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His career came to a shock end, and it was almost a shock comeback but game day came and Brett Geappen was denied his chance to play again. AFL Tasmania told Brett he could not run onto the ground today to play for the Roos in their 2nd Semi Final Clash with the Blues.
The risk of playing for Geappen was a big one, but Geappen could not get a clearance to play, but the Roos did not need Geappen as they ran out winners today by 49 points booking a place in the 2010 Grand Final, and booking a home Grand Final.
Some would say that Geappen's decision to make a shock comeback, only to be given the news he couldn't get the legal documents to play was just a rouse to put the Blues off their game.
It was not a rouse that the Blues would fall for, but the rain came and seemed to wash out the Blues today at the oval. Another shocking end to a clash against the Roos.
Launceston were never in the hunt, and now face Devonport in the Preliminary Final as the Magpies held on to a 2 point win at Devonport Oval in another miserable day of football. North Hobart's season is over.
But it would not appear that Geappen's career is over for good, the 29 year old will have to settle with possibly coaching a second premiership with the Roos should they win the flag in 2 weeks.
Footy Finals Fever Hits Hobart on Wednesday 8 September from 11:30am. Come along and meet Tasmanian Brad Green from the Melbourne Football Club. It's going to be our biggest day yet with lots of giveaways and some surprises too. Get you footy gear, come and join in the fun and festivities in the Elizabeth Street Mall.
Where & When: Bellerive Oval Saturday, September 4th, 2:10PM
Coverage: ABC1 (Tas.) The Animal Enclosure Forums, Sportingpulse Progressive Scores
2nd Semi Final
Clarence vs North Hobart
at North Hobart Oval
Sunday September 5 1:00pm
Colts
2nd Semi Final
Launceston vs North Launceston
11am at Devonport Oval
TEAMS
Clarence
B: Tim Castle, Gregg Sharman, Rohan Swan
HB: Jackson O'Brien, Cameron Blight, Stuart Whitelaw
C: Aaron French, Cameron Thurley, Aaron Green
HF: Jaymes Baker, Matthew Drury, Ben Setchell
F: Trent Standen, Brennan Savage, Brett Geappen
R: Drew Westfield, Josh Green, Clinton Riley
Interchange: Angus Brettingham-Moore, Mitch Swan, Aaron McVilly, Ryan Bailey, Nick Paine, Jesse O'Neal, Matthew Geappen, Mitch Baker, Trent Whitelaw
Launceston
B: Gary Shipton, Gene Savage, Sam O'Keefe
HB: Josh Woolley, Jason Edwards, Beau Green
C: Kurt McCabe, Wil Campbell, Tim Bristow
HF: Jesse Lonergan, Adrian Finch, Michael Sinclair
F: Joe Boyce, Brian Finch, Jordan Harris
R: Andrea Miar, Scott Stephens, Corey Sheppard
Interchange: Luke French, Gary Mohr, Cameron Downie, Joe Robinson, Tim Curwen, Broderick Hardarce, Joe Groenewegen
Preview
HEAD TO HEAD
Round 5 2009 - Clarence 8.20 (68) def. Launceston 10.7 (67) – Bellerive Oval
Round 6 - Clarence 21.11 (137) def. Launceston 10.10 (70) – Windsor Park
Round 15 - Launceston 15.10 (100) def. Clarence 10.5 (65) – Windsor Park (24 July)
1st Qualifying Final Clarence 12.22 (94) def. Launceston 9.8 (62) - Bellerive Oval
LAST TIME THEY MET
1st Qualifying Final Clarence 12.22 (94) def. Launceston 9.8 (62) - Bellerive Oval
PREVIOUS ROUND
1st Qualifying Final Clarence 12.22 (94) def. Launceston 9.8 (62) - Bellerive Oval
3rd Qualifying Final - Launceston 20.9 (129) def. Devonport 9.16 (70)
SEASON FORM
Clarence: WWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWW
Launceston:WLWLLLWWWWWWWWWWWW LW
FORM OVER THE LAST MONTH
Clarence: WWWW
Launceston: WWLW
SUMMARY
It has been a week’s rest for Clarence after disposing of Launceston by 32-points in the first qualifying final. Clarence was back to full strength, gaining many members back into their side and making up for their convincing loss to the Blues back in Round 15. Clarence dominated the game from the outset, and were disappointed to only lead the first half by 33 points with so many shots on goal.
Clarence's kicking became a concern when the Blues in the second half when their half time lead was cut back to just three points within 10 minutes of the second half as Launceston showed for the first time this game it could match the Roos, booting five quick goals.
That would see the Roos, who were challenged for the first time in the game stung back into action and then Clarence showed why they are a hot premiership favourite should, by ramming on six of the final seven goals to coast to a 32-point win – the Roos 23rd straight win at home.
Since their disappointing loss, Launceston bounced back in emphatic fashion form the loss to the Roos, with a 59-point victory over Devonport at Aurora Stadium last Saturday. The Blues had an arm-wrestle in the third qualifying final against Devonport at Aurora Stadium the game was close for three quarters.
