North Launceston duo fired in TSL’s first midweek match while Blue closes gap to Lynch Medal leader

A pair of brilliant Bombers caught the umpires’ attention in the first TSL Wednesday night match and a southern Bomber polled back-to-back best afields. SEE THE VOTES FOR ROUND EIGHT AND COMPARE THE STATS >>

Adam Smith

@ajsmiddy

2 min read

October 12, 2020 - 5:05PM

AFL

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ROUND eight of the TSL season was the first involving midweek games and a pair of competition stars wasted little time stamping their authority on a quick turnaround.

Powerhouse North Launceston hosted cross-town rivals Launceston at UTAS Stadium off just a four-day break — compared to a week and a half — but it mattered little as the Bombers exacted revenge for their only defeat of the season.

After a tight opening quarter North gradually edged away to secure an 18-point win, with Brad Cox-Goodyer and Josh Ponting the standouts in the umpires’ eyes.

North Launceston’s Brad Cox-Goodyer (right) was awarded three votes in round eight as the Bombers got revenge on cross town rivals Launceston. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Cox-Goodyer’s 23 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal landed him three votes in the Alastair Lynch Medal race, while Ponting polled two after gathering 25 touches, of which 18 were contested.

Sam Siggins was judged best afield by the umpires for the second week in a row. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Surprisingly, neither was mentioned in the Bombers’ best. Draft prospect Jackson Callow was swung from forward to defence and was a brick wall with 19 possessions and nine marks, but it was the Blues’ best player Jobi Harper (26 disposals, 10 clearances) who earned one vote to move to equal second alongside Lauderdale ruckman Haydn Smith with seven.

Smith’s teammate Sam Siggins was judged best afield for the second week in a row in the southern Bombers’ win against North Hobart, with Victorian recruits Luke Nelson and Adrian Kalcovski picking up the minor votes after kicking seven goals between them.

Hudson medallist Dylan Riley provided the highlight of the round, booting eight goals as Launceston rebounded from its Wednesday night defeat to smack the Tigers by 96 points.

Launceston's Dylan Riley booted eight goals against the Tigers in round 8. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Jay Blackberry — considered best on ground by both the Blues and the media — was overlooked by the umpires despite finishing with 26 touches, seven clearances and three goals.

Teammate Fletcher Seymour, who had an equal-match high 26 disposals with Blackberry, earned two votes, and Brodie Palfreyman one.

Glenorchy midfielder Ryan Banks-Smith landed the maximum votes for the Pies in their victory against arch rivals Clarence.

ALASTAIR LYNCH MEDAL ROUND EIGHT

NORTH LAUNCESTON v LAUNCESTON

3 Brad Cox-Goodyer (NL)

2 Josh Ponting (NL)

1 Jobi Harper (L)