*Pic by Chris Rules
Strong games by returnees Josh Arnold and Chris Howard were amongst the few football-related positives on a disappointing day at Skybus Oval, where Lauderdale marked their fundraiser for Ryan Wiggins with an outstanding performance.
With long-time Bombers stalwart Wiggins in hospital in Melbourne after a tragic accident, and his family facing significant costs, the day raised well over $20,000, showing the strength of the club and the football community in supporting one of their own.
Lauderdale president Julie Kay thanked Glenorchy supporters for their generosity, and our club has high praise for the way the Bombers have rallied around Ryan and his family.
Fast start, fast finish
Wiggins' former teammates did their bit on the field, coming out red hot and booting the opening five goals in just eight minutes to put the Magpies on the back foot.
While the Pies fought back within three goals by half-time, two bursts in the third term put the result beyond doubt, and the home team kept their foot to the floor in the final quarter to run out 81-point winners on a day where their experienced core were all outstanding.
For Glenorchy, Josh Arnold showed great signs in his second game back from a broken ankle, going head-to-head with former AFL star Allen Christensen in a brilliant battle, while also collecting 23 disposals and marshalling a young backline missing the likes of Darrean Wyatt, Tom Cleary and Zac Webster.
Chris Howard, playing just his fourth game in the past two years, showed what a great asset he will be, playing chief interceptor in his role at centre-half-back to finish with 18 possessions, 12 marks and 6 intercepts.
All at KGV are hoping 'Howie' now gets a good run of games to show what he can do on a consistent basis.
Harrison Gunther was a shining light up forward with 15 disposals, 8 marks and 2 goals, while Cal Daly was up to his usual tricks with a pair of majors from the boundary line in the first and third quarters.
Young midfielder Riley Oakley led the way with 9 tackles, while fellow mids James Deegan (8 tackles), Callum Thompson (7) and John Geard (7) also applied the pressure.
Youngsters hold on
Despite being decimated by injury, the development team produced a gritty six-point win to move a game clear in third spot on the ladder.
It was the RSEA Magpies' fifth win from their past six games at development league level, coming from behind in the last term as Hall used his experience in the ruck, while the returning Cam Goodsell also had an important impact in the final term.
Emerging teenagers Lewis Crennan, Tyson Stacey, Zayden Kelly, Dylan Browning, Jordan Green and Riley Best were all named in the best players.
Seventeen-year-old Crennan was a rock in defence in just his second game of the season, while 18-year-old Stacey booted three crucial goals in a low-scoring affair.
The development team now has an 8-5 record, a remarkable turnaround from last year's winless season. With 63 different players having now worn the balck and white in the early game in 2021, the depth of the club is on the improve thanks to some exciting young talent.
The old enemy
The senior team will look to improve on their 4-9 record this week when they take on Clarence at KGV at 1.30pm, hoping to avoid a clean sweep from the Roos, while the development team will be out to hand Clarence just their second loss of the season in the curtain raiser.
