TSL’s top onballers sure to entertain

TIGERS coach Trent Baumeler says the clash between two of the TSL’s best midfields is reason enough to get along to the Twin Ovals today to see their match against in-form Clarence.

After his revelation that Clarence would continue its experiment with an onballer doing some ruckwork — a la AFL power Richmond — watching Roos coach Jeromey Webberley at the hitouts will be another fascinating element to the contest.

Webberley did some of the ruckwork in Clarence’s win over Glenorchy last Saturday when Roos ruckman, and best afield, Ryan Bailey needed a break.

“I got told to go and play ruck last weekend, which I wasn’t too enthused about,” Webberley said. “I don’t jump any more. I’m nearly 30.

“But we might have a look at that again this week.

“It’s something Richmond do extremely well in the AFL and it’s something we need to look at, because we’re down to one ruckman and to a young kid called Connor Berry.

“He’s only played one senior game so we need to invest some games in him over the next eight to 10 weeks.

“We also need to look at what playing a midfielder in the ruck does for us and we’ll do that over the next eight weeks. It went well last week.”

The Roos lost ruckmanforward Wade Wall to an ankle injury while defender Tim Castle is able to play after getting his third career reprimand, this time for instigating a halftime melee at KGV, as was Magpie Josh Grant. Baumeler was disgusted with his team’s effort against Launceston and wants more of his men this week.

“When you have guys like ‘Jez’ [Webberley] and Jackson O’Brien, going against our guys like Ryan Matthews, Lachie Clifford and Will Campbell, that’s worth getting along to have a look at,” Baumeler said. “We’ll embrace the rain and the conditions because all of those guys are going to be smashing in.”