lauderdale): One of the most exciting players in the competition will line up for his first game of 2018 after battling an injured foot. Likely to play out of full forward, expect Boscott, even after such a long lay off, to light up the S[eak UP! Stay ChatTY Cup.
LIVE Stream of the match via Facebook and YouTube from 1.50pm 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 Facebook page, TSL Twitter account
Photos and vision on the official TSL Instagram account
North Hobart v Tigers – North Hobart Oval (2:00pm)
Last Time They Met: Tigers 5.12 (42) def. by North Hobart 7.8 (50) – Round 8, 2018 at Twin Ovals
Much has been made of the last time these sides met, with North Hobart’s stirring eight-point win in round eight one of the stories of the season to date.
North Hobart’s youth has also been covered extensively, with the challenges of a full senior TSL season seeing the fast development of some exciting young prospects.
The Tigers have been far more competitive since that day, culminating in an impressive win over Launceston a fortnight ago.
Although North Hobart will welcome back a raft of U17 representatives they will still be without Colin Garland and Nathan McCulloch, with this lack of experience likely to hurt against a Tigers outfit boasting an in-form contingent that includes Will Campbell, Mitch Carter and Blake Grant.
The Demons will be competitive but the Tigers should be too strong and record win number three for the year, particularly with skipper Samael Rice slotting back into the team after being withdrawn last weekend.
Tip: Tigers by 24 points
Players to watch:
Will Peppin (North Hobart): Named best afield for Tasmania’s U17 Academy side earlier this week, Peppin is an exciting prospect, who after Mariners experience earlier this season, is set for a big finish to the year in the red and blue.
Heath Thompson (Tigers): Tigers man big man Heath Thompson has been in impressive touch throughout 2018, drifting forward to hit the scoreboard while also competing well in the ruck. Set to be a key asset against a youthful North Hobart outfit.
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
