Clarence not getting ahead of its game

CLARENCE is flying this season and considering the Roos are second on the ladder, they have every reason to be thinking finals.

But goal-kicking machine Ian Callinan said — and he apologised for the cliche — the Roos were taking it one week at a time.

“If we starting thinking any further ahead than Devonport this weekend, we’re going to get bitten on the arse,” Callinan said.

North Launceston heads the premiership chase and Clarence is level on 36 premiership points, but the Northern Bombers have a 21.35 percentage advantage.

Both sides are two games clear of their nearest rival Launceston (28), while Glenorchy (24) and Lauderdale (24) round out the top five.

“We are a young group that is still learning so we have to take it one week at a time and keep improving,” Callinan said.

“We got beaten around the ball on Saturday so we’ve got some work to do on our stoppages and other areas of our game.”

Voted best-afield for his three goals and 32 possessions in Clarence’s win over Lauderdale, it was Callinan’s second game back from a nasty hamstring strain that cost him five weeks on the sidelines.

“As it turned out, I only missed two games because of the state game and the bye,” he said.

“That was a blessing in disguise and hopefully it will put me in good stead for the rest of the year.”

Callinan attributes Clarence’s 9-1 win-loss ratio to the systems put in place by playing coach Jeromey Webberley.

“Jezza has instilled a real positive attitude into the group and he’s teaching the young kids on how he wants them to play,” Callinan said.

“And one of his big strengths is his clarity of roles within the team and because of that every week we’ve had 22 contributors.

“We know if we don’t have that, we’d be an average side. Most clubs will talk of that — if you don’t have 22 contributors it’s hard to win.”

Defending champion Jaye Bowden (Glenorchy) and North Launceston playingcoach Tom Couch are still tied on 12 votes at the top of the leader for the TSL Player of the Year Award after the latest round of voting.