The expectations were high but only one team truly delivered at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
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North Launceston taught Clarence a football lesson in the fiery one-versus-two encounter, all but securing the minor premiership with three rounds to play.
Not only did the Kangaroos go down by 69 points – 21.7 (133) to 9.10 (64) – goalsneak Trent Standen and defender Tim Castle will nervously await verdicts from the match review panel.
Standen was cited for charging at North’s debutant Fletcher Bennett in the first 30 seconds of play, Castle went in the book for striking Bombers boss Tom Couch in the second stanza and in an outrageous incident, Stage League officials will be forced to investigate a Clarence trainer who reportedly struck injured Lefroy Medallist Jay Lockhart on the boundary line just after the half-time siren.
The ladder-leaders had 11 individual goal-kickers with Tom Bennett and Bart McCulloch leading the frontier with five and four apiece, as Josh Ponting, acting captain Brad Cox-Goodyer, Mark Walsh, Tarryn Thomas and Couch stamped their authority on general play.
However, Couch and injured skipper Taylor Whitford reminded their teammates post match that it was only August and not to get too far ahead of themselves.
“We want to keep improving. Today’s a step forward in improving on last week but we’ve got a bye now and Burnie in a couple of weeks,” Whitford said.
Roos coach Jeromey Webberley did not mince his words following the loss that leaves them vulnerable in second position with Lauderdale in hot pursuit.
“We really embarrassed our jumper at times with our attitude and want for the contest, and our discipline was poor and something we’re not proud of.” he said.
“It’s extremely disappointing. To come up and deliver that sort of effort is unacceptable – I’m fuming to tell you the honest truth.
“We’ve been flat for the last six weeks… we’ve lost a little bit of hunger and want for the contest. We need to regroup over the bye week and come out fit and firing for Lauderdale.”
MATCH REPORT
IF football had a mercy rule Clarence would have tapped out at half time as a clinical North Launceston ran rampant at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
Immaculate ball movement, greater intent and hunger is what earned last year’s runner up and this season’s flag fancies their 14th victory, 21.7 (133) to 9.10 (64).
Tyran Mansell (ill) was a late withdrawal, which forced goal-kicker Zach Burt into defence and freed up an unstoppable Tom Bennett to take charge of the Northern Bombers’ forward 50.
The hosts skipped out to a 20-point lead early in the opening term thanks to two quick goals from Tarryn Thomas and Bart McCulloch’s first of four, before Zac Buechner and Trent Standen wrestled the Roos back into the contest.
However, Bennett’s maiden major from four attempts and a superb major from Brad Cox-Goodyer gave North a 21-point advantage at quarter time.
The Bombers’ run and spread, helped by plenty of Clarence turnovers, saw Tom Couch’s men flex their muscles in the second stanza – booting 6.2 to the visitors’ six behinds.
Bennett and McCulloch hit the scoreboard twice as an undisciplined Clarence turned spiteful as a 53-point half-time deficit loomed.
North made it 10-consecutive goals with a couple to start the third term before Kangaroo Jordan Roberts broke the stalemate.
Clarence converted three goals to six as the Bombers headed into the final break 17.7 (109) to 5.9 (39) in command.
The ladder leaders lost the final 30 minutes by one point but failed to kick a behind in the second half – piling on 10 goals straight.
Bennett and McCulloch finished with five and four each, while Cox-Goodyer, Thomas and Couch ended up with two apiece.
Josh Ponting (27 disposals), Alex Lee and Mark Walsh were sensational through the middle as Jay Foon and Kailem Baker controlled the defensive 50.
It was slim picking for the Roos with Standen (three majors), Jackson O’Brien and Matt Ling the main contributors.
“I thought we moved the ball pretty well from our back half and our ability to not let the ball exit our forward 50 easily was good,” skipper Taylor Whitford said.
“Our half-forwards put on pretty good pressure, locked the ball in and created another stoppage, which was pleasing.”
Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley was unimpressed with his side’s performance.
“We were on the end of some really good ball movement, we couldn’t get the ball deep inside 50 and couldn’t lock the ball in any given area at any stage,” he said.
“North created easy turnovers and went through the middle and out the other side and made us look extremely slow.
“At the start of the year we were really hunting the opposition and getting forward half turnovers but in the last six weeks we have been relying on transition footy and getting over the back. We didn’t handle the pressure at all and they didn’t handle the physicality of the game.”
MATCH RESULT
North Launceston 5.5, 11.7, 17.7, 21.7 (133)
Clarence 2.2, 2.8, 5.9, 9.10 (64)
GOALS, North Launceston: T. Bennett 5, B. McCulloch 4, T. Thomas 2, T. Couch 2, M. Walsh 2, K. Baker 1, Z. Burt 1, B. Cox-Goodyer 1, M. Donnelly 1, L. Hollmer 1, K. Curtis 1. Clarence: T. Standen 3, Z. Buechner 2, J. Roberts 2, I. Callinan 1, J. Harper 1
BEST, North Launceston: A. Lee, T. Bennett, J. Ponting, J. Pearce, J. Avent, F. Bennett. Clarence: Z. Buechner, M. Ling, J. O'Brien, N. Douglas, G. Chambers, W. Wall