Roberts fires up Bombers

LAUDERDALE will welcome back gun Jordan Roberts for this weekend’s clash against arch-rival Clarence in what will be the midfielder’s first game for the club after serving a six-match suspension.

The onballer was a key cog in Lauderdale’s midfield before being suspended in Round 13 for rough conduct for a slamming tackle on Launceston’s Stewart Williams.

Coach Darren Winter admits Rob- erts’ inclusion for tomorrow’s match could be one of several changes made by the club after its 82-point thrashing of Hobart City.

“We’re pretty keen to get another young guy in there and give him a taste of senior footy,” Winter said.

“It’s the last opportunity before finals to have a crack at some quality opposition.”

Scheduled with a bye for the final round of the season, Winter believes the week off won’t hurt the club’s momentum going into the finals.

“We’ve had six or seven games in a row, and to get a spell before the first final is ideal,” he said.

“The boys are probably getting a bit sore, so a freshen up will be good.”

Clarence will also welcome back some star power to its line-up with playing coach Jeromey Webberley declaring himself a certain starter for the Roos.

“It’s a pretty important game for me individually,” Webberley said.

“It’s important to get two games in before finals, and [important] to have two good games against two good teams.”

Webberley believes tomorrow’s home game against a quality Lauderdale outfit will serve as good finals preparation for the club.

“We want it to be a competitive game. I think you need those types of games heading into finals,” he said.

Tomorrow’s other battle in the south sees Kingborough host Glenorchy in what Magpies coach Aaron Cornelius concedes is a danger game.

“The inclusion of [former St Kilda ruckman] Daniel Archer last time we played them really straightened them up,” Cornelius said.

“They went straight through the corridor and really opened us up on a number of occasions.”

The Tigers will be hoping that the return of Archer this week will help the club take it up to the Magpies, who will be without captain Brayden Webb and former Hawthorn-listed player Zac Webster.

James Kitto is a UTAS journalism student.