Clarence coach hopeful former AFL star Jack Riewoldt can feature in TSL finals

Clarence’s coach is hopeful a former AFL premiership star could be available come the business end of the season ahead of his return this Saturday.

Jack Riewoldt made his return to Clarence earlier this season and will play his second game against North Hobart on Saturday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Clarence is set to welcome back three-time AFL premiership star Jack Riewoldt for Saturday’s match against North Hobart with coach Peter Ryan hopeful it won’t be the last time he takes the field this season.

Riewoldt made his long awaited return to Tasmanian football in the Roos’ round 8 win over Lauderdale and while he was originally only locked in for a one-off appearance, the club confirmed earlier this week he would suit up against the Demons.

Riewoldt celebrates a goal with Clarence teammates in his return game. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

With the Roos’ now sitting three games clear in second spot on the ladder, a third straight finals berth under Ryan is almost a certainty with Riewoldt’s return and what it could mean for their premiership hopes not lost on the Clarence coach.

“I think two games is closer to that three for the (finals qualification),” Ryan joked.

“I know when it was first touted that he was going to play a game, I think he’d sort of set his sights on just the one to just see how his body recovered after playing so many seasons in the AFL.

“Jokingly we put the pressure on and told him it was the three games (to qualify for finals). Now he’s going to play two so it probably makes it a little bit easier to put pressure on him to get at least one more game out of the way (and potentially look at if he would be available come finals).

“If he does, he does but if he doesn’t, that’s the way it goes. We’re just really looking forward to the opportunity of having Jack Riewoldt run around on Blundstone Arena again.”

Riewoldt’s return is a welcome one for Clarence who will be looking to find some form following a loss to North Launceston and an ugly win over Glenorchy in consecutive weeks.

Despite winning the game by 36 points against the Magpies, Ryan wasn’t overly thrilled with his sides’ performance across the first-three quarters but was pleased the playing group also felt the same in Monday night’s review.

“We did our review on Monday and a lot of our leaders spoke up and they were disappointed about how we went as a group,” he said.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out at KGV where actually the wind was blowing that badly. We don’t want to use it and make excuses. It was just part and parcel of our game and we didn’t really adjust those three quarters. We challenged the group at three-quarter time, you know, we were kicking into the breeze and Glenorchy were coming.

Clarence coach Peter Ryan has his side three games clear in second spot on the TSL ladder. Picture: Steve Bell/Solstice Digital.

“To their credit, they played a really good brand of footy and put the pressure on us. But I thought when it came (time) to step up, our boys certainly did.”

Ryan confirmed midfielder Baxter Norton would again play in managed minutes against the Demons after his successful return from injury in the win over the Magpies last week.