Clarence vs Devonport Bellerive Oval Clarence vs Devonport

YOUNG GUNS | U18 Grand Final preview
North Launceston v Clarence
Season 2010 has seen a high standard of
football played throughout the Under 18
competition with a fast and skilful game style
impressing crowds around the state.
In the Grand Final today, North Launceston will
start narrow favourites against Clarence after
finishing minor premiers, although only by a
mere 8% after both teams finished the season
with 48 points.
In head to head encounters the tally is 1-1,
with Clarence winning the only home and away
encounter by 3 points at home and North
Launceston recently winning earlier in this final
series, significantly, by 32 points at Bellerive Oval.
Clarence will be slightly disadvantaged at the
selection table as it has all three teams in the
Grand Final. However, the game is expected to be
a cliff-hanger.
There are many potential senior players of the
future to watch on both teams. The key players
listed could determine the outcome if playing at
their best.
Best wishes to all players from both North
Launceston and Clarence today.
Nick Probert
Talent Manager.
Foreign Legion or Development Zones at work?
The North Launceston Football Club did not field
an U19 team in the 2009 Wrest Point State
League so has done a significant job in appointing
a coach and support team that has been able to
identify, recruit and mould together a team that is
today challenging for the premiership.
The origins of the North Launceston team are
many and varied with numerous players coming
from outside their development zone, including
their coach Zane Littlejohn from Latrobe.
The contrast with the Clarence team is also
interesting as most of their team originated from
their own junior club, but significantly 10 players
on their list first played with the Sorell Junior
Football Club which is deep in the heart of the
Lauderdale zone.
It will be fascinating to see how many of the young
players in each team are able to progress on and
play senior TSL football or even higher with their
Clubs over the coming years and we wish them well.
But the challenge for all TSL Clubs remains to not
only develop the young talented players in their
zone, but also genuinely support the development
of Clubs in their zone who are proving such fertile
ground for the introduction of young talented
players to the game.
Daniel Smedley
Editor.
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