Lauderdale to welcome back Mitch Robinson for Clarence clash

Lauderdale will welcome back a former AFL star for Saturday’s TSL clash with coach Allen Christensen delivering an honest assessment of his sides’ current standing in the competition ahead of round 15.

Mitch Robinson will play his second game for Lauderdale this season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Lauderdale will welcome back Mitch Robinson for Saturday’s Eastern Shore derby against Clarence but coach Allen Christensen will once again play in the development league as he recovers from injury.

Robinson made his long awaited return to the Bombers back in round 7 against Kingborough – finishing with 21 disposals, 11 contested possessions and a goal – and will play his second game following stints throughout Australia at local clubs prior to the June 30 transfer cut-off.

The inclusion of the former Carlton and Brisbane hard nut is a welcome one for the Bombers who were beaten by the Tigers in their return match to the tune of 37 points last week.

With his side now sitting 6-6 but still two games clear in fourth spot ahead of fifth-placed Glenorchy, Christensen admitted they were still not the side they wanted to be.

“Some ill-disciplined acts cost us some momentum when we had it at stages (against the Tigers),” he said.

“If you presented a stat sheet to someone, they probably thought it was a close game but it just wasn’t.

“We are six and six and sometimes we look outstanding and others we look like exactly where we are on the ladder, and that’s fourth as a middle-of-the-road team.

Lauderdale currently sits fourth on the ladder with a 6-6 record and hasn’t beaten Clarence in their past two meetings this season. Picture: Linda Higginson

“So it’s just being able to put those moments together a bit more consistently.

“And it’s about doing that as a team and not as individuals and we’ve spoken about that from the start of the year. We’ve always had good players at Lauderdale but we’ve never ever been able to put it into a side that’s won a grand final.

“So something hasn’t worked there. It’s just trying to get those moments to be more consistent where we’re playing team footy and not relying on individuals to win us football games.”

While Robinson will return to the Bombers line-up, Christensen will again play in the development league for a second straight week as he works back from a hamstring injury he suffered in the round 8 loss to Clarence.

The two sides will once again play for the SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Cup in order to help promote the message of conversations around mental health.