Hot form of star Pie has coach impressed — and wanting more

Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy has been impressed with one of his emerging stars after he missed all of 2019 — but believes he can still take his game to another level

Glenorchy's Mitch Rainbird has the attributes to be one of the best players in the TSL, according to coach Paul Kennedy. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

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MITCH Rainbird has been among Glenorchy’s best players in his two TSL appearances this season but the talented utility has been challenged to elevate his game to another level.

As the Pies desperately try to avoid starting the shortened year 0-4 against fellow winless outfit Tigers at the Twin Ovals, coach Paul Kennedy is turning to his “young leaders” to show the way.

Rainbird missed all of the 2019 State League campaign due to ongoing concussion issues, but has had an immediate impact on his return.

He gathered an equal match high 24 disposals to go with a dominant 12 clearances in last week’s loss to Clarence, and with a host of most experienced stars sidelined by injury, Kennedy is leaning on the likes of the 23-year-old to help the club kickstart its season.

Glenorchy's Mitch Rainbird is tackled by Launceston's Jack Donnellan (right) Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“We have some pretty exciting young blokes coming through but we have to make sure they have got support around them,” Kennedy said.

“His [Rainbird’s] start to the season has been good, at the same time I have challenged him because there are things he can do better.

“He has the capacity to be better than he has been the first two games and we are hoping he can have a really good game this week.

“It is not easy coming back when you haven’t played for 18 months, or 21 months since he played a game of footy. He missed the practice game earlier this year so his performance against Launceston in round one, he was close to our best player and was close again on the weekend.

“He has worked extremely hard to be the fittest he has ever been and be in the position to have a great year, we want to keep setting the bar high for him because his capacity is to be one of the best players in the comp.”

Kennedy refuses to panic despite the side’s horror start, which was compounded against the Roos with the loss of last year’s leading TSL goalkicker Aiden Grace to a nasty ankle injury.

Aiden Grace is carried off the field after injuring his leg in a contest in the TSL game between Clarence v Glenorchy at Richmond Oval. Picture: Zak Simmonds

However star defender Daniel Joseph finally looks set to return from his ACL reconstruction.

The Tigers are coming off their own mauling from Launceston, with coach Trent Baumeler hoping his troops can regain their bite.

“I don’t think it shakes us too much as we understand … they are a very good team and I don’t think we are the last team they are going to do that to this year,” he said of the thumping from the Blues.

“They are very strong on every line and well organised. For us it is about getting back on the horse and getting our confidence back.

“We [Tigers and Glenorchy] are both under the same sort of pressure.”

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