When a club has 20 players unavailable due to injuries, concussion, work commitments and school footy, it has an enormous impact on the development league side, and that was the challenge the Glenorchy boys faced last week.

With just 12 players from the senior list available for the crunch game against Lauderdale, the Claremont Football Club stepped up and offered six of their players as their team had the SFL bye.

Together with a group of U16 and U18 players, that was the boost the RSEA Magpies needed to record a 23-point win and move a game clear inside the top four.

While Lauderdale anchor the bottom of the development league ladder, with such an undermanned line-up it shaped as a massive danger game for the Pies' finals hopes, and the club is very grateful to our Claremont neighbours for their assistance. 

Danger signs
Things didn't look promising as the new-look Glenorchy line-up with the Bombers taking a 12-point edge into half-time, having been the better side in extremely blustery conditions.

But the Magpie youngsters regrouped, putting on a quality display of pressure football across the final 50 minutes to keep Lauderdale to just one point after the main break.

Josh Whitford was the number one contributor, his workrate across four quarters outstanding, and his class important as he slotted two goals to get the Glenorchy train rolling.

He received strong assistance from Josh Meredith and Zac Evans-Fenton, whose combined efforts through the ruck and forward, helped turn the tide, while skipper Jordan West, youngster Jaythan Poulson and promising U18 call-up Bailey Jenkins were also excellent.

A big thanks to Joel Bradshaw, Adam Smith, Joel Revell, Kaleb Murtagh-Rogers, Jackson Simpson and Nathan Woodham from Claremont for their help!