Former AFL player Mackenzie Willis will have a huge impact on the TSL this season, but not in the Tigers’ first game

The State League’s top recruit will miss the opening round of the season for the Tigers but a gun forward is back to boost the side’s speed.

THE growing rivalry between the TSL Tigers and North Hobart has tickets selling like hot-cakes to their date at the Twin Ovals on Saturday but the home side will be without star recruit Mackenzie Willis.

The former Gold Coast Sun is yet to arrive in Hobart and when he does, “Macca” must quarantine for two weeks before he can don the yellow and black.

Coach Trent Baumeler said Willis, who was drafted from the Tigers to the Gold Coast in 2015, would be available for their round four clash with Glenorchy at the Twin Ovals.

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Former Golad Coast Suns player Mackenzie Willis coaching at an AFL off-season training camp. Picture: Steve Holland

“He had to finish a few things work-wise up on the Gold Coast,” Baumeler said.

“He gets here this week so he will jump into his two-week quarantine and hopefully play against Glenorchy and he’ll be available for the rest of the year, which is exciting.”

Willis was a star of the TSL, which caught the eye of Gold Coast recruiters and he played five matches for the Sun until he was delisted after wrecking his knee in 2018.

“It’s really good for the competition to have him back, and really good for us too,” Baumeler said.

“He has been continuing with his training and he’s played a couple of games for Palm Beach, his NEAFL side, to stay in touch.

“Hopefully he will hit the ground running.”

Mackenzie Willis in his Gold Coast gear prior to being delisted in 2018. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

The Tigers have a full list to choose from, including another recruit Jack Bilson, returning to the club.

“Jack’s been in Melbourne doing uni but the COVID-19 situation brought him home,” Baumeler said.

“He will play forward. He hits up really well and he will add speed and class, so he fits in nicely.”