Roos to target Aker
March 29th 2011 05:55
Source: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by Brett Stubbs
JASON Akermanis versus Cameron Thurley, head-to-head under lights at KGV is shaping up as the dream matchup to kick off the TSL season on Saturday.
Clarence coach Brett Geappen hinted Thurley, the former Geelong and North Melbourne utility widely regarded as the best player in the TSL, could line up on Brownlow Medallist Akermanis as the Roos look to fully exploit the three-time Brisbane Lions' premiership player's lack of defensive pressure.
See today's Mercury for your 16-page TSL Season Preview
"We'll definitely have a guy ready for him if he plays forward and if he plays in the midfield we might try a couple of other things," Geappen said yesterday.
"We have got one or two guys who might lock him down or we could go the other way, we've got 'Thurls' and Jackson O'Brien in there who are pretty handy.
"We might go head to head and see how he goes the other way [defensively].
"Being 35 and not training at the level he's used to it is certainly going to affect him somehow and dropping to the lower level, it's harder for guys to adjust to that, especially early on.
"He is obviously a very dangerous player and someone you have to respect and he can cut you up in five or so minutes so we might try a few different things on him."
Last year's state co-captain and the best player in the Roos' grand final win, Thurley said he would jump at the opportunity to take on Akermanis.
"It would be great, I'd love to go up against 'Aker' and I'm sure a lot of the other 21 players in our side running out on Saturday would like to play against him," Thurley said.
Glenorchy boasts a bundle of other new recruits, including former Devonport duo Ben Reynolds and Rhys Mott.
Geappen dismissed suggestions Akermanis would be targeted physically or verbally and even said he was not the main threat.
"One of his greatest assets is that he responds at his best to that sort of thing," Geappen said.
"To be totally honest, going into the game I'm probably more focused on a couple of other guys rather than Jason.
"Certainly the hype is going to be around Jason and that's the match up everyone will be watching and we've certainly spoken about it in our group but he's not the No. 1 priority in our group.
"We have been able to fly under the radar which has been really pleasant.
"A lot of pressure is on them to be totally honest."
Geappen said dual premiership defender Cameron Blight was due to start training soon and would be right to play later in the year.
See today's Mercury for your 16-page lift-out guide to this year's TSL season.
by Brett Stubbs
JASON Akermanis versus Cameron Thurley, head-to-head under lights at KGV is shaping up as the dream matchup to kick off the TSL season on Saturday.
Clarence coach Brett Geappen hinted Thurley, the former Geelong and North Melbourne utility widely regarded as the best player in the TSL, could line up on Brownlow Medallist Akermanis as the Roos look to fully exploit the three-time Brisbane Lions' premiership player's lack of defensive pressure.
Clarence aims to exploit Glenorchy star recruit Jason Akermanis' lack of defensive pressure.
See today's Mercury for your 16-page TSL Season Preview
"We'll definitely have a guy ready for him if he plays forward and if he plays in the midfield we might try a couple of other things," Geappen said yesterday.
"We have got one or two guys who might lock him down or we could go the other way, we've got 'Thurls' and Jackson O'Brien in there who are pretty handy.
"We might go head to head and see how he goes the other way [defensively].
"Being 35 and not training at the level he's used to it is certainly going to affect him somehow and dropping to the lower level, it's harder for guys to adjust to that, especially early on.
"He is obviously a very dangerous player and someone you have to respect and he can cut you up in five or so minutes so we might try a few different things on him."
Last year's state co-captain and the best player in the Roos' grand final win, Thurley said he would jump at the opportunity to take on Akermanis.
"It would be great, I'd love to go up against 'Aker' and I'm sure a lot of the other 21 players in our side running out on Saturday would like to play against him," Thurley said.
Glenorchy boasts a bundle of other new recruits, including former Devonport duo Ben Reynolds and Rhys Mott.
Geappen dismissed suggestions Akermanis would be targeted physically or verbally and even said he was not the main threat.
"One of his greatest assets is that he responds at his best to that sort of thing," Geappen said.
"To be totally honest, going into the game I'm probably more focused on a couple of other guys rather than Jason.
"Certainly the hype is going to be around Jason and that's the match up everyone will be watching and we've certainly spoken about it in our group but he's not the No. 1 priority in our group.
"We have been able to fly under the radar which has been really pleasant.
"A lot of pressure is on them to be totally honest."
Geappen said dual premiership defender Cameron Blight was due to start training soon and would be right to play later in the year.
See today's Mercury for your 16-page lift-out guide to this year's TSL season.
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