The Wrap – Round 3

By Joseph Vasquez

Round 3 of the 2023 TSL season delivered some fantastic football over the ANZAC Day weekend, with the round made up of matches between Clarence and Launceston, Kingborough and Glenorchy, and North Hobart and Lauderdale. 

First, it was Clarence hosting Launceston at Blundstone Arena on Saturday afternoon. The home side got off to a solid start, kicking 3.3 to the Blues’ 2.1 in the opening quarter to lead by eight points at quarter-time. The Roos extended their lead in the second quarter to lead by 19 points at the half. Proceeding from half-time, Clarence continued to kick away, taking their lead to 37 at three-quarter-time. In the end, it was Clarence knocking off the reigning premiers, winning 12.9.81 to 7.9.51. 

Noah Holmes was strong up forward for the Roos with four majors, and the likes of Sam Green (seven one-percenters, nine marks, nine clearances, 11 contested possessions, 32 hit-outs, 30 disposals), Keegan Wylie (six contested possessions, six rebound inside-50s, 10 marks, 32 disposals) and Oscar Paprotny (one goal, seven marks, eight clearances, nine tackles, 10 contested possessions, 26 disposals) were brilliant for Clarence. 

For the Blues, Liam Jones (three goals, five contested possessions, 14 disposals), Jake Hinds (two goals, six clearances, seven contested possessions, 11 marks, 21 disposals) and Brodie Palfreyman (five inside-50s, five clearances, 10 contested possessions, 30 disposals) were resolute in defeat. 

Next, it was the Kingborough Tigers and Glenorchy at the Twin Ovals on ANZAC Day. The Tigers got off to a red-hot start, kicking 5.3 in the opening term and keeping the Pies scoreless for the quarter to lead by 33 points at the first break. Kingborough kept their foot down in the second quarter and extended their lead to 58 at the half. 

The Tigers continued to dominate after half-time, their lead going in to triple figures and not conceding a goal in the second half. At the final siren, it was an emphatic 20.14.134 to 2.3.15 victory for Kingborough. 

James Zeitzen (three goals, five tackles, six marks, six inside-50s, eight contested possessions, 23 disposals) and Jack Tomkinson (three goals, five clearances, eight marks, 12 contested possessions, 19 hit-outs, 19 disposals) were dangerous around the ground and in front of goals for the Tigers, and likes of Lachlan Clifford (one goal, six marks, 10 clearances, 16 contested possessions, 34 disposals) and Nic Baker (one goal, five tackles, eight inside-50s, nine clearances, 13 contested possessions, 31 disposals) were also superb in the yellow and black.  

In the Glenorchy camp, Callum Thompson (nine tackles, 11 clearances, 15 contested possessions, 22 disposals) and Matthew Joseph (five rebound inside-50s, six contested possessions, six inside-50s, 22 disposals) were shining lights in a hard loss for the Magpies.   

Finally, it was North Hobart and Lauderdale at North Hobart Oval also on ANZAC Day. North Hobart made a good start against the Bombers, kicking 5.1 to 2.2 to lead by 17 points at quarter-time. After a relatively even second quarter, North Hobart’s lead had decreased only by a point. Following the main interval, the Demons took their lead to 35 points at three-quarter-time as the Bombers rued their missed opportunities in front of goal. 

In the final quarter, North Hobart remained in control to lock away their first victory of season 2023, a 12.10.82 to 6.14.50 victory over Lauderdale. Jack McCulloch was strong in front of goal for North Hobart with three goals, and Nick Jackson (six clearances, eight contested possessions, eight inside-50s, 10 marks, 24 disposals), Matthew Campbell (seven contested possessions, 10 marks, 26 possessions), and Angus Norton (nine contested possessions, nine tackles, 22 disposals) were standouts in the red and blue.  

For Lauderdale, Bryce Walsh (one goal, five marks, six tackles, 10 clearances, 13 contested possessions, 31 disposals), Josh McGuinness (six contested possessions, eight rebound inside-50s, 12 marks, 30 disposals), and Sam Siggins (one goal, five inside-50s, 15 contested possessions, 16 clearances, 29 disposals) resisted the Demons in spite of a tough defeat.  

This weekend, North Launceston hosts Clarence on Saturday afternoon at UTAS Stadium, and on Sunday afternoon Glenorchy and North Hobart do battle at KGV Oval, as well as Lauderdale and Kingborough at SkyBus Oval.