Bomber shows why he is a Darrel Baldock and Alastair Lynch Medal winner and premiership onballer

It was party time in the midfield for the Northern Bombers against Glenorchy at KGV on Saturday and no one partied harder than Josh Ponting. Here are the all TSL’s top-rated players for round seven >>

North Launceston star Josh Ponting in action during the Tasmanian State League match against Glenorchy. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

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IT was a monster day out for North Launceston’s midfield machine Josh Ponting in its win over Glenorchy at KGV on Saturday as the Northern Bombers’ onballer smashed the Pies and the TSL Star Tracker Rating to boot.

The former Darrel Baldock Medal winner for best afield in a grand final and Alastair Lynch Medal winner for the competition’s best laughed at the wet and slippery conditions in week seven, racking up a competition-high 33 possessions and 19 clearances for a round-high player rating of 137.

ALL THE STATS:

DEMONS V ROOS

TIGERS V LAUDERDALE

PIES v NORTH LAUNCESTON

Only Lauderdale’s towering onballer Sam Siggins matched Ponting for clearances, also racking up 19 takeaways as part of his 29-possession game and a player rating of 121 in the southern Bombers’ win over the Tigers at the Twin Ovals.

Sam Siggins of Lauderdale in the Tasmanian State League qualifying final against Glenorchy. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

At KGV, North midfielder Jay Foon’s performance of 21 disposals, six inside 50s and a competition-high 10 marks gave him the second-highest player rating for the round of 133.

Mitch Rainbird (19 possessions, four contested, 10 marks, five inside 50s) was the Magpies’ highest-rated player with 95, and vice-captain Josh Arnold next-best (29 possessions, four contested, five marks, eight rebound 50s) with a rating of 91.

The only player to challenge the North Launceston pair’s rating domination was North Hobart midfield gun Baxter Norton, who was a beacon on a disappointing day as the Demons lost to Clarence at North Hobart Oval.

“Bax” gathered a game-high quadruple _ most possessions (29), most contested possessions (16), most clearances (seven) and claimed the highest player rating (125).

North Hobart's Baxter Norton during the round 5 TSL match between North Hobart v Launceston at North Hobart Oval. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Demons captain Nathan McCulloch was also a workhorse on-ball, where he compiled 26 possessions, 13 contested, and matched Norton with four inside 50s and five rebound 50s.

The Roos were led to victory by teenage onballer Ethan Jackson, who gather 19 disposals, nine contested, five clearances and kicked two crucial two goals.

“This year is one of the tightest seasons ever in the TSL so if we keep playing how we want to play, bring that pressure for four quarters every game, we’ll be right where we want to be,” Jackson said.

“Wins like this over North Hobart and against Launceston, it’s making a statement and other clubs are now looking at how they need to play against us and taking us a bit more seriously.”