Clarence moves into TSL’s top three by giving the Demons one hell of a lesson

The game was meant to be a TSL corker but Clarence refused to follow the script and blew the Demons to hell.

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MIDFIELD domination was the name of the game for Clarence at North Hobart Oval on Saturday when the Roos drove a stake into the heart of the Demons with a win that moved them into third spot on the TSL ladder and relegated the boys in red and blue to fifth.

At first it looked like North Hobart would thrive on its home deck, replying to Clarence’s opening two goals with five on the trot.

EXCLUSIVE: See all the players stats from the game

Clarence’s back six then put North Hobart’s attack on a starvation diet, the Dees prompting a two-handed salute from the goal umpire on only one more occasion – by Nathan Hardy entering time-on in the last.

That interrupted what would have been seven straight by Clarence, which went on to take the contest 9.15 (69) to 6.5 (41).

North Hobart coach Richard Robinson was disappointed in how his side bowed to Clarence’s defensive intent but Roos’ coach Jeromey Webberley could not have been more pleased.

“When North Hobart gets is game up and going they are a really strong team so we aimed to bring defence today and the players really did that,” Webberley said.

“Apart from the first quarter when they got a bit of a run-on, we controlled the majority of the game through our defensive pressure and by creating turnovers and giving us some looks.

“We were really rapt with what we delivered but we understand it’s only one game and we’ve got to get better again next week.”

Dangerous Clarence player Josh Green was kept goalless for the game. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

A backline headlined by Zac Buechner, Keegan Wylie and Jason Bailey delivered the same unrelenting defence that saw them do a number on Glenorchy at Richmond in round three.

“They were good but the reason they stood up was the pressure applied up the field,” Webberley said.

“Our backline took a lot of intercept marks but a lot of dirty ball went into North Hobart’s forward half and that allowed our players to set up behind the footy, take marks and get it out the other side.

“We talk about defence as a whole team.”

Clarence saw Jack Sandric as such a threat it gave half-back Brady Jones the job of shadowing him onball, which blunted the Demon’s brilliance.

Nothing could stop Baxter Norton, whose work ethic is an example to his Demon teammates, and the North Hobart backs kept dangerous Roo Josh Green goalless.