Quade’s long way back
Magpies punt on fitness
THE last missing piece of Devonport’s TSL jigsaw puzzle will fall into place tomorrow when Quade Byard returns for his first match in almost two years.
The Magpies co-captain has not played State League football since 2013, missing all last season recovering from a knee reconstruction after suffering an injury while playing touch football. He tore the meniscus in the same knee in the preseason, sidelining him for the first 12 rounds.
However, after training the house down, coach Mitch Thorp had no hesitation in throwing him back into the crucial clash against Clarence at Blundstone Arena.
Devonport is fifth, two games clear of the Roos, and can all but shut the door on the two-time State League premier’s finals chances if it can emerge victorious.
“Talk about one of the good stories, he is one of the better blokes I’ve met in footy, he has been horrendously unlucky with his body,” Thorp said.
“After two years he finally gets another crack at it.
“He is nervous, excited, all of those emotions and I think the group will be fairly supportive of him returning.
“Everyone is happy for him, when Quade Byard is in your side, you are a better outfit.
“We add a captain of our club into the best 22 and it probably just makes us a bit stronger. He hasn’t played any games, all he has done is train his backside off and . . . he has trained the house down in the last fortnight.”
Devonport also regains Mariner Tyler Gavralas, who had a solid national under-18 championships.
Clarence could be bolstered by the return of five players, headlined by star wingman Jake Cox.
Cox will need to pass a fit- ness test on his shoulder to be given the all-clear, while big forward Mitch Williamson is set to finally resume from a hamstring strain.
Tim Castle will return from suspension, while Mariners Mitch Hibberd and Zac Buechner are also likely to play.
“He [Williamson] had a slight hamstring strain and took a bit longer to recover than we hoped,” Roos coach Matthew Drury said.
“The last couple of weeks we have named him but he hasn’t quite got through.”
Fresh from consecutive wins for the first time, Tigers are strengthened by the addition of Mariners ball magnet Kieran Lovell and Brandon Batchelor for the trip to West Park, while vice-captain Brad Conway returns from injury.
While hype around Lovell has swelled after his under-18 all-Australian selection, coach Adam Henley has implored his cub to enjoy club football.
Burnie lost Darren Banham (hamstring) and named ruckman Jason Laycock, although he is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from his own hamstring strain.