Lions roar to sink Tigers and take mantle as king of the SFL jungle

It was an arm wrestle all game, but Huonville has tamed the rampaging Tigers to emerge on top – but it wasn’t all good news for the Lions.

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HUONVILLE Lions did what no other team had been able to do this season and that was cage the rampaging Tigers in a thriller at the TCA ground on Saturday.

The Lions are king of the SFL jungle after claiming a confidence-boosting 11.11 (77) to 8.18 (66) win over previously undefeated Hobart to take over on top of the ladder, while Cygnet jumped to second and dropping Hobart to third.

But prized Lions recruit Brady Jones may be sidelined for a month.

Jones went down early in the first quarter with a back injury.

Huonville coach Billy Lamprill said Jones was able to hobble off but his injury would keep him sidelined for at least a week, starting with the SFL’s representative game against the NWFU at Ulverstone on Saturday.

“We’ve got a bye for the rep game and then a game, and then another bye, so hopefully he will be right after that,” Lamprill said.

“He was in the rep squad so he won’t make that unless there’s a miraculous recovery.

“He wasn’t moving too well when he hobbled off. I’m sure he will do everything he needs to do to get it right.”

Despite the Jones injury, Huonville got away well but Hobart was quick to close the gap.

“We didn’t start well because of the injury, which meant we were down one after that,” Lamprill said.

“We did well against the breeze but we let them back in a bit late in the first quarter and from there it was an arm wrestle all day.”

Lamprill said that after a scratchy start to the season, the loss to Cygnet was the line in the sand.

“After the Cygnet game we sharpened up and got back to our game plan and how we want to move the footy,” he said.

“We didn’t move the ball as well as we would have liked today. At times we were good and at times we allowed them to have far too many shots.

“Had they kicked straight it might have been a bit different.

“They got ahead in the last quarter but we got over them late.”

In other games, Dodges Ferry beat Claremont 37.24 (246) to 4.4 (28) and Cygnet beat Brighton 27.18 (180) to 2.6 (18).

Laycock puts the Tiger in Hobart’s tank

HOBART captain Brad Joseph credits the Tigers’ midfield unit for their unbeaten run to start the SFL season ahead of a blockbuster top-of-the-ladder clash with Huonville at the TCA ground on Saturday.

The injection of former AFL Bomber Jason Laycock into the ruck has given the Tigers a critical advantage at centre clearances and stoppages.

Laycock returns to the side this week and Joseph said they would need every advantage they can get against Huonville in the final round before the SFL’s representative clash with the NWFU in Ulverstone next weekend.

“We’re 4-0 and that’s a really good start,” Joseph said.

“But we are well aware it’s only a start and it’s a long season so there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.

“Huonville are the benchmark. They’re a great side and they’ve picked up some top-end talent so we are looking forward to the challenge.”

SFL captains James McIndoe (Huonville), left, and Brad Joseph (Hobart) will feature in a top-of-the-table clash at the TCA on Saturday. Picture: James Bresnehan

One of those players is former Clarence and state captain Brady Jones.

“I don’t think we will tag him but we’ll watch him around the stoppages,” Joseph said.

“We will back our system against theirs and see how it stacks up.”

Laycock – who played 96 TSL games with Burnie from 2011-15 and 58 AFL games for the Bombers between 2004-08 before being delisted in 2010 – has delivered a significant boost.

“We’ve picked up a lot of experience and height, which we lacked last year,” Joseph said.

“It’s not only ‘Jase’s’ on-field work, it’s his off-field stuff as well.

“He has worked with the midfield with the stoppages, and he’s really improved that area of our game.

“You could put a lot of our success to date down to that, along with our fitness.”

Jason Laycock, left, played 17 games for New Norfolk in 2017. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Huonville skipper James McIndoe said the Lions were back on track after early losses.

“We started off slow, especially against Cygnet, but since then we’ve been trying to put four quarters together,” he said.

“Against Claremont we had to create our own energy and last week it was really good to do it against a good side like New Norfolk.

“This week is another step up against Hobart.

“They are top of the ladder and you have to respect that, and every player you come across.”

To get a win over the SFL pace-setter would give the Lions a shot of confidence.

“It would say we’re on track for where we want to be, on top of everyone,” McIndoe said.

In other games, Claremont is at home to Dodges Ferry, Cygnet plays Brighton at Kermandie, and Lindisfarne takes on New Norfolk at Boyer.