Clarence unveiled four debutants in the battle for second spot against North Hobart

Unveiling four debutants in a match with plenty to play for, Clarence young stars shined as the Roos hopped into second spot. Find out what happened here.

Clarence’s young blood have helped the Roos hang on in a tight, scrappy contest at North Hobart to jump into second spot.

In a fierce contest which had players putting everything on the line, the Roos prevailed to run out 10.15 (75) to 14.54 (99).

The Roos unveiled four debutants for Saturday’s win against the Demons including 15-year-old Louis Sylvester.

Roos coach Grant Fagan said it was pleasing to see the young players standing up.

“We had to settle things down (in the final quarter), we were very young again today, four debutants with one just 15,” Fagan said.

TSL North Hobart vs Clarence at North Hobart Oval, North Hobart - Bailey Walker (North Hobart) and Max Mapley (Clarence). PIcture: Caroline Tan

“When you have a young team where almost 25 per cent of them are debutants it is hard to get consistency for four quarters but I thought they all contributed well as a group.

“We are winning games at the moment with a number of players unavailable so it is really good to see.”

The Roos inaccurate kicking kept the Demons in the contest through the first three quarters as North Hobart trailed by 11 points at the final break.

North Hobart kicked the first three behinds of the final term and looked like they were going to run over the Roos.

But Clarence’s midfield led by Baxter Norton were too strong which saw the Roos kick the next three goals to blow out to a 27 point lead.

Roos forward Josh Green showed why he is one of the best key forwards in the competition with a four goal display, while Norton and debutant Jye Millward both booted three each.

Demons’ Nathan Hardy kicked three and was North Hobart’s leading goal kicker with Josch Bingham also kicking two goals.

North Hobart returned fire late in the fourth kicking 1.4 inside the four minutes to close the gap to 17 points but the inaccuracy in the final term looks to have cost the Demons second spot at the end of round seven.

The Demons kicked 1.7 in the final quarter to the Roos 4.2.

“I was concerned, the play was being played down their end of the ground but that was the more attacking end of the ground,” Fagan said.

“But I thought our pressure when they had the ball to not let them score easily was good.

“It wasn’t so much their kicking, it was ore our pressure that caused the goals to be missed and I thought down the other end we missed a lot of goals early where we could have had a more comfortable lead at half time.

“They kicked the last two at the end of the second quarter and we let them off the hook a bit.

“So that's half the battle when you have a young team is trying to keep that consistency throughout the game.”

It sets up a big round eight for both clubs with North Hobart heading out to Glenorchy to challenge the Magpies who are coming off the upset of the season, knocking off Lauderdale by two points.

While Clarence will host Kingborough who are coming off a close win over a fired up Brighton.