THE return of Devonport playing coach Mitch Thorp and Northern Bombers fly-in recruit Chris Tarrant sets up a tantalising clash of the power forwards in their State League game at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.
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Thorp makes his much-anticipated return from an ankle injury suffered against Burnie in round one against the team he regards as his traditional arch-enemy in North Launceston.
The coastal Magpies have won three in a row and sit second on the ladder behind Glenorchy.
They also regained veteran Phil Crowden for his first game of the season and added Luc Keep, Alex Lee and Joseph Robertson to the squad.
North welcomes back Tarrant for his second game of the year, and the former AFL star adds much-needed strength to the Bombers’ forward set-up as they attempt to record win number four.
Will Lockhart was the other addition to the squad, with Allan O’Sign a chance to return from his calf injury sustained in round one.
North lost Logan Reynolds to the Tassie Mariners.
North coach Zane Littlejohn said he expected a fierce contest against a Devonport side that had good players on every line.
WESTERN Storm lost Logan Barker to a leg injury sustained against North last week as they prepare for a crucial road trip to play Hobart City.
The Storm included big man Haydn Smith, Brodie Robinson, Joe Chilcott, Claye Young and Lewis Ritchie to their squad as they search for their first win of the season.
Storm coach Mitch Hills said his side was hungry for a victory and playing some good footy but had not been able to get across the line in some close games.
LAUNCESTON lost Shaughan Killalea, Curtis Murfett, Casey Brown and Connor Smith to school football for its road trip to play Glenorchy at KGV.
But it looks set to regain Jack Donnellan and Tom Claridge from injury, with Tim Gibbons also a chance to return.
The Blues also added Ryan Tyrell, James Griffiths and Jack Dyer to their squad.
Launceston coach Scott Stephens acknowledged the toughness of the road trip to a ground where he said the Blues have not had a great record.
BURNIE regained the experience of Nick McKenna and the flair of Romain Grenville to strengthen its side to meet Clarence at West Park.
The Roos also had some big inclusions as they attempt to rebound from last week’s loss to the Tigers with Jereomy Webberley, Nathan Douglas, Ashton Dickenson and Mitch Williamson among the additions.
