Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login

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.
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.
19
Vote
   


Roo shuns SA for third flag

January 21st 2011 07:14
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by Brett Stubbs

STATE representative and dual premiership Roos player Jackson O'Brien has rejected an offer from SANFL club Central District.

It comes as Clarence attempts to win a TSL flag hat-trick this season and contest the new Champions League.

O'Brien, 20, was one of the few Tasmanians to enhance his reputation in the state match drubbing by Queensland last season and has been a key part of the Roos' success as a rebounding half-back flanker and in the midfield.

"It was touch and go, he said he changed his mind about five times," Clarence coach Brett Geappen said.

"When he gave us his decision, he had said three days before he was definitely going to go.

"He might go at some stage and probably should have a go at it. He is only young, he may go next year or the year after."

Geappen said he would be asking for a decision on the playing future of some of his older stars, including brother Matthew and defender Cameron Blight, as the Roos soon have to lodge a 35-man list for the first season of the Champions League.

Clarence plays WAFL grand finalist Claremont in the first round at Bellerive on April 23.

The WA Tigers finished on top of the roster ladder last season but were defeated by Swan Districts by a point in the final.

"Claremont is going to be red-hot so it will certainly test us," Geappen said.

"It is going to be something new and exciting. It will help us being at Bellerive but it is going to be a very hard game."

Former Roos full-forward Mitch Williamson has returned to Clarence after two injury-plagued years at Lauderdale, and Josh Nibbs returns after two years at Old Scholars club St Virgil's.
10
Vote
   


Roos set for Aker debut

December 24th 2010 12:02
One of Tasmanian football's fiercest rivalries will be the backdrop of Akermanis' Tasmanian State League debut. Glenorchy and Clarence will kick off the 2011 season underlights at KGV Oval on a Friday Night in April.

Glenorchy and the reigning premiers Clarence have met in bloody battles in the past, and next season will be no different. Clarence beat the Magpies in the 2009 Grand Final, and managed to belt the Pies in all their meetings this season.

Never more has there been proof that these teams hate each other then the night in the street players from both sides got into a brawl. In 1999 the Qualifiying Final saw a blood bath with now retired veteran Gavin Cooney leaving the field with a ripped jumper soaked in his own blood.

Former Hawk Shayne Stevenson almost lost his eye in that encounter which the Magpies walked away with the win to set up their premiership win. Last season Tasmanian Tigers wicketkeeper, Tim Paine, whose brother is the Clarence captain managed to spark up a bit of heat when he walked out onto the ground and asked Michael "Pud" Darcy "How many dream team points have to earned?" in their Round 1 clash last year.

Michael Darcy playing his first ever game for Glenorchy, and game in the State League wasn't having the best night out, and Tim Paine who in the winter is a runner for the Roos managed to add fuel to the fire. Every year at Bellerive Oval these teams play for the Linton-Bingley cup in honor of two TFL legends.

Clarence also wear their old maroon strip away, to mark the occasion, Aker's debut in this clash will no doubt be an experience for him to remember. He walks onto the field of battle in a rivalry that is about as intense as the Collingwood/Carlton, or Collingwood/Essendon rivalry.

The game also marks the debut of the new lights that are being installed at KGV Oval over the summer, Glenorchy will be hosting night games for the very first time.
11
Vote
   


Green wins U-18 medal

October 28th 2010 04:23
77
Vote
   


Thurley's medal win

October 5th 2010 09:08
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

FORMER Geelong, North Melbourne and Devils utility Cameron Thurley has capped off his outstanding season by winning the Chris Riewoldt Medal as Clarence's best and fairest player in 2010


[ Click here to read more ]
52
Vote
   


Roos win back-to-back flags

September 18th 2010 15:56
Sourced: The Mercury

AFTER a tight first half, Clarence showed its class to take out successive Tasmanian State League titles


[ Click here to read more ]
129
Vote
   


Rampage Roos bury Blues

September 5th 2010 07:35
43
Vote
   


His career came to a shock end, and it was almost a shock comeback but game day came and Brett Geappen was denied his chance to play again. AFL Tasmania told Brett he could not run onto the ground today to play for the Roos in their 2nd Semi Final Clash with the Blues.


The risk of playing for Geappen was a big one, but Geappen could not get a clearance to play, but the Roos did not need Geappen as they ran out winners today by 49 points booking a place in the 2010 Grand Final, and booking a home Grand Final


[ Click here to read more ]
113
Vote
   


Risks foil Roo's return

September 4th 2010 03:08
49
Vote
   


Geappen's dice with death

September 3rd 2010 09:11
46
Vote
   


More Posts
1 Posts
1 Posts
1 Posts
24 Posts dating from March 2010
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:

David Harding's Blogs

4689 Vote(s)
18 Comment(s)
62 Post(s)
3928 Vote(s)
9 Comment(s)
35 Post(s)
17185 Vote(s)
19 Comment(s)
249 Post(s)
50 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
5 Post(s)
41 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
1 Post(s)
939 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
13 Post(s)
1355 Vote(s)
8 Comment(s)
15 Post(s)
4642 Vote(s)
4 Comment(s)
41 Post(s)
4563 Vote(s)
47 Comment(s)
36 Post(s)
16857 Vote(s)
35 Comment(s)
206 Post(s)
Moderated by David Harding
Copyright © 2012 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]