The Wrap – Round 6 – Tasmanian State League

By Joseph Vasquez

Round six of the 2023 TSL season was another great weekend of football around the state with fixtures between Clarence and North Hobart, Glenorchy and North Launceston, and Lauderdale and Launceston.

First off, it was Clarence and North Hobart locking horns at Blundstone Arena in the curtain-raiser for the North Melbourne-Port Adelaide match. North Hobart took an early lead of four points at quarter-time after kicking 3.1 to Clarence’s 2.3. However, the Roos regained the lead following the break and were 19 points in front at the half. The third term was an arm-wrestle, but Clarence maintained a 16-point lead at the final change. The Demons fought hard, but in the end, the Roos came out on top, battling to a 8.11.59 to 6.6.42 victory.

Noah Holmes kicked two goals for Clarence, and Sam Green (eight inside-50s, nine marks, 10 clearances, 16 contested possessions, 27 disposals), Baxter Norton (one goal, six marks, six clearances, nine contested possessions, 27 disposals), and Keegan Ryan (one goal, six marks, 11 tackles, 16 disposals) were important for the Roos.

In the Demons’ camp, Jack McCulloch had a strong afternoon in front of goal, kicking four of North Hobart’s six goals, and Nick Jackson (five one-percenters, six marks, eight clearances, 20 contested possessions, 32 disposals) and Dominic White (five rebound inside-50s, five tackles, six marks, nine contested possessions, 20 disposals) were resolute in the red and blue.

Next up, it was Glenorchy facing off against North Launceston at KGV Oval. North Launceston made a great start, kicking five goals straight to the Magpies’ 1.4 in the opening quarter to lead by 20 points at quarter-time. The Northern Bombers continued to pile on the pain in the second quarter, extending their lead to 63 at half-time. While inaccurate in the third term kicking 2.8, North Launceston held a lead of 69 points at three-quarter-time.

At the final siren, it was a 17.12.114 to 5.10.40 win for North Launceston. Brad Cox-Goodyer and Jack Aherne were dangerous up forward for the victors kicking four goals each, and Ben Simpson (five inside-50s, seven tackles, eight clearances, nine marks, 15 contested possessions, 37 disposals), Nathan Pearce (one goal, seven clearances, 11 tackles, 14 contested possessions, 16 disposals), and Connor Leeflang (nine marks, 12 contested possessions, 27 disposals) were prolific in the red and black.

For the Pies, Braidy Simpson (seven marks, nine contested possessions, nine rebound inside-50s, 30 disposals), Blake Waight (eight one-percenters, 13 marks, 25 disposals), and Callum Thompson (two goals, seven clearances, 11 contested possessions, 18 disposals) held their ground against the Northern Bombers.

Finally, it was Lauderdale and Launceston doing battle at SkyBus Oval. Both sides were goalless in the first quarter, with Lauderdale leading by three points at quarter-time after kicking five behinds to the Blues’ two. Scoring opened up in the second term, with Launceston pinching a two-point lead at the half. Both sides traded blows in the third quarter, but the Blues held a lead of three points going into the fourth quarter. The Bombers were brave, but Launceston survived a scare to scrape over the line with a 9.12.66 to 8.11.59 win.

Jake Hinds was important up forward for Launceston with four goals, and Arie Schoenmaker (one goal, five inside-50s, seven contested possessions, eight rebound inside-50s, 30 disposals), Jamieson House (one goal, five marks, seven tackles, eight clearances, 15 contested possessions, 28 disposals), and Liam Canny (one goal, five inside-50s, five clearances, seven marks, 14 contested possessions, 27 disposals) were key performers in the Blues’ triumph.

Despite a nail-biting loss, Lauderdale’s Sam Siggins (one goal, five marks, 10 clearances, 15 contested possessions, 34 disposals), Bryce Walsh (five tackles, six clearances, seven marks, seven inside-50s, 11 contested possessions, 36 disposals), and Michael Blackburn (three goals, seven marks, 13 disposals) fought hard against the reigning premiers.

This weekend, Launceston hosts Glenorchy at Windsor Park, North Hobart courts North Launceston at North Hobart Oval, and Kingborough returns from their week off to face Clarence at the Twin Ovals.