Wait on Bowden’s back for big clash

REIGNING premier Glenorchy will give star Jaye Bowden until the 11th hour to prove his fitness heading into its ladder-shaping clash with last year’s grand finalist North Launceston at UTas Stadium on Saturday.

Struggling with a back injury, Bowden was a late withdrawal from last Saturday’s sensational win over top-of-the-ladder Clarence at Blundstone Arena.

Despite that, the Magpies humbled the TSL’s early premiership favourite by 23 points in a pivotal victory. The win was a huge confidence booster and helped preserve third spot on the ladder and stave off a challenge from fourth-placed Lauderdale.

It gave the Magpies more reason to look forward to their match with North Launceston.

“We’ve got a great rivalry now. There’s been a great history between the clubs over the past couple of years,” coach Aaron Cornelius said.

“They enjoy beating us and we enjoy beating them. We’ll find out on Thursday night how Jaye’s back is, but we will give him ever chance to play.”

North Launceston beat Glenorchy by 18 points when they met at KGV in Round 7.

Glenorchy’s fortunes have changed enormously since then, gaining Ben Reynolds, Zac Webster, Josh Watts, Tim Butterworth and Matthew Dilger and rising to third on the table.

“We had a few injuries back then and a few young players got exposed, but that was good for those guys,” Cornelius said.

“Now we’ve got a bit more experience and we’ve got a few more guys in form and playing team-oriented footy.”

Glenorchy won its first three games of the season — Hobart City Demons (98 points), Devonport (154) and Tigers (69) — and struck a form slump, losing the next four. Cornelius said it was not a premiership hangover.

“We started the year strong and it didn’t do us any favours, winning the way we did,” he said. “A few guys took their foot off the gas and we dropped the ball a bit. We are playing a lot better now.

“Our ball movement is a lot better and we have a lot more self-belief.”