Relief for Bombers as oval fit for play

LAUDERDALE regained two big guns for its critical clash with reigning champion Launceston on Saturday but the Blues lost captain Jobi Harper as the Bombers narrowly escaped losing their home ground advantage after AFL Tasmania assessed SkyBus Oval fit to host TSL football.

It was a sticky home track for Lauderdale’s 19-point loss to Clarence there last Saturday.

It prompted AFL Tasmania boss Damian Gill to call for a ground inspection on Thursday.

The vacant Twin Ovals, as the Tigers have a bye, or North Hobart Oval, with the Demons taking on Glenorchy at KGV, were the likely surrogate hosts until AFL Tasmania said in a statement: “The game will be held at SkyBus Oval as scheduled following consultation between TSL management, Lauderdale and Clarence City Council.”

Lauderdale coach Dan Willing understood why the surface was under the microscope.

“The ground is not great, but credit to the council, they have tried really hard to get it right,” he said. “It has dried out a little bit but it’s still pretty poor in the areas where it was heavy under foot last week, but there hasn’t been a lot of wind to dry it out and that hasn’t helped.

“AFL Tasmania has been great at coming down and looking at it and giving us some ideas around how we can make it better.

“We’re doing our best but we’ve got 500 participants that train on the one ground, and that makes it really tough.” The Bombers would not have protested if there was a venue change. “We’ll play wherever we need to play – it’s four posts at either end and grass in the middle, so it doesn’t bother us,” Willing said.

While Harper is out for work duties, Bombers ruckman Haydn Smith is back from suspension and key forward Tyler Martin returns from a trip overseas.

“Having Haydn back will be really handy because we’ve missed his big body and aggression around the footy,” Willing said.

“Tyler got home late last week and it was probably the right decision not to play him against Clarence coming off a long flight. He is really important to our structure. He plays that centre half-forward role where he can get up the ground.

“He competes really well in the air and at ground level and he uses the ball really well. We’ve been a much better side when he has played.”

Glenorchy regained midfielder Matty Joseph after Covid but lost experienced ruckman Cam Duffy back to Claremont for its clash with North Hobart at KGV.

The Demons made four changes, including the loss of Cal Daley and Will Splann.