Launceston likely to keep same 22 from TSL semi finals, but North face decision on potential draftee
Launceston’s specially tailored program has unfolded to perfection for coach Mitch Thorp, while opposite number Taylor Whitford has not guaranteed a grand final start for a potential AFL draftee. SEE THE GRAND FINAL TEAMS >>
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LAUNCESTON has taken a horses for courses approach to selection all season but the Blues are almost certain to take the same 22 which brushed aside Lauderdale into the TSL grand final.
Playing coach Mitch Thorp has declared himself and ruckman-forward Joe Groenewegen — who only made his first appearance in the seniors in the side’s final home and away season — as definite starters for the showdown against North Launceston.
It leaves the likes of Jack Donnellan (nine senior games in 2020), Tyson Miller (10), Bowen Pearce (seven) and Grant Holt (nine) to feature in the Development League.
Thorp, who has not featured in both matches against the Bombers this season, has openly stated the club’s entire program was structured around the last round bye to have all his soldiers firing — a plan which has been executed to perfection.
“That meant resting players at certain times, all with an eye to having everyone cherry ripe ready to go for a finals series,” Thorp said.
“Joe Groenewegen and players like that had to cut his teeth back in the Development League but he has always been in our plans to be part of the side that hopefully has the ultimate success this year.
“Myself, I’ve had some injury issues this season but I have always wanted to play in every game.
“The facts are earlier in the season I wasn’t fit enough to play against North Launceston but Joe and I will certainly play.
“Probably unlikely we will make any changes from the week just gone, the boys couldn’t have done much more.
“The 22 that played in the prelim were, from a fair way out, were probably our best 22.”
For North Launceston, all attention is on potential AFL draftee Jackson Callow.
The versatile big man — who has shone both as a key forward and intercept defender this season — has not played since round nine where he hurt both ankles against North Hobart.
“He’s had two weeks of training. He’ll be in our squad. We had our main session [Wednesday] night so it depends how he pulls up and how he backs up again [Thursday],” coach Taylor Whitford said.
“That decision will be made … basically on how he feels. He has trained for two weeks, whether he is in a good enough physical condition to do that.
“He did the warm up pre game [against Clarence] and realistically it wasn’t worth it. The squad we had last week was a good enough team to win the game of footy.
“Whether we waited until this week, probably not. It’s just what is best for Jackson. If Jackson is OK to play he will play.
“But he has bigger and better things to do than Tassie footy.”
Tasmanian State League Men’s Grand Final
NORTH LAUNCESTON v. LAUNCESTON
UTAS Stadium @ 2:30pm Saturday, October 17
North Launceston
B: Jack R Avent, Corey Nankervis, Arion Richter-Salter
HB: Jay Foon, Fletcher Bennett, Braden van Buuren
C: Mark A Walsh, Bradley Cox-Goodyer, Daniel Withers
HF: Jakob Laskey, Thomas Donnelly, Baynen Lowe
F: Thomas Bennett, Bart McCulloch, Jack Rushton
R: Alexander Lee, Joshua Ponting, Taylor Whitford
Int: Sherrin Egger, Oliver Sanders, Ben Simpson, Connor Young
Emg: Zachary Burt, Jackson Callow, James Curran, Ryley Sanders
Launceston
B: Jacob Boyd, Jamieson House, Ryan Tyrrell
HB: Jared Dakin, Alec Wright, Miller Hodge
C: Casey Brown, Jobi Harper, Jake Smith
HF: Jay Blackberry, Mitchell Thorp, Fletcher Seymour
F: Michael Musicka, Joe Groenewegen, Dylan Riley
R: Timothy Auckland, Jake Hinds, Tim Jones
Int: Isaac Chugg, Brodie Palfreyman, Brendan Taylor, Jack Tuthill
Emg: Jack Donnellan, Samuel Foley, Grant Holt, Bowen Pearce
Tasmanian State League Women’s Grand Final
LAUNCESTON FOOTBALL CLUB v. GLENORCHY FOOTBALL CLUB
UTAS Stadium @ 12:15pm Saturday, October 17
Launceston Football Club
B: Dearne Taylor, Mikayla Binns,
HB: Melissa Smith, Georgia Hill, Hayley Whyte
C: Molly Clark, Daria Bannister, Kelsie Hill
HF: Angela Dickson, Brooke Brown, Makenna Hillier
F: Mia King, Meg Radford,
R: Cecilia Cameron, Abbie Hoiberg-Cox, Jennifer Guy
Int: Amy Halaby, Claire McManus, Meg Sinclair, Camilla Taylor
Emg: Sian Beeton, Bianca White
Glenorchy Football Club
B: Rebecca Clifton, Kira Maass, Laura Negri
HB: Libby Haines, Morgan Wright,
C: Angelica Clark, Zoie Crawford, Macklyn Sutcliffe
HF: Brieanna Barwick, Elise Barwick, Perri King
F: Tiarna Ford, Molly Mitchell,
R: Gennaveve Sullivan, Sarah Skinner, Jemma Webster
Int: Alice Raspin, Holly Ryan, Madison Shaw, Brooke Thurlow,
Emg: Celeste Knowles
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