Huge Holmescoming

Teen star adds to firepower

THE return of 17-year-old Clarence forward Noah Holmes presents a tactical headache for both coaches ahead of Saturday’s clash between the Roos and Kingborough.

The Roos phenom is back among a host of changes for a side that made nine last week due to injuries and school commitments.

Roos coach Jeromey Webberley is among the inclusions, alongside youngsters Oliver Davis and Ethan Jackson.

Webberley said Sam Banks could miss a fortnight after picking up a hamstring injury in the SATIS grand final alongside Holmes.

In Holmes’s absence, Chris Nield lined up at full forward and booted five goals against title fancies North Launceston, meaning Webberley has a task ahead of him to gel the spearheads alongside fellow key forward Sam Green and livewire former AFL star Josh Green.

“We’re pretty rapt to have Noah back, he’s a (top 3) contested mark in the comp and he’s just 17 years of age,” Webberley said.

“Adding him with Josh and Sam Green and then Nield, we’ve got some real firepower down there and it’s the first time we’ve had our four best forwards in one game.”

Webberley is working on how to best align his newfound forward riches.

“There’s some ego down there but as long as they play their role and do what’s right for the team, I’m sure they’ll hit the scoreboard when it’s their turn,” he said.

“Nield gets up the ground a fair bit. Josh and Noah get a bit closer to goal and Sam’s more of a traditional centre half-forward. They’ll stay out of each other’s way.

“It might take them a few weeks to gel but once they do they’ll be pretty hard to stop.”

Kingborough coach Trent Baumeler has the task of figuring out how the Roos’ forwards will line up and then how to counter them.

“The big fella (Holmes) is obviously going to be deep, (Josh) Green’s been dangerous and getting better every week at his feet and (Sam Green and Nield) work more up the ground,” he said.

“We’ll put the magnets next to each other and see how it flies.”

The unchanged Tigers will look to earlier in the season when scouting a side spinning through a selection merry-go-round.

“It makes it a little difficult to scout when you’re doing your opposition analysis,” Baumeler said.

“We looked a little bit at the Lauderdale game (a fortnight ago) as well as the North Launceston game.

“The guys that they brought in did the job and they pushed North Lonny all the way.”