Blow for Pies as key defender grounded for season
Glenorchy’s premiership credentials have been dealt a savage blow with the loss of key defender Daniel Joseph for the rest of the State League season
AFL
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GLENORCHY’S premiership credentials were dealt a savage blow yesterday with the loss of key defender Daniel Joseph for the rest of the State League season and sharpshooter Clinton French out for six weeks with a broken hand.
Sitting undefeated on top of the TSL ladder heading into the Round 3 game against traditional rival Clarence at Blundstone Arena on Saturday, the Magpies’ worst fears were confirmed — “DJ” is out with a badly damaged ACL.
Regarded as one of the State League’s best key defenders, Joseph injured his knee in a marking contest early in the second quarter of Glenorchy’s 41-point win over North Hobart at KGV last Saturday. MRI scans confirmed the worst.
“They did the tests straight after he hurt it and his knee seemed to be OK structurally, but the scans said differently,” Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy said.
“It’s a big shame for him.
“He’s a passionate Glenorchy man and he’s been playing good footy.
“Every state league club in the country wanted him so it’s unfortunate for him.”
Joseph missed the opening round with a shoulder injury from a practice game and was injured early against the Dees.
“He was injured right at the start of the second quarter,” Kennedy said.
“So we’ve basically played without him so far this season and someone has had to step up. That’s how it is and you have to move on, not in terms of our engagement with ‘DJ’ but with what we are doing on the field.
“We will miss his leadership and ball use, which are as good as anyone in the competition,” Kennedy said.
French will not play again until late next month after breaking his hand at training last week.
“He played on the weekend with the broken hand and then had scans, which showed the break, so he will be out for six or seven games,” Kennedy said.
Pies ruckman Cam Duffy is free to play after receiving a low-level reprimand from the TSL tribunal for a strike Cooper Best (North Hobart).
Saturday’s Clarence v Glenorchy game starts at 2pm.
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