Bomber teenager Jackson Callow poised for return in TSL grand final against Launceston
He hasn’t played for six weeks, now a Tasmania Devil and AFL Draft hope is poised to bolster North Launceston’s firepower in TSL grand final. READ OUR PREVIEW >>
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NORTH Launceston is poised to unleash one more weapon from its arsenal for today’s TSL grand final against cross-town rival Launceston at UTas Stadium as teenage talent Jackson Callow firms for a comeback from injury to make the Northern Bombers’ already intimidating forward line even more potent.
Callow, 18, has not played since rolling his ankle in North Launceston’s round nine demolition of the Demons at North Hobart Oval six weeks ago.
The Tasmania Devil and AFL Draft hope is believed to have proven his fitness in readiness to join Bomber goal kickers Dan Withers, who bagged five in last week’s semi-final win over Clarence, Tom Bennett, who kicked three, and North’s leading goal kicker Bart McCulloch.
Leading goal kicker with three in North Launceston’s grand final win over Lauderdale at Blundstone Arena last year, Callow was named as an emergency and Bombers coach Taylor Whitford confirmed Callow was under strong consideration.
“If he’s physically right, he’ll play, if he’s not he won’t play,” Whitford said
“He definitely has to be 100 right to play.”
North Launceston’s TSL domination started with its grand final win over Western Storm, also coached by Launceston coach Mitch Thorp, in 2014.
Since then, the Northern Bombers have not missed a grand final.
Going for their sixth premiership in seven years Whitford, who has played in all five flags and coached the past two, said the plan took some adjusting in the coronavirus-affected season.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs in a challenging year – the mental side of it more so than the physical,” he said.
“Credit to the guys in our footy club.
“We did everything right from day dot –right through the preseason, throughout the period where we weren’t at the footy club, and as soon as we came back were were ready to go.
“It has been a shorter year in terms of games but probably the longest year we’ve had in terms of hours at the footy club.
“So it would be a good result to cap that off this year.”
Launceston’s twin towers Tim Auckland and Joe Groenewegen are the X-factor for the Blues.
“Auckland is their number one ruckman and Joe was their number one ruckman before he left, and now he’s back,” Whitford said.
“We will combat them with Alex Lee and Bart McCulloch.
“They will go head-to-head and that battle is going to be really important to who wins the contest and gets the ball inside their forward line.
“Both forward lines are very dangerous so hopefully we can win the ball around the stoppages and our ruckmen contribute towards that.”
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