David Harding
Cain LynchRound 1 Launceston vs Devonport Teams & Preview
April 8th 2011 16:42
Where & When: Windsor Park Saturday, April 9th, 2:00PM
Coverage: The Animal Enclosure Forums, Sportingpulse Progressive Scores
Colts
Launceston vs Devonport 10:40pm
Teams
Launceston
B: Michael Sinclair, Gene Savage, Gary Shipton
HB: Josh Woolley, Beau Green, James Thurlow
C: Tim Bristow, Sam O'Keefe, Sonny Whiting
HF: Sam Rundle, Tom Claridge, Jesse Lonergon
F: Marjek Miar, Brett Finch, Scott Stephens
R: Jason Edwards, Kurt McCabe, Daniel Ellis
Interchange: Joe Groenewegen, C. Savage, Trmine, Ryan De Visser, Joe Boyce, Corey Sheppard, Seth McCrimmon, Jordan Harris
Devonport
B: Sam Hess, Corey Plumbridge, Kaidyn Howe
HB: Allan Clements, Quade Byard, Brennon Kendall
C: Ryan Williams, Tim Mee, Ben Walker
HF: Philip Crowden, Scott Bennetts, Hayden Reid
F: Damon Howe, Justin Rodman, Aaron McNab
R: Clint Matthews, Brad Symmons, Sam Walker
Interchange: Ryan George, Damon, Ben Blacklow, Alexander Benson, Adam McDermott, Jordan Marshall, Josh Lewtas, Deverell
PREVIEW
A rematch of last year’s preliminary final in which the Magpies managed to walk away with the win, but the Northern Magpies have been decimated by player movements and they are barely recognisable from last year’s grand final side. Launceston again looks strong, they have welcomed back Sonny Whiting, they have picked up Ryan de Visser formerly of the Gippsland Power, brought across former ruckman Andrea Miar's brother Marjek from the Dogs and signed Sam Rundle from the Magpies.
Their outs include Cameron Down who joins the NTFA, Luke French who joined Longford, Adrian French who has retired due to work commitment, and Gary Mohr to their rivals North Launceston. Devonport, well they've lost so many big names, most notably they have lost the McDonald brothers to Penguin, Rhys Mott, Ben Brown, and Ben Reynolds to Glenorchy, Claye Hardy and Sam Whish-Wilson to Burnie. Clinton Viney to East Devonport, Trent McCossen to Ulvestone.
They welcome the following Justin Rodman (Ulvestone), Tim Mee (Ulvestone), Adam McDermott (Ulvestone), Josh Luewtas (country), Ben Blacklow (Latrobe) to the club. The Northern Magpies had their best season to date, they played in their first State League Grand Final since the 1980s. But they came up against the red hot Roos, a side that haven't lost at Bellerive Oval since 2008. Devonport came close to beating the Roos if the game at Bellerive was stopped at Three Quarter Time, but the Roos ran riot and that was the end of Devonports resistance.
Launceston were the only team to beat the Roos last season, but it was not at Bellerive and it was not in a final. Launceston again should be and are disappointed in their fadeout in the finals, they got lucky they beat the Magpies at Aurora Stadium in the 3rd Qualifiying Final, but then they met the Roos again and were pumped.
Devonoport started like a house on fire against Launceston when they last met, and they weathered the storm to go home with a Grand Final appearance, one they would much rather forget. After that final they lost their coach Errol Bourn decideding that it was enough and handed over the reigns.
But not only was there a player exodus at the Northern Magpies, but a finacial crisis hit the club, and they were fighting for life. Emergency meetings were called, money was needed to be found from somewhere. A once proud club was thrown into chaos, it was a drama that their Coastal Rivals Burnie had felt the year before minus the money issues.
Things are stable now at the Magpies, even though they do look like they are in for a long season, it kicks off against a Blues side that is bolstered by the return of Whiting, and the addition of Rundle. Brian Finch was a revealation at Full Forward last season, ending up overtaking Brett Geappen and he walked away with the Hudson Medal.
