Emerging Tigers key defender Micah Reynolds will get first crack at shutting down Colin Garland

Clarence forward Colin Garland looms as a major headache for the Tigers in the TSL elimination final, with Micah Reynolds welcoming the challenge of putting the clamps on the star Roo.

TIGER Micah Reynolds will be entrusted with one of the toughest jobs in the TSL in Sunday’s eliminator — shutting down Clarence match winner Colin Garland.

The key backman will get first crack at the former Melbourne Demon, who is looming as the Roos major X-factor for its tilt at the premiership.

Garland kicked six goals in last weekend’s victory against North Hobart, including four straight either side of halftime and five consecutive for the Roos to blow the contest apart.

It was his third bag of six goals this season, where he is peaking at the right time struggling with some continuity earlier in the campaign while also at times being deployed in defence.

At 190cm and 90kg, Reynolds has the physical attributes to match Garland (191cm and 92kg), and is well aware of how difficult the task can be after going toe-to-toe with the sharp shooter on several occasions this year.

Micah Reynolds (left) battles with North Hobart's Austin Keeling during the round 8 TSL clash between Tigers and North Hobart. PICTURE: Linda Higginson

“I’m always keen, Colin is definitely one of the tougher opponents I have come across,” Reynolds said.

“I have had a quick look at some vision and just go from there and psych myself up.

“The boys will try and help me out as much as possible but I’m looking forward to having a crack and seeing what I can come up with.”

Tigers coach Trent Baumeler admitted the coaching group has put a lot of work into plotting how to not let Garland get off the chain.

And while how Reynolds fares in the one-on-one battles will be crucial, Baumeler knows his backline can be helped further up the ground.

“He’s a class player, he’s played a lot of AFL footy and he hits the scoreboard,” Baumeler said.

“I think what’s underrated with Colin is his speed, he hasn’t lost any of his speed, he’s still very quick off the mark.

Colin Garland proved too much of a handful for North Hobart defender Bailey Walker last weekend. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I guess for us it’s what happens further up the ground. We need to put great pressure on the ball and not give them clean entries into one on ones, because that’s when he can do some serious damage.

“We’ll have our match up for him and then we will work really hard up the ground so he doesn’t get the service that he can get, because he can probably have 10 possessions and kick six goals and win you a game off his own boot.

“We have got to put a fair bit of time into him. We love the way Micah goes about it, he’s hard, tough and plays in straight lines and he looks forward to those sorts of battles.”

Big guns return for TSL flag favourites

THE full arsenal of firepower at Mitch Thorp’s disposal as Launceston chases back to back TSL premierships has been unveiled ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster semi-final.

The Blues have made seven changes from the outfit which rolled Lauderdale by 83-points last weekend — all unforced — welcoming back an array of big guns for the showdown against arch rivals North Launceston at Windsor Park.

Midfield stars Michael Musicka, Fletcher Seymour and Jake Hinds, No. 1 ruckman Cody Thorp, key forward Brayden Pitcher and defenders Jacob Boyd and Miller Hodge were all automatic inclusions after being managed in the final round of the regular season.

Launceston’s Michael Musicka is one of seven big name inclusions for the TSL semi final against North Launceston. Picture: Linda Higginson

Last year’s Development League best and fairest Hamish Leedham — who polled three votes in the seniors in round one last year but failed to play another game — again looks like a hard luck story after being among the omissions.

“We have tried to map out our season as strongly as we can and the unique thing about our competition is when the byes are and things like that,” Thorp said of changing nearly a third of his side for a final.

“We always pencilled in a few of our guys who have played a bit of footy to be managed over that last week.

“That was purely a maintenance thing but what it has done is created some headaches because the boys against Lauderdale were very, very strong.

“But five of the [inclusions] are premiership players, they are walk up starters.”

The Bombers have named an unchanged line-up.

Fletcher Seymour will return for Launceston this weekend. Picture: Chris Kidd

Both Clarence and Tigers have made one change for Sunday’s elimination final at Blundstone Arena.

The Roos regain James Holmes from an elbow injury, with Tyler Penwright the latest casualty after breaking his hand against North Hobart.

Forward Riley Ashlin (illness) returns for the Tigers after missing the last two regular season matches, with former club captain Sam Rice making way.

SELECTED SIDES FOR TSL

LAUNCESTON v. NORTH LAUNCESTON - Saturday 28 August

First Semi Final/Second Semi Final Semi Final 2

12:45

Windsor Park

Launceston

B: J. Tuthill, J. House, J. Woolley

HB: J. Boyd, A. Wright, M. Hodge

C: C. Brown, J. Harper, J. Smith

HF: M. Musicka, J. Groenewegen, B. Taylor

F: J. Blackberry, Z. Morris, B. Pitcher

R: C. Thorp, F. Seymour, B. Palfreyman

Int: J. Donnellan, J. Dowling, J. Hinds, G. Holt

Emg: J. Burling, B. Gillow, J. Hinds, H. Leedham

In: M. Musicka, B. Pitcher, F. Seymour, C. Thorp, J. Hinds, J. Boyd, M. Hodge

Out: B. Pearce, I. Hyatt, S. Foley, J. Burling, B. Gillow, J. Hinds, H. Leedham

North Launceston

B: F. Bennett, C. Nankervis, M. Stingel

HB: O. Sanders, B. Van Buuren, R. Sanders

C: J. Avent, B. Cox-Goodyer, B. Simpson

HF: B. Leary, T. Bennett, J. Rushton

F: Z. Burt, T. Donnelly, J. Edmunds

R: A. Lee, M. Walsh, J. Foon

Int: W. Edmunds, N. Pearce, B. Sulzberger, R. Whitney

Emg: D. Chugg, M. Cossins, H. Griffiths, L. Mitchell

In: Nil

Out: Nil

CLARENCE v. TIGERS - Sunday 29 August

First Semi Final/Second Semi Final Semi Final 1

02:00

Blundstone Arena Bellerive

Clarence

B: O. Paprotny, Z. Buechner, L. Swinton

HB: B. Alomes, K. Wylie, J. Webberley

C: J. Harper, D. Gardner, T. McCallum

HF: J. Barwick, S. Green, K. Howlett

F: J. Green, C. Garland, J. Holmes

R: N. Holmes, B. Norton, J. Preshaw

Int: J. Bealey, L. Borsboom, H. Burgess, B. Smith

Emg: O. Angerstein, J. Callinan, R. Cowie, O. Preshaw

In: J. Holmes

Out: T. Penwright

Tigers

B: B. Donnelly, M. Reynolds, L. Gadomski

HB: M. Davies, B. McCulloch, B. Rees

C: Z. Adams, W. Campbell, L. Griggs

HF: S. Duigan, R. Ashlin, T. Wright

F: M. Collidge, E. Reardon, L. Graham

R: M. Gardner, L. Clifford, E. Cole

Int: A. Bessell, W. Clifford, J. Keogh, P. Reihana

Emg: J. Doran, G. O’Neill, S. Rice, C. Sawdy

In: R. Ashlin

Out: S. Rice

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