Launceston premiership player Jay Blackberry will break the TSL games record against Pies at KGV
Blue Jay Blackberry will pass Glenorchy’s Jaye Bowden as the TSL’s games record holder at KGV - the Mercury reveal who is the better player. LATEST >>
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LAUNCESTON premiership star Jay Blackberry will break Glenorchy ace Jaye Bowden’s TSL games record of 212 tomorrow, ironically when the Blues play the Magpies at Jaye’s old ground KGV.
Blackberry equaled the now retired Bowden’s record in Launceston’s win over North Hobart at Windsor Park last Saturday, and will set the new mark at 213 in TSL round 12.
There is no hesitation in the mind of Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy who is the better player.
“Jaye Bowden – no doubt,” he said.
“Jaye’s record speaks for itself _ the impact he had in a lot of big games over a long period of time, the amount of goals he kicked and awards he won.
“I’m sure Jay Blackberry won’t be insulted by me saying Jaye Bowden stands head and shoulders above the rest.”
Kennedy is still a big fan of Blackberry’s work.
“When I first came here to coach I knew Jay was a player I didn’t want to have with the football,” Kennedy said.
“Every time he got it he did damage.
“He’s a very smart player and the big thing with him over the past couple of years is that his conditioning has gone through the roof.
“He has gone from being a talented player who can impact when he’s got the ball, to a super-fit talented player who can get from contest to contest, impact when he has the ball, impact with his pressure and put a lot of heat on your midfield by the fact that he works so hard.
“I rate him really highly and it’s great to see a guy, who had a pretty rough trot with injury for a while, playing so well and setting the standard for young guys in the State League to chase.”
The Magpies welcome back onballer John Geard after missing last week with a blood clot in his thigh, and Matty Joseph, who had the week off as a precaution.
“We would have loved to have had ‘Geardy’ last week because they were his conditions,” Kennedy said.
“But during the week his leg swelled up and we sent him for a blood test. He turned up for training the next night and as he was getting changed his rang and the doctor said you’ve got to go to hospital right now.
“They did everything they need to do to get him right, told him to have a week off footy and now he’s fine.”
Giants’ remarkable comeback falls short in dramatic draw
IN the space of three minutes tattooed Giant Daniel Lloyd went from hero to villain for both teams as Greater Western and North Melbourne played the first draw of the AFL season in a thriller at Blundstone Arena.
In the closing minutes, with North leading by 12 points, Lloyd cut loose in attack for GWS.
He kicked two goals in two minutes to draw level with the Kangas and as both sides fought to score the point that would break the deadlock, up popped Lloyd again.
He had a shot to win the match with seconds on the clock, but it sailed out on the full and the deadlock remained.
Gaints coach said Lloyd’s final term was “dynamic”.
“He looked like he was going to be the match winner _ those sort of moments come along and clearly he would be sitting there thinking if only but we don’t want to sit in the if-only world,” Cameron said.
There was no song for either team and players were drained and unsure how to react.
“We played some good footy for three and a bit quarters but I reckon we let ourselves down a bit in the last quarter,” said North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell.
“They kicked some goals and played some pretty attacking footy and we didn’t response too well to that.
“That was one that got away.”
The first half of the round 13 match was gripping with the Kangaroos trying to pull away and the Giants battling to hang on.
A Ben Cunnington goal after the half-time siren put the Roos up by a goal and the scene was set for a continuation of the arm wrestle in the third.
The Kangas found another gear and kicked four in a row and held GWS goalless to lead by 28 at the final change.
The Giants came again in the last drilling the first three goals to cut the margin to 12 points, and then Lloyd put them on the edge of victory.
In the end, North Melbourne kicked its highest score of the season but had to settle for a draw.
Outstanding performances by home-town heroes Aaron Hall and Tarryn Thomas inspired North Melbourne.
Hall starred off half-back, mopping up GWS attacks and breaking the lines with confidence as he racked up 35 possessions while Thomas was brilliant in the middle and drilled two crucial goals.
They kicked 7.6 from GWS turnovers while Giants onballer Josh Kelly all but inspired his men to victory with 39-possession masterclass and two goals.
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