Kennedy in hot seat as Pies launch

New mentor’s backing his players to get the job done

IT’S a new era for Glenorchy with Paul Kennedy taking the reins from premiership coach Aaron Cornelius.

Kennedy took over from the 2016 TSL premiership coach after Cornelius left the club at the end of last season to join NEAFL club Southport as a senior assistant.

With a wealth of playing and coaching experience from his time in the VFL, Kennedy will coach his first game in the TSL today against Lauderdale at KGV Oval.

Kennedy’s coaching style has suited the young Glenorchy team according to captain Brayden Webb.

“He has brought a difference to the club,” Webb said.

“He is very much a player’s coach.

“He relies on his relationships with the players and backs them to take responsibility.”

Lauderdale will be without its captain Bryce Walsh and excitement machine Thor Boscott, both of whom are injured, and will also miss suspended midfielder Jordon Roberts. However Webb and his side will not be taking the reigning grand finalist lightly.

“We have had a look at their last game,” he said.

“It is going to hurt them not having Walsh and Boscott too but we will be focusing on who they do have.

“They are a proud club and still have lots of talent who will be on the park.”

The Magpies have some talent themselves with former TSL player of the year Jaye Bowden, ex-Hawthorn listed Zac Webster and Webb all fit and firing for today but the captain believes the youth in the team will be its X-factor.

“We will be blooding lot of youth this season,” Webb said.

“It is going to make us unpredictable to our opposition.

“Having more youth in our side will make us a faster side.”

The other games in Round 2 will be played in the North of the state.

The Tigers’ new-look team will travel to University of Tasmania Stadium to take on North Launceston, which is proving to be the competition’s yardstick yet again.

Both the Tigers and the Bombers are coming off Round 1 wins and the teams they beat will be playing off at Windsor Park with Launceston hosting North Hobart.