New injury stacks odds against Roos
CLARENCE has lost last year’s leading goalkicker for the Eastern Shore clash against Lauderdale in a huge blow to its chances of opening its TSL account.
Roos coach Jeromey Webberley has revealed Chris Nield played the second half of last Saturday’s loss to Glenorchy with a fractured foot, which will sideline him for several weeks.
Already looking to other avenues to goal following the retirement of Trent Standen, the absence of Nield — who finished with 28 goals in 2018 — could force Clarence into a restructure as it looks to avoid going 0-3.
“Chris Nield fractured his foot at the start of the second quarter of the weekend, he could hardly walk at halftime,” Webberley said. “He got strapped up and it was a pretty heroic effort when you think about it to get through the last half of the game. He will miss a few weeks.”
Nield is one of four changes from last week, joining experienced duo Wade Wall and Tim Castle on the sidelines as well as Tyler Penwright.
Lauderdale loses ruckman Haydn Smith and Nick Rag-lione to suspension, with Will Gergel and Alex Bruster coming in. The Bombers did have a win at the State League appeals board, with Smith’s twomatch ban for rough conduct reduced to one.
Lauderdale lodged an appeal to TSL management on grounds there was an “error of law”, as per TSL rule 4.3 following inconsistent briefing from management before the initial tribunal hearing.
The independent appeals board upheld the application and cut Smith’s suspension in half.