GREAT GRAB
Lauderdale on verge of signing premiership star
IT could be the biggest TSL signing since Jason Akermanis.
Lauderdale is waiting on the final confirmation as it looks to add former Geelong and Brisbane small forward Allen Christensen to its squad.
Christensen, a member of the Cats 2011 premiership team, retired this season after 133 AFL games and 114 goals. It is believed he has signed a twoyear contract as a playing- assistant coach.
However, to get Christensen, it has to have approval from AFL Tasmania.
Lauderdale is looking to sign the former Cat and Lion as a marquee player, meaning the majority of his salary would fall outside of the Bombers’ salary cap.
There could be a tick of approval from AFL Tasmania as soon as Monday.
The TSL has struggled to recruit former AFL players into its ranks in recent years, with those coming in nearly always Tasmanians returning home after a brief stint in the big time.
Christensen would be a major acquisition as he still has plenty of high- quality football left in him at just 29 years of age. It is believed he is looking for a sea change — and he already has a close connection at the Bombers through Lauderdale star defender Josh McGuinness, with whom he bonded during McGuinness’s two years on the Lions’ list.
It is also understood Christensen has only heard positive things about the club via Lauderdale’s association with Indigenous players brought down from the Northern Territory, where he is currently playing with the Tiwi Bombers. It would be a massive coup for Lauderdale as it moves into the post- Darren Winter — that saw the club qualify for three consecutive grand finals between 2017- 19 but were unable to lift the premiership cup in victory — era under new coach Clint Brown. Lauderdale president Julie Kay was contacted for comment.
Former Richmond and Port Adelaide full forward Jay Schulze is also in talks with both Launceston and North Launceston as he moves to Tasmania for family reasons. But at 35, this may be in a non- playing assistant coaching role.