Fired-up Clarence to push a ‘fine line’

CLARENCE coach Jeromey Webberley will continue to urge his troops to play on the edge after Jackson O’Brien’s report was thrown out by the TSL tribunal last night.

The star on-baller and club vice-captain was reported for striking Bryce Walsh in the opening quarter of the Roos’ qualifying final loss to Lauderdale on Saturday, but the case was dismissed after evidence failed to support the charge.

O’Brien, who was the side’s best player in the defeat, is now free to play in the knockout first semi-final against Launceston at Blundstone Arena this weekend.

The incident was referred straight to the independent tribunal because of inconclusive match-day vision, but footage captured by WIN TV showed O’Brien making contact to Walsh’s upper body rather than his head.

Having also seen reigning best and fairest Jack Gleeson dodge a bullet a fortnight ago when his two-match ban for headbutting was reduced — meaning Gleeson escaped potential deregistration — Webberley said he doesn’t want his players to curb their competitiveness, though he is aware there is a fine line.

“I had a look at some vision that was on WIN News on Monday night and I got confident after I saw that,” Webberley said. “Contact was obviously to the chest, it was more of a shoulder block.

“You need to be on the edge but you can’t be over it. As a coach you want them as close to the edge as you can get.

“Have we overstepped the line in the last couple of weeks? I don’t think so, I think they have played some real good competitive footy.”