The finals looked bleak for the Blues, in club history they never won a State League final, until they beat the Northern Magpies. It looked as if the trend was going to continue but Brian Finch booted the Blues home.
LIST CHANGES
Launceston
In: Sonny Whiting (Lilydale), Chris Savage (Bridgenorth), Ryan de Visser (Gippsland Power), Sam Rundle (Devonport), Majak Miar (South Launceston)
Out: Andrea Miar (Adelaide), Luke French (Longford), Cameron Downie (NTFA), Adrian French (work/retired.), Geoff Mohr (North Launceston)
Devonport
In: Justin Rodman (Ulvestone), Tim Mee (Ulvestone), Adam McDermott (Ulvestone), Josh Luewtas (country), Ben Blacklow (Latrobe)
Out: Ben Brown (Glenorchy), Brad McDonald (Penguin), Chris McDonald (Penguin), Clinton Viney (East Devonport), Trent McCrossen (Ulvestone), Rhys Mott (Glenorchy), Ben Reynolds (Glenorchy), Sam Whish-Wilson (Burnie), Sam Rundle (Launceston), Claye Hardy (Burnie)
HEAD TO HEAD
Round 3 2009 - Devonport 10.19 (79) def. Launceston 9.4 (58) – Windsor Park (Sunday)
Round 14 2009 - Launceston 14.11 (95) def. Devonport 4.5 (29) – Aurora Stadium (Night)
2nd Elimination Final 2009 - Devonport 10.6 (66) def. Launceston 3.11 (29) - Devonport Oval (Night)
Round 4 - Devonport 7.18 (60) def. Launceston 6.7 (43) – Windsor Park
Round 16 - Launceston 11.6 (72) def. Devonport 10.8 (68) – Aurora Stadium
3rd Qualifying Final - Launceston 20.9 (129) def. Devonport 9.16 (70)
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
LAST TIME THEY MET
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
PREVIOUS ROUND
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
Grand Final 2010 - Clarence 15.13 (103) def. Devonport 6.10 (46) - Bellerive Oval
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brian Finch (Launceston) – Last seasons Hudson Medallist will look to try and do the double this season, but hirst first game is going to be against a Devonport side that is depleted of any big talent that could stop him. It very well could be a day out for the big forward.
Alan Clements (Devonport) – The new Devonport captain taking over from Kurt Heazlewood who has gone interstate begins his captaining career with a tough first task. He's captaining what will appear to be a young Devonport side, without much star power, and will have to lead from defence.
QUESTION MARKS
Launceston putting behind them another poor finals performance comes into the season against a side that's been pushed to breaking point before a ball has been bounced, can last years Hudson Medallist Brian Finch run amok against this inexperienced Devonport side?
Devonport are in critical condition, lack of money, lack of experience has put them where their coastal rivals Burnie were the season before, but the Dockers managed to find some life, and win their first game against the Magpies, can the Magpies turn things around and come close to pulling off a miracle win against this side?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Down and out Devonport don't look like they are going to go anywhere near this Launceston side, the pain of the Grand final loss the season passed will be lingering around the club. But the fact that the Magpies could cease to exist as they are has been a bigger nightmare, on life support now the Magpies have found themselves players to replace those that have left for greener pastures.
Launceston a team that are much better than their past seasons performances have shown, have added to an already strong side over summer. They've had a minor turnover in players, but still have that same dangerous line up that terrorised teams back in the NTFL.
It is staggering as to why they have not been able to bring their NTFL dominance into the TSL, but they are getting closer and closer to unleashing on the rest of the competition, and against Devonport they are going to show the rest of the league what they can do when they are a wounded team that should have had a better finals series. People are already writing off this season for Devonport, people are ready to put them down as wooden spooners. But they had said the same about the Burnie Dockers and they came very close to playing finals.
The main difference between the two is, that Burnie didn't have the major loses that Devonport had, and were able to find some good young players already there ready to step up. That's not to say the Northern Magpies cannot stand up, but this Launceston side are going to be too tough, I don't see the Magpies stopping Brian Finch at Full Forward.
