IT will be a family affair at Windsor Park on Saturday when State League rivals Launceston and North Launceston battle for the third time this season.
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Dynamic Blues forward Rulla Kelly-Mansell will go up against his cousins Tarryn Thomas, Rhyan Mansell and possibly Tyran Mansell, who all play for the Northern Bombers. The foursome provide weekly highlights and are extremely talented, with the North trio flagged as future AFL draftees.
As both teams gear up for finals football, a proud Kelly-Mansell said the occasion was exciting for their family with memories of kick-to-kick in the street transforming into all four playing senior football.
“It will be the first time I’ve played against Taz (Thomas) and the second time against Rhyan,” Kelly-Mansell said.
“I helped coached the boys when they were in under-12s but it is exciting to see the next generation of young Aboriginal young men coming through and playing senior football.
“I can remember Rhyan coming to all football games growing up… he would always be there watching and now I’m playing against him.
“It will be something that I will look back on in years to come and to sit down and say that I played against my younger cousins will be a pretty proud moment.”
Thomas, 17, said he enjoys playing along side his cousins and “can’t wait” to take on his older family foe, while Rhyan, also 17, is keen to use the match as preparation for his maiden senior finals series.
“It’s exciting and I’m hoping that we can get deep into the finals and achieve something as a group,” he said.
...to sit down and say that I played against my younger cousins will be a pretty proud moment.
- Rulla Kelly-Mansell
All three boys said there would be no favours dished out on game day. Ladder-leaders North have defeated fifth-placed Launceston twice already this season, with the final home and away fixture to start at 2pm.