David Harding
Cain LynchQueensland wary of Tassie
June 11th 2010 07:27
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by BRETT STUBBS
QUEENSLAND'S pace versus Tasmania's stoppage strength is what will decide tomorrow's state game at Southport.
The Queensland side has an average age of just over 22, and is dominated by a number of outside runners.
"They [Tasmania] have got a good blend of youth and experience," Queensland coach Jason Cotter said.
"I think at the stoppages, physically they will be stronger. We just need to try and break even at the stoppages and try and outrun them on a big ground. That is going to be our way of trying to attack the game for sure."
Cotter was one of five Queensland coaching staff members in Tasmania last weekend watching TSL games, and he rated the competition highly.
He was at Bellerive for the Clarence-North Launceston game, in which Roos star and Tasmanian co-captain Cameron Thurley booted 5.5 and had more than 40 touches.
"I don't think you can [tag] with Cameron to be honest," he said.
"He's got that ability to go through the midfield and also play forward. He could very well be a bit of quarterback down back as well.
"We've just got to worry about our own game and get on with it. It is going to be very hard because the standard [of the TSL] is a touch up from QAFL footy. The advantage we've got is at least it is on our home ground in our conditions."
Cotter said there was different motivation for each side, but he said last season's 49-point thumping by Tasmania in Hobart was not one, as there was only six players named from last year's team.
"We are playing against a bunch of guys who when they go home and walk down the street of Devonport or Launceston or Hobart, people will actually stop them and ask them how they went.
"They have got a responsibility to their state, where up here in a developing state, after the game is run and won there won't be too much questioning of the guys in their local suburbs and walking around town.
"That is what we have to compete against. It is the pride of Tasmania against the Queensland version. But in saying that everyone is mad dog keen to play."
Queensland will field a team with a number of former AFL-listed player's including Cleve Hughes (Richmond), Daniel Dzufer (Brisbane), Scott Clouston (Brisbane) and Darren Pfeiffer (Adelaide) as well as Brisbane Lions rookie Claye Beams, the brother of Collingwood's Dayne.
"It is another opportunity for players to show their wares," he said.
"While it is about winning, we also adopt the philosophy up here it is also promoting young guys to the higher level.
"You see with the [Michael] Barlows and the James Podsiadlys of the world, now they [AFL clubs] are certainly starting to look far and wide for people capable of playing AFL football."
by BRETT STUBBS
Tasmanian co-captain and Clarence star Cameron Thurley at state training last night. Picture: RAOUL KOCHANOWSKI
The Queensland side has an average age of just over 22, and is dominated by a number of outside runners.
"They [Tasmania] have got a good blend of youth and experience," Queensland coach Jason Cotter said.
"I think at the stoppages, physically they will be stronger. We just need to try and break even at the stoppages and try and outrun them on a big ground. That is going to be our way of trying to attack the game for sure."
Cotter was one of five Queensland coaching staff members in Tasmania last weekend watching TSL games, and he rated the competition highly.
He was at Bellerive for the Clarence-North Launceston game, in which Roos star and Tasmanian co-captain Cameron Thurley booted 5.5 and had more than 40 touches.
"I don't think you can [tag] with Cameron to be honest," he said.
"He's got that ability to go through the midfield and also play forward. He could very well be a bit of quarterback down back as well.
"We've just got to worry about our own game and get on with it. It is going to be very hard because the standard [of the TSL] is a touch up from QAFL footy. The advantage we've got is at least it is on our home ground in our conditions."
Cotter said there was different motivation for each side, but he said last season's 49-point thumping by Tasmania in Hobart was not one, as there was only six players named from last year's team.
"We are playing against a bunch of guys who when they go home and walk down the street of Devonport or Launceston or Hobart, people will actually stop them and ask them how they went.
"They have got a responsibility to their state, where up here in a developing state, after the game is run and won there won't be too much questioning of the guys in their local suburbs and walking around town.
"That is what we have to compete against. It is the pride of Tasmania against the Queensland version. But in saying that everyone is mad dog keen to play."
Queensland will field a team with a number of former AFL-listed player's including Cleve Hughes (Richmond), Daniel Dzufer (Brisbane), Scott Clouston (Brisbane) and Darren Pfeiffer (Adelaide) as well as Brisbane Lions rookie Claye Beams, the brother of Collingwood's Dayne.
"It is another opportunity for players to show their wares," he said.
"While it is about winning, we also adopt the philosophy up here it is also promoting young guys to the higher level.
"You see with the [Michael] Barlows and the James Podsiadlys of the world, now they [AFL clubs] are certainly starting to look far and wide for people capable of playing AFL football."
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