Colin Garland terrorised former teammates in encouraging sign he is returning to peak powers
Continuity has plagued Colin Garland’s first season at Clarence but there were signs on the weekend he getting back to his best as the Roos prepare for their run towards TSL finals
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A SIX goal haul from Colin Garland speared Clarence to victory last weekend — and it was “just a small sample size” of the damage the Roo recruit can deliver on the run to TSL finals.
Starting in defence, Garland was switched forward after a sluggish opening quarter time against North Hobart and terrorised his former side for the remainder of the clash.
It was a performance which left coach Jeromey Webberley quietly confident the former AFL big man could be a major X-factor as the Roos strive to bridge the gap on the two Launceston teams.
“He’s a handy player, he’s copped a bit of backlash, but he hasn’t sort of got his season up and going because he’s been injured,” Webberley said of Garland, who has been limited to just seven matches in 2021.
“He hurt his knee then he broke his rib and he’s been in and out, we’ve played him down back a bit as well. He hasn’t had any continuity and in the last two or three weeks he’s got training in, and he’s got games in.
“It was a small sample size of what he can do and I just think he makes us look so much more damaging.”
Garland’s efforts saw him awarded three votes in the player of the year award, with Baxter Norton — also playing his first match against the Demons since crossing to Clarence in the off season — landing one vote.
The 55-point win also snapped a three match losing streak for Clarence, which moved to within 0.48 of a per cent of the third placed Tigers.
There was little movement at the top of the player of year leaderboard in round 14, with a best afield performance to North Launceston’s Michael Stingel in the Bombers’ big win over Glenorchy moving him into equal fifth with Dylan Riley.
ROUND 14 VOTES
Clarence v North Hobart
3 Colin Garland (C)
2 Zac Buechner (C)
1 Baxter Norton (C)
Glenorchy v North Launceston
3 Michael Stingel (NL)
2 Brandon Leary (NL)
1 Brad Cox-Goodyer (NL)
Lauderdale v Launceston
3 Cody Thorp (Laun)
2 Josh McGuinness (Laud)
1 Fletcher Seymour (Laun)
LEADERBOARD
18: Jay Foon (NL)
17: Jay Blackberry (Laun) 17
14: Jake Hinds (Laun)
10: Brad Cox-Goodyer (NL)
9: Dylan Riley (Laun), Michael Stingel (NL)
7: Nathan Blowfield (Glen) Zac Buechner (Cla)
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