PREDICTION
Launceston by 40 points
Coverage: The Animal Enclosure Forums, Sportingpulse Progressive Scores
Colts
Launceston vs Devonport 10:40pm
Teams
Launceston
B: Michael Sinclair, Gene Savage, Gary Shipton
HB: Josh Woolley, Beau Green, James Thurlow
C: Tim Bristow, Sam O'Keefe, Sonny Whiting
HF: Sam Rundle, Tom Claridge, Jesse Lonergon
F: Marjek Miar, Brett Finch, Scott Stephens
R: Jason Edwards, Kurt McCabe, Daniel Ellis
Interchange: Joe Groenewegen, C. Savage, Trmine, Ryan De Visser, Joe Boyce, Corey Sheppard, Seth McCrimmon, Jordan Harris
Devonport
B: Sam Hess, Corey Plumbridge, Kaidyn Howe
HB: Allan Clements, Quade Byard, Brennon Kendall
C: Ryan Williams, Tim Mee, Ben Walker
HF: Philip Crowden, Scott Bennetts, Hayden Reid
F: Damon Howe, Justin Rodman, Aaron McNab
R: Clint Matthews, Brad Symmons, Sam Walker
Interchange: Ryan George, Damon, Ben Blacklow, Alexander Benson, Adam McDermott, Jordan Marshall, Josh Lewtas, Deverell
PREVIEW
A rematch of last year’s preliminary final in which the Magpies managed to walk away with the win, but the Northern Magpies have been decimated by player movements and they are barely recognisable from last year’s grand final side. Launceston again looks strong, they have welcomed back Sonny Whiting, they have picked up Ryan de Visser formerly of the Gippsland Power, brought across former ruckman Andrea Miar's brother Marjek from the Dogs and signed Sam Rundle from the Magpies.
Their outs include Cameron Down who joins the NTFA, Luke French who joined Longford, Adrian French who has retired due to work commitment, and Gary Mohr to their rivals North Launceston. Devonport, well they've lost so many big names, most notably they have lost the McDonald brothers to Penguin, Rhys Mott, Ben Brown, and Ben Reynolds to Glenorchy, Claye Hardy and Sam Whish-Wilson to Burnie. Clinton Viney to East Devonport, Trent McCossen to Ulvestone.
They welcome the following Justin Rodman (Ulvestone), Tim Mee (Ulvestone), Adam McDermott (Ulvestone), Josh Luewtas (country), Ben Blacklow (Latrobe) to the club. The Northern Magpies had their best season to date, they played in their first State League Grand Final since the 1980s. But they came up against the red hot Roos, a side that haven't lost at Bellerive Oval since 2008. Devonport came close to beating the Roos if the game at Bellerive was stopped at Three Quarter Time, but the Roos ran riot and that was the end of Devonports resistance.
Launceston were the only team to beat the Roos last season, but it was not at Bellerive and it was not in a final. Launceston again should be and are disappointed in their fadeout in the finals, they got lucky they beat the Magpies at Aurora Stadium in the 3rd Qualifiying Final, but then they met the Roos again and were pumped.
Devonoport started like a house on fire against Launceston when they last met, and they weathered the storm to go home with a Grand Final appearance, one they would much rather forget. After that final they lost their coach Errol Bourn decideding that it was enough and handed over the reigns.
But not only was there a player exodus at the Northern Magpies, but a finacial crisis hit the club, and they were fighting for life. Emergency meetings were called, money was needed to be found from somewhere. A once proud club was thrown into chaos, it was a drama that their Coastal Rivals Burnie had felt the year before minus the money issues.
Things are stable now at the Magpies, even though they do look like they are in for a long season, it kicks off against a Blues side that is bolstered by the return of Whiting, and the addition of Rundle. Brian Finch was a revealation at Full Forward last season, ending up overtaking Brett Geappen and he walked away with the Hudson Medal.
The finals looked bleak for the Blues, in club history they never won a State League final, until they beat the Northern Magpies. It looked as if the trend was going to continue but Brian Finch booted the Blues home.
