The Wrap – Round 20

The second-to-last round of the 2022 TSL Season was an entertaining one, with the round made up of clashes between Clarence and Glenorchy, Launceston and Kingborough, and North Hobart and North Launceston.

First off, it was Clarence and Glenorchy facing off at Blundstone Arena. The Roos got off to a hot start at home, kicking 9.2 to the Pies’ 1.1 in the opening quarter to lead by 49 points. Clarence continued to dominate the affair by taking their lead to 61 points at the half and 81 at three-quarter-time.

After a strong six-goal final term, the Roos ran out convincing 21.10.136 to 2.8.20 victors over Glenorchy. Colin Garland was the undisputed best-on-ground after a superb haul of 13.5, along with 11 marks and 22 disposals.

In the red and white, stars such as Jarrod Harper (three goals, six clearances, eight marks, 35 disposals), Jack Preshaw (eight clearances, 30 disposals), Sam Green (seven tackles, eight clearances, 43 hit-outs, 26 disposals), and Baxter Norton (nine clearances, 27 disposals) were also excellent.

For the Magpies, Matthew Joseph was the lone goalkicker on the afternoon with both of their goals, and Blake Waight continued his solid run of form in 2022 with 23 disposals against Clarence.

The ‘Roos will now await their week one finals opponent, with the final round to determine whether the Bombers of the north or south will tackle the ‘Roos in the first Saturday of September.

In the north, it was a top-two skirmish at Windsor Park between the premiers Launceston and the Tigers. Launceston came out red-hot and smashed Kingborough early, kicking 8.2 to 1.2 in the first quarter to take a seven-goal lead.

The Blues continued their outright domination, leading by 49 points at half-time and 67 points at the last break. Despite the best efforts of the Tigers, the class of Launceston shone through in a comprehensive 16.18.114 to 5.6.36 win.

Michael Musicka (6.4, nine marks, 17 disposals) and Jackson Thurlow (4.1, 10 disposals) were the Blues’ best in front of goal, and stars such as Fletcher Seymour (eight clearances, 29 disposals), Brodie Palfreyman (one goal, six clearances, 10 marks, 25 disposals), and Jay Blackberry (24 disposals) were greatly influential against Kingborough.

In the Tigers camp, Tyler Carter led the way up forward with two of Kingborough’s five goals, and the likes of Lachlan Clifford (one goal, seven clearances, 11 marks, 30 disposals), Riley Ashlin (five clearances, 25 disposals), and Marcus Gardner (49 hit-outs, 13 disposals) were defiant against the premiers.

The two sides will meet again in a few weeks in the opening round of the 2022 finals series.

Finally, it was a northern battle at North Hobart Oval between North Hobart and North Launceston. The Demons matched with the Northern Bombers as both sides slotted five goals each in a very entertaining first quarter.

However, North Launceston kicked away in the second after kicking 5.2 and holding the home side to one point to lead by 35 points at the main break. Unfortunately for the Dees, they were held goalless again in the third quarter and conceded 8.4 as North Launceston took an 85-point lead with a term remaining.

In the end, after a 7.6 to 2.1 final quarter in the Bombers’ favour, it was a huge 25.20.170 to 7.6.48 North Launceston victory. Tasmania Devil Seth Campbell was unarguably the star of the show, kicking a bag of 10.6 and amassing 29 disposals against North Hobart.

Additionally, Brad Cox-Goodyer (5.3, seven tackles, eight clearances, 27 disposals), Jack Avent (three goals, eight tackles, 24 disposals), Alex Lee (0.1, nine clearances, 63 hit-outs, 10 disposals) and Ben Simpson (seven tackles, eight clearances, 28 disposals) starred for the Bombers.

Despite a tough defeat, Devils star Will Splann made his presence felt kicking five of the Dees’ seven goals, and Callum Kilpatrick (0.1, five clearances, 24 disposals) and George McLeod (seven rebound inside-50s, 22 disposals) held their ground against North Launceston.

The Northern Bombers now need Lauderdale to lose to Kingborough next weekend, and to record a convincing win over Glenorchy to book another finals series ticket.