Lauderdale captain Bryce Walsh to play TSL preliminary final against Launceston despite losing part of his ear
It takes a lot to stop this TSL star — and that includes losing a chunk out of his ear ahead of the preliminary final. WATCH THE VIDEO
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LAUDERDALE coach Darren Winter says captain courageous Bryce Walsh will play in the TSL preliminary final against Launceston at Blundstone Arena — despite losing part of his right ear and needing multiple stitches.
Walsh sustained the injury in a second semi-final clash with Northern Bomber Braden van Buuren at Windsor Park last Sunday.
Winter said his skipper was off the field for 10 minutes while medicos stemmed the bleeding, and that he was unable to train on Monday night.
“Bryce was a bit shaken up — it was a big knock so it took a bit of time to get over it,” Winter said.
“He didn’t train on Monday but he trained quite well on Tuesday.
“From the clash he had stitches all through his ear, and his ear all swelled up, and he had a big chunk taken out of his ear as well.
“It was a pretty solid contest.”
Van Buuren, who had surgery this week to repair the elbow damaged in the incident, was cited by the Match Review Panel for the incident in a marking contest.
The MRP described it as “careless, with low impact and high contact” and offered him a one-match ban, reduced to a reprimand with an early guilty plea.
WATCH THE INCIDENT:
Josh McGuinness looks likely to return from a knee injury for Lauderdale and fellow-defender Mitch Anderton is back from a one-match suspension for striking Glenorchy’s Jaye Bowden in the qualifying final.
“Josh will play unless something happens at training tonight,” Winter said.
Lauderdale has played in the past two grand finals, both times losing to North Launceston.
The Northern Bombers are into their sixth consecutive grand final after thrashing Lauderdale in the second-semi, leaving the southern Bombers to make their way through the preliminary final against in-form Launceston.
“We started off last November to achieve another grand final and that certainly hasn’t changed,” Winter said.
“We would welcome the chance to get into another grand final.
“We have got to get some good footy going at the weekend to make sure we get that opportunity.”
Launceston lost small defender Toby Lucas (concussion) for the season and he was replaced by midfielder Jack Donnellan, who is on his way back from a one-match rest for concussion.
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