After earning its first points in more than a month last weekend, Launceston’s task won’t get much tougher than a raging Lauderdale at Windsor Park on Saturday.
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The Southern Bombers have secured maximum points in six of their past seven matches this season and could jump into third spot with another triumph.
Coach Darren Winter has stayed with the same 22 that blew away Glenorchy, while Blues boss Sam Lonergan welcomes back Joyce Boyce and teenage ruck-forward Tim Auckland for utility Jake Smith's 100th game.
Ben Killalea and Jared Dakin have been sent back to the twos.
“It’s the first opportunity since we have had Tim back from the SANFL agreement, and by all reports from Adelaide he competed and had a really good attitude,” Lonergan said.
“Hopefully he can continue to do that for us.”
Lonergan said it was a great achievement for Smith to pass a significant career milestone.
“He is a fantastic footballer with a level of thinking around football which I consider high,” he said.
“He sees things before they happen, he understands things very quickly out of the coach’s mouth whereas some other players take time to process things.
“This year has been a really great season for him as he has played some really consistent footy and worked his way back into the midfield group.
“We’re starting to see Jake pick the ball up, cut and drive out of tackles.”
NORTH LAUNCESTON will go into its showdown with Glenorchy at KGV unchanged.
Utility Jake Pearce has been named as an emergency and will likely return to the fold from a right PCL injury through the development league.
The Magpies have recalled captain Brayden Webb, Matt Joseph and Brodie Rowbottom for the bout with this season’s ledger between the two side sitting at one round apiece.
Paul Kennedy’s men toppled an illness-struck Northern Bombers in round 3, before the reigning premier turned the tables down South last month.
North coach Taylor Whitford said his charges are well prepared for their second-straight roadtrip.
“We executed things quite well (last week against North Hobart) which was pleasing albeit the opposition probably wasn’t up to the standard we will be up against this week and in coming weeks,” he said.
“Glenorchy will be hunting a win after falling to Lauderdale.”
Both CLARENCE and North Hobart have shaken things up at the selection table with several big names returning for the Bellerive Oval duel.
Draft hopeful Fraser Turner will debut for the second-placed Roos who will also be bolstered by coach Jeromey Webberley, Ashton Dickenson and defender Ryan Edmondson.
Young guns Sam Collins and Jack Steele are among five inclusions for Demons.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
