Sport Shorts: From under-13s to club icon: Clarke celebrates 400th game in emotional home fixture
After 23 years, countless bruises and unmatched loyalty, Lindisfarne stalwart Andrew Clarke will run out for a huge milestone game this Saturday against Cygnet. Get the latest here.
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In a showing of outstanding loyalty for one club, veteran Andrew Clarke will run out for his biggest milestone game this Saturday when Lindisfarne host Cygnet.
Clarke, who is the coach of the reserves side, will run out for his 400th game for the Two Blues, a career which has spanned 23 years in the senior competition.
The 39-year-old said this very well could be his final season.
“Pretty happy with it, I am on the back end of my career, hopefully this will be my last year,” Clarke said.
“But no, I have really enjoyed it, Lindisfarne is a great football club and there are a lot of great players there and good coaching staff and pretty happy to get to 400.
“They keep ringing me and I keep answering the phone.
“I played since I was about under 13s but I have been playing seniors since I was about 16-years-old.”
A lot has changed in the 23-years of senior football according to Clarke.
“Safety is definitely one of them,” Clarke said.
“I remember when I was young, it was crack in and get the ball and if you get knocked out, you get up and keep going but now its safety comes first.
“That’s one of the biggest changes, but atmosphere, it's a lot more fitness based these days where back in the older days it was a lot more social.
“Everyone was just getting on the beers all the time where everyone takes it a lot more serious now which is good.”
Two Blues come up against premiership contenders Cygnet who are sitting third in the Reserves competition and top of the ladder in the league.
Clarke said it would be a great way to celebrate his milestone game.
“I will just be happy if we can get on top of them at home, celebrate the 400th that will be great,” Clarke said.
“We have lost a few players to other clubs but we have a lot of kids coming through and they are starting to get a bit of confidence now.
“So as the year continues to go on, they will start to get better and that will help us get better.
“Obviously Cygnet are the mark but I think we can be there at the end of the year if we keep improving.”
How Tigers players were impacted by IPL and PSL suspensions
After a week’s suspension, the IPL and PSL will return with Tasmanian Tigers players already heading back to the subcontinent.
Nathan Ellis, Mitch Owen and Riley Meredith returned to Tasmania last week but it was shortly lived as some players returned just after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
“Some have come back and some coaches have come back and I know speaking to some around Australia some didn’t get back and then the ceasefire occurred,” Tigers coach Vaughan said.
“Some came back and were home for 12 or 15 hours and got on the first flight back.
“We had a couple of players come back and (they) were here for two days, 18 hours and back on planes to either PSL or IPL.”
The decision to suspend the Indian Premier League came after the Pakistan Super League backtracked on a plan to move teams and matches to Dubai in a bid to play the final eight matches of its competition on neutral soil.
High profile players including David Warner will also return to Pakistan this week to continue to play in the PSL as Test captain Pat Cummins leans towards resumption of the IPL after the tournament unveiled plans to restart on Saturday.
Meredith, who flew out of Islamabad four days ago is set to return to PSL while Ellis and Owen will return to play for the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings respectively.
Launceston pair ink Tigers deals
Two northern talents at the opposite end of the experience spectrum have signed Tasmania Tigers deals, with Emma Manix-Geeves and young gun Ava Curtis putting pen to paper.
With rookie contracts introduced into the women’s game for the upcoming summer, Greater Northern Raiders product Ava Curtis became the first Tasmanian to a rookie deal.
Last year’s Tasmania under-19s captain earned her chance with 609 runs and 12 wickets for the Raiders in the CTPL.
“We are super excited to give Ava an opportunity to join our female program, it is a terrific reward for her strong performances for the Greater Northern Raiders last season,” Tigers coach Jude Coleman said.
“She has been on our radar for some time, and it was great to be able to bring her into the fold for our recent trip to Abu Dhabi.
“(She’s) an attacking batter, and someone who can bowl with decent pace. At only 18 years of age, there is so much potential there.”
Three-time WNCL champion Manix-Geeves will be looking to add to her 55 caps for the Tigers since her debut in 2019-20 after signing a one year deal.
“EMG can play several different roles for us and has done so over the past few seasons, always doing what she can to win games for our state,” Coleman said.
“She works hard on improving her wicket-keeping, and her 360-degree scoring has been a great addition to her game.”
The signings follow the recruitment of Courtney Sippel and Sara Kennedy as the Tigers look to bounce back after missing last year’s final in their quest for a fourth straight crown.
The Tigers also announced on Friday last summer’s Veronica Pyke medallist Maisy Gibson and comeback queen Rachel Trenaman have recommited to the team for two more years.
Spinner Gibson was outstanding last summer, while Trenaman was rewarded for a stellar return from a long-term injury layoff.
Tassie AFL fixture schedule locked in
Launceston will hold a game under lights for the third time this season after the AFL confirmed the dates and times for rounds 16 to 23 on Thursday.
After Hawthorn took down GSW in a night game at UTAS Stadium in round three, the Hawks play fellow Tasmania tenants North Melbourne at Launceston at 4.15pm on Saturday, June 28 in round 16.
Hawthorn also hosts Port Adelaide at Launceston in round 19 in the more traditional timeslot of 1.20pm on Saturday, July 19.
