Tigers’ star recruit in limbo

THE Tigers will have a contingency plan in place should boom recruit Mackenzie Willis not suit up this year but coach Trent Baumeler remains optimistic for the “best case scenario”.

Mackenzie signed with his junior club following the shutdown of the NEAFL season due to the pandemic, but is yet to arrive in Tasmania with the state’s border closure to Queensland throwing a spanner in the works.

Despite the delay the former Gold Coast Sun is expected to play some part in the TSL season. “He will be straight here as soon as he can and will be with us for the rest of the year,” Baumeler said.

“It might be a case of the last eight, nine games of the season. He will be nice and settled when he is here, but we respect the situation he is in.

“He has to take care of things on the Gold Coast, fiancee, work … so quarantining is not really an option for him with all those things.

“He has applied for some exemptions and had chats with the police commissioner, we do need to prepare ourselves for that scenario where it might not eventuate, but we are planning for best case.”

Baumeler resisted the urge to wield the axe for the clash with fellow winless side Glenorchy, despite an 82-point hiding from Launceston.

Zach Adams replaces Nathan Duggan, while the Pies welcome back star defenders Daniel Joseph and Tom Cleary. John Geard and Adam Roberts have both been named as emergencies, while competition leading goalkicker Aiden Grace (ankle) joins the casualty ward.

Clarence has named an unchanged line-up from the one that thumped Glenorchy, with only some doubt hovering around Luke Swinton (cork) for the trip north to meet North Launceston.

Alex Hevey (back), who was a late withdrawal in round two, will miss for the second time this year for Lauderdale, which has dropped Josh Williams and included Nick Raglione and Bodhi Kingston.

Unbeaten opponent Launceston regains Tim Bristow.