Mott to step up for Pies with no Disco

EXTRA load will fall on to the shoulders of Glenorchy’s main man Rhys Mott in its midfield battle against Lauderdale at KGV today, with his partner in crime out of action with a hamstring injury.

Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy says it could take up to three players to replace its best “inside influencer” Ben Kamaric, who has been one of the most effective ball winners inside the contest this season.

Mott will be needed as much inside as he will on the outside against the Bombers, who are reaching near desperation point after losing three of their past four games. And they have not had a win at KGV since Round 8 in 2017, which was their first win at the venue since 2012.

“We’ve got a lot of players who can step into ‘Disco’ Kamaric’s role in the middle,” Kennedy said. “Ryan BanksSmith can go inside; Cal Daly and Jaye Bowden can go on-ball and forward. It will probably be a mix of all of those guys.”

Since its loss to Launceston at KGV in Round 15, Glenorchy is undefeated and looking for its fourth on the trot.

Lauderdale’s drought on Glenorchy’s home deck was no reason for the Pies to bank on the KGV factor.

“If you talk about that you take your eye off what you need to do,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got a way that we need to play football and we are confident that if we execute that we should get a result.

“If we drop away from that against Lauderdale, allow them to get out the front of contests and generate speed into their forward line or get corridor ball movement, then it doesn’t matter what ground they are playing on.

“They are going to get to goal quickly and be really dangerous.”

Lauderdale’s forward line is more dangerous with the return today of goalsneak Henry Kerinaiua and the tactical inclusion of tall Alex Hill to stretch Glenorchy’s depleted defence. Captain Bryce Walsh and Phil Bellchambers are back from injury to bolster the midfield in a contest that could decide the game.

“Glenorchy gets first use of the ball from [ruckman Cam] Duffy and they’ve got leg speed, so we’ve got make sure we compete in there and shut down their run,” said Lauderdale coach Darren Winter.