CLARENCE will hit the road to take on Tigers in the standalone game of the Tasmanian State League (TSL) Women’s season on Saturday. The Roos sit second on the ladder and cannot be dislodged from the top three, but can temporarily take top spot by moving four points clear at the top of the table. For the Tigers, they are running out of time to grab a couple of wins and sneak into finals, and will hope that they can cause an upset in this one.

Clarence has won five of its six games, with its only loss coming against Launceston in mid-August. This will be the first time since then they have played back-to-back games over two weekends, with a bye following that loss, and then also in between the Roos’ wins over Glenorchy and then last week, North Launceston.

Tigers have struggled this season, but after not being able to score a goal in their opening match, have been able to put one through the past five matches. They still have some way to go to catch North Launceston on percentage, but an upset win here and a victory against the Bombers would see them avoid the wooden spoon and play finals.

The last time these sides faced off, Clarence won by 10 goals, booting 6.3 to 0.0 in the first half, before securing a 10.6 (66) to 1.0 (6) win at Richmond Oval. Amy Edmand slotted four goals in a best on ground performance for the home side, as Brianna Oates, Louisa Marmion and Amy Prokopiec all impressed for the red and whites. In the yellow and blacks, Lilly Ellis kicked the sole Tigers goal in the third term, while Mimosa Middleton Miller, Priscilla Odwogo and Hailee Baldwin were all among the best in a losing side.

As a whole this season, Jessie Williams is leading the goalkicking for Clarence, slotting 12 goals for the season to sit three off the pace from Glenorchy’s Sarah Skinner. With the Roos playing Launceston in their final game, this could be a huge chance for Williams to catch up to Skinner in the run home. Other major goalkickers are Edmand (seven), Jacinta Limbrick (seven) and Prokopiec (four). In terms of top performers, the experienced North Melbourne talent in Nicole Bresnehan, as well as Bronte Scott have both stood out.

For Tigers, they have had five individual goalkickers, with Ellis, Odwogo, Brooke Phillips, Elsie Lamb and Phoebe Parsons all getting their name on the board this season. Odwogo and Baldwin have been the stars, showing why they are so highly rated as teenage talents, among the bests four times, with Mikayla Absolom and Middleton Miller also featuring in the bests heavily.

Clarence are strong favourites here and expect the Roos to get the job done comfortably, but the Tigers would love to improve their highest score and also try and restrict the Roos’ scoring.

TSL WOMEN’S ROUND 10 FIXTURE:

Tigers vs. Clarence

Byes: Launceston, North Launceston, Glenorchy

Picture: Solstice Digital & Photography