Those clashes follow a historic first-ever Friday night blockbuster in Launceston between the Hawks and Adelaide in round 14 on June 13.
Hawthorn has won its past seven games at UTAS Stadium.
The Kangaroos will end their partnership with Tasmania before taking future games to Western Australia when they host Richmond at Hobart in round 23 on Sunday, August 17 from 1.10pm.
Furphy leans on Boomers lessons for World Cup
The ‘group of death’ may be a tired cliche, but gun Tasmanian Jacob Furphy will use his experiences with the Boomers to tackle the challenge at next month’s under-19 world cup in Switzerland.
The guard, who has signed with powerhouse college UConn, is joined by fellow Smithton product Nash Walker in the squad.
Furphy was part of the Boomers teams for FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, as well as the recent three-game series against New Zealand.
“Just getting to learn from the best and just seeing the way that they play (was the biggest benefit playing for Boomers),” Furphy told Basketball Australia.
“Obviously one of my biggest memories was Chris Goulding was on fire in that window. Just seeing the little things that he does well that help him get open to help him to make those shots, that’s what I really learned.
Furphy is one of four players in the under-19 squad to play for the Boomers.
“We have seen the pros of our game and how they handle it and how they come together in a big group and put their egos aside. That’s been a huge thing for us,” Furphy said.
“We’re going to have to do that. Not all of us are going to be the main guy. We’re going to have to put our egos aside and play as one. And if we do that, anything is possible. We’re going to have to play super hard for the whole time.”
Australia has been drawn eight time winner USA, first-timers Cameroon and France, who have podiumed the past two under-19 world cups.
“I love that we were drawn into the group. To be the best you have to beat the best,” Furphy said.
“We’re going to have to do that with some tough competition straight away.
“You will want to finish as high as you can to get the best crossover possible. But it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Bird returns as Tigers unveil settled 2025-26 squad
The Tasmanian Tigers have finalised their men’s squad for the 2025-26 domestic cricket season, headlined by the return of veteran paceman Jackson Bird.
Bird, Tasmania’s all-time leading wicket-taker, rejoins the side after two seasons with New South Wales and will add valuable experience as the Tigers chase their first Sheffield Shield title since 2012-13.
Joining him is left-arm quick Marcus Bean, another interstate recruit who continues the recent trend of Queenslanders relocating south.
The core of the squad remains intact, with Riley Meredith, Jake Weatherald, Kieran Elliott and rising all-rounder Nick Davis all re-signing.
Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann and Beau Webster have earned national contracts, marking the highest Tasmanian presence on the list since 2013-14.
Jarrod Freeman is the only omission from last season’s contracted group.
Head coach Jeff Vaughan welcomed the stability of the squad.
“Continuity is a key factor in any successful domestic squad … We have several players ready to take the next step.” Vaughan said.
With minimal changes and a strong mix of experience and emerging talent, the Tigers will look to build on last season’s foundation and challenge across all formats in 2025-26.
Young Gun Sara Kennedy Signs with Tasmanian Tigers
Tasmanian cricket fans can expect to hear a lot more about one of the country’s most promising young talents, with 17-year-old pace bowler Sara Kennedy joining the Tasmanian Tigers on a two-year deal.
The left-arm quick from Skipton, in southwest Victoria, made her WNCL debut for Victoria last summer — ironically against Tasmania at Ninja Stadium — and is now set to call the Apple Isle home as she continues her rise through the national ranks.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the Tigers family down south,” Kennedy said.
“I can’t wait to get around the group and begin to work towards improving as a bowler and a teammate in a super-experienced environment!”
A fast and aggressive bowler, Kennedy burst onto the national scene during WBBL|09 when she made her debut for the Melbourne Renegades at just 16. In 11 matches, she’s claimed best figures of 2/20 and impressed with her pace and composure under pressure.
Her performances have also earned recognition at the national level. Kennedy has been part of the Australian Women’s U19 program since she was 15, named as a reserve for the 2023 U19 World Cup and selected in the main squad for the 2025 edition in Malaysia — where Tasmanian Pathways Coach Natalie Schilov served as an assistant coach.
Her breakout season was further capped when she received the prestigious Australian Cricket Society’s Young Player of the Year award, joining an elite list of past winners including Mel Jones, current Tigers captain Elyse Villani, and Meg Lanning.
Salliann Beams, Cricket Tasmania’s High Performance General Manager, said Kennedy was a major addition to the squad and someone they had tracked closely.
“We have kept a close eye on Sara over the last 12 months and are confident we have an environment where we can harness her talent and unique skillet to be an asset for Tasmanian cricket,” Beams said.
“She is someone who can bowl with real venom and offers a point of difference to our squad, bowling with her left arm.
“I know that Jude is excited to be working with Sara, and I believe she can have an immediate impact and can play at the highest level.”
Kennedy becomes the second major signing for Tasmania ahead of the 2025-26 season, joining fellow fast bowler Courtney Sippel, with a number of key re-signings expected to be announced in the coming week.
Originally published as Sport Shorts: From under-13s to club icon: Clarke celebrates 400th game in emotional home fixture
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