The Blues had started the better against Devonport kicking six of the first seven goals, before the Magpies woke up in the second quarter, but the Blues prevented the Magpies from being close at the main break when Brian Finch booted a goal to put the Blues back out by 10 points.
Devonport had their chances, but like Clarence a week earlier they wasted chacnes in front of goal, they kicked five straight behinds which would undo all their hard work in the quarter. The missed opportunities seemed to damage the Magpies' belief in winning the game, and Launceston pounced on the gift from Devonport.
Hudson Medalist Brian Finch was on fire booting six goals, clearly dominating opponent Al Clements who later went off with a hamstring straing. Scott Stephens spent most of the game across half-forward instead of his usual on-ball spot, and the move worked beautifully, Stephens kicked 3.3 and was a handful all day either in the air or on the ground.
Stephens feeling the pinch of being dominated only a week earlier by Clarence, Joe Groenewegen held his own in the ruck, allowing Andrea Miar to pick up Magpies key forward Ben Reynolds after Adrian Finch left the field with an injury. Sam O’Keefe was devastating through the middle for the Blues, with support from Michael Sinclair who also kicked three goals.
The winner of this game heads into the TSL Grand Final, the loser will play off in the Preliminary Final against the winner of the Devonport/North Hobart game. The winner of this game also could host the Grand Final, with the game either being played at Aurora Stadium, or at Bellerive Oval.
Clarence have built themselves a fortress at Bellerive Oval, and have managed to beat all comers, even Launceston at the Ground, the Blues would feel if they can win this game, they are a chance of taking away their very first State League title. The Roos, they are aiming for back to back flags.
Brett Geappen returns to the Roos, or at least he's hoping to return, the risk is great for Geappen, former Roo David Wood has been in a wheelchair for 11 years since injuring his neck against Devonport. Geappen is risking the same if he does play, the game is going to be a heated affair these two could still yet meet again in the Grand Final!
PLAYER TO WATCH
Gregg Sharman (Clarence) - Sharman has the pace and strength to match it with Blues full forward, Hudson Medallist Brian Finch. Sharman held Finch to just two goals in the Roos comfortable victory last time these teams met. Finch showed how damaging he could be last week, booting six goals as the Blues ran riot over Devonport. Whoever wins this dual will go a long way to propelling their side into the grand final.
Brian Finch (Launceston) - The Hudson medalist failed to impress against the Roos last time, being held to just the 2 goals last time, he now faces the prospect of getting Sharman again, will his six goals against Devonport what he needed to head into this big clash? Or will Sharman get the better of him again?
QUESTION MARKS
Clarence don't have many worries heading into this clash, but will Geappen actually play? The Clarence Coach has been selected to play, but is this a ploy to unsettle Launceston? Is the risk really worth it?
Launceston got back on the winners list last week by beating Devonport, they played better, looked better but is that going to be undone again by Clarence? Do they have what it takes to beat them? And if they face them in the Grand Final, will the fortress of Bellerive just be too great?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Clarence has won its last 23 games at Bellerive, an amazing effort, the Blues came close to beating the Roos last season at Bellerive losing by 1 point in the wet with the Roos kicking badly.Clarence has has class, pace and skill on every line, led by Cameron Thurley. Thurley is unmatched in the TSL as a pure match-winner, but he has plenty of sidekicks in the form of AFL bound Josh Green, Ben Setchell, Matthew Drury, Trent Standen, Stuart Whitelaw and Jaymes Baker.
The Blues should not be so overawed this time as they were last time these teams met, especially with the likes of Scott Stephens, Finch, Michael Sinclair and Tim Bristow all regaining form and confidence, but the Roos simply have too many big guns to tip against.
Launceston only played a few good moments of their last clash, their passing, their kicking out from behinds were things that let them down, they turned the ball over too many times and even though at times Clarence failed to punish them, they gifted Clarence many opportunities to hurt them on the scoreboard.
The week off is going to give the Roos a lot more energy to get over the line against the Blues, they had to fight hard for most of the game against Devonport before the Magpies finally gave it up and allowed them to win the game easily. Launceston have a chance to host the final next week, should they lose against either Devonport again, or against North Hobart, this game should be a great clash, but the Roos are going to win it again.
PREDICTION
Clarence by 33 points
Sourced: GDFC
The club is pleased to announce that Ben Brown from Devonport has signed and agreed to play with the club in 2011. Ben 18 has played Senior football with Devonport in the last (2) seasons has a good background in Basketball as well
[ Click here to read more ]
Saturday September 4, 2010 at Devonport Oval:
• Seniors Devonport (v) North Hobart at 1.00pm (1st Semi Final)
• U-18 Launceston (v) North Launceston at 11.00am (2nd Semi Final
[ Click here to read more ]
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Comment by David Harding
on Round 10 - Team of the Week
Wrestling Asylum
The State Of The Game
Footy Confidential
Fourth Substitute
Talk Footy
Shame a decade or so ago he was at the Magpies as a fresh faced rookie...really makes you believe that the Mature aged rookie is going to really come out and play.