LIST CHANGES
Launceston
In: Sonny Whiting (Lilydale), Chris Savage (Bridgenorth), Ryan de Visser (Gippsland Power), Sam Rundle (Devonport), Majak Miar (South Launceston)
Out: Andrea Miar (Adelaide), Luke French (Longford), Cameron Downie (NTFA), Adrian French (work/retired.), Geoff Mohr (North Launceston)
Devonport
In: Justin Rodman (Ulvestone), Tim Mee (Ulvestone), Adam McDermott (Ulvestone), Josh Luewtas (country), Ben Blacklow (Latrobe)
Out: Ben Brown (Glenorchy), Brad McDonald (Penguin), Chris McDonald (Penguin), Clinton Viney (East Devonport), Trent McCrossen (Ulvestone), Rhys Mott (Glenorchy), Ben Reynolds (Glenorchy), Sam Whish-Wilson (Burnie), Sam Rundle (Launceston), Claye Hardy (Burnie)
HEAD TO HEAD
Round 3 2009 - Devonport 10.19 (79) def. Launceston 9.4 (58) – Windsor Park (Sunday)
Round 14 2009 - Launceston 14.11 (95) def. Devonport 4.5 (29) – Aurora Stadium (Night)
2nd Elimination Final 2009 - Devonport 10.6 (66) def. Launceston 3.11 (29) - Devonport Oval (Night)
Round 4 - Devonport 7.18 (60) def. Launceston 6.7 (43) – Windsor Park
Round 16 - Launceston 11.6 (72) def. Devonport 10.8 (68) – Aurora Stadium
3rd Qualifying Final - Launceston 20.9 (129) def. Devonport 9.16 (70)
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
LAST TIME THEY MET
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
PREVIOUS ROUND
Preliminary Final 2010 - Devonport 11.14 (80) def. Launceston 9.11 (65) - Aurora Stadium (Friday)
Grand Final 2010 - Clarence 15.13 (103) def. Devonport 6.10 (46) - Bellerive Oval
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brian Finch (Launceston) – Last seasons Hudson Medallist will look to try and do the double this season, but hirst first game is going to be against a Devonport side that is depleted of any big talent that could stop him. It very well could be a day out for the big forward.
Alan Clements (Devonport) – The new Devonport captain taking over from Kurt Heazlewood who has gone interstate begins his captaining career with a tough first task. He's captaining what will appear to be a young Devonport side, without much star power, and will have to lead from defence.
QUESTION MARKS
Launceston putting behind them another poor finals performance comes into the season against a side that's been pushed to breaking point before a ball has been bounced, can last years Hudson Medallist Brian Finch run amok against this inexperienced Devonport side?
Devonport are in critical condition, lack of money, lack of experience has put them where their coastal rivals Burnie were the season before, but the Dockers managed to find some life, and win their first game against the Magpies, can the Magpies turn things around and come close to pulling off a miracle win against this side?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Down and out Devonport don't look like they are going to go anywhere near this Launceston side, the pain of the Grand final loss the season passed will be lingering around the club. But the fact that the Magpies could cease to exist as they are has been a bigger nightmare, on life support now the Magpies have found themselves players to replace those that have left for greener pastures.
Launceston a team that are much better than their past seasons performances have shown, have added to an already strong side over summer. They've had a minor turnover in players, but still have that same dangerous line up that terrorised teams back in the NTFL.
It is staggering as to why they have not been able to bring their NTFL dominance into the TSL, but they are getting closer and closer to unleashing on the rest of the competition, and against Devonport they are going to show the rest of the league what they can do when they are a wounded team that should have had a better finals series. People are already writing off this season for Devonport, people are ready to put them down as wooden spooners. But they had said the same about the Burnie Dockers and they came very close to playing finals.
The main difference between the two is, that Burnie didn't have the major loses that Devonport had, and were able to find some good young players already there ready to step up. That's not to say the Northern Magpies cannot stand up, but this Launceston side are going to be too tough, I don't see the Magpies stopping Brian Finch at Full Forward.
PREDICTION
Launceston by 40 points
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