NTFA: Sharks keen for top scalp as Pearce prepares for injury return

Hillwood player-coach Jake Pearce has declared his team is keen to finally grab a top five scalp as he prepares to play his first senior game for the year after injury.

South Launceston assistant coach Jay Blackberry and Hillwood vice captain Mack Blazely during last year’s NTFA finals series. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

They’re yet to claim a major scalp, but Hillwood player-coach Jake Pearce is confident key personnel is returning at the perfect time before Saturday’s road showdown with unbeaten South Launceston.

The Sharks claimed last year’s NTFA premier division minor premiership before falling to Rocherlea in the grand final, but are yet to beat a fellow top five team this year.

Injuries haven’t helped their cause and Pearce will play his first game for the season after getting through his return from a back injury unscathed in reserves last week.

Ruck Hamish Leedham also made a successful return in last week’s win over sixth-placed Bracknell, which basically locked down a finals spot for the Sharks.

But if they are to be any hope of a top three spot and the double chance their charge must start now, especially against fellow finals contenders.

Although they’ve been in the majority of contests against other top five sides, they’re yet to tick a win against them off the list.

“Last week I was really happy with the overall performance (49-point win over Bracknell),” Pearce said.

“Even though we haven’t won games against the top sides, I think now with some personnel back in we should hopefully play our best footy and have no excuses.

“We had some senior guys who weren’t playing and being a team with not a lot of depth, we were filling those gaps with kids who will play regular senior footy eventually, and gave them exposure.

“But from the weekend I was really impressed with our ball movement.

“This week might change with the (wet) weather like it is.”

Hillwood (6-4) is just a game outside the top three and have a superior percentage than Rocherlea and Bridgenorth above them.

But Pearce knows they need to beat rivals in the top half of the table to be a hope of grabbing the double chance.

“We have to try and beat some top sides to really give us some confidence going into the end of the year,” he said.

“You look Rocherlea last year, they dropped games here or there but brought personnel back in (late in the season).

“We’ve got to be able to show we can match it against the best teams, because they’re going to bring their best players in and when the grounds are at their tip top shape they’ll be hard to beat.

“We want to give ourselves every chance of getting second or third if we can, and we need to do everything right.”

Pearce is confident his body is ready for senior footy after playing a half of reserves last week.

“I had a bulging disc pressing on a nerve, and it took a bit of time to get sorted out,” he said.

“I just didn’t want to bring myself straight back in if I only got through a quarter and did the wrong thing by the boys.

“The body pulled up really good after a half of footy, so I’m looking forward to bringing myself back in this week.”

NTFA PREMIER DIVISION - ROUND 12

Deloraine v Rocherlea at Deloraine Football Club (2pm); Bracknell v Longford at Bracknell Recreation Ground (2pm); George Town v Bridgenorth at George Town Sports Complex (2pm); South Launceston v Bridgenorth at Youngtown Oval (2.30pm)