Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy tells the Pies to ‘embrace the scrap’ for start of TSL season

It has been a pre-season like no other, and one of the state’s leading football coaches reveals the different way teams will need to play if they want to win games this year.

Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy says fans should expect to see a lot of scrappy football this season. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

GLENORCHY coach Paul Kennedy expects the opening round of the TSL in Hobart, Lauderdale and Launceston on Saturday will be exactly like post-coronavirus AFL games – a “scrap”.

Heading into their first game of the delayed and compacted TSL season against premiership contender Launceston at KGV, the Magpies coach said teams that adapted the best would be the most successful.

“Usually we go into round one on the back of four months of training, three or four intra-clubs, two practice games, everyone is perfect fitness-wise, you’ve had a really good preparation with your game plan, and you roll in with everyone’s got a high,” Kennedy said.

“This is different.

“We all go in on the back of a few intra-clubs and about six weeks of training, so the teams that embrace the scraps the best will win.

“That’s who has won AFL games and I don’t think it’s going to be any different in the TSL.

“We will get some perfect moments and some nice moments, but the real difference maker is how we deal with the ugly moments and the scrap.”

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Glenorchy is ready to face some “ugly” and “scrappy” football this season. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The Pies are boosted by the return of game-changer Mitch Rainbird both in attack and on the ball.

Launceston picked up eight players in the off-season and four of them will play on Saturday.

Onballer Jake Hinds returns from Southport and key defender Jameson House is back from Woodville-West Torrens.

Utility Stuart Williams returned from overseas and slips into defence and former South Launceston midfielder Bowen Pearce is on the bench, while champion onballer Tim Bristow was emergency.

TSL club Glenorchy has sent in the Magpie Army to help out in corona crisis

Manager of the West Moonah community house Mel Knuckey and Glenorchy Football Club coach Paul Kennedy delivering care packs to the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS