The ‘ladder qualifying’ round of matches is on this Sunday in the northern Steve Hudson Cup series.
This involves a merging of the two groups and the final standings of the eight participating clubs will be determined, the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
South Hobart and Northern Rangers are in the box seat as they are level on 7 points, but South Hobart has the superior goal-difference.
South Hobart are playing in the southern Summer Cup on Friday and have a day of rest before taking on the Rangers at 3pm on Sunday.
The southerners are the holders of this trophy and should be good enough to beat a Rangers outfit that has yet to field its strongest line-up and which ahs yet to hit top form.
South Hobart slipped up the weekend before last when they were held to a goalless draw, but with coach Ken Morton calling the shots again with his presence this time, it’s difficult to envisage another hiccup.
Rangers’ reserves are playing a practice match on Saturday against Launceston City so that coach Roslan Saad can make up his mind about two vacancies in his line-up.
One of those who will be in action is Thataetsile Kakadumane, known in the south as ‘the Botswanan speedster’, and if he passes the test, he may make his first appearance in the tournament.
His place is not assured, however, as his rivals are Gabriel Tams, Rhys Prestidge and Mark Jefferson.
“We are approaching the match as just another pre-season preparation match.,” said Saad.
“The players were told that all positions are still open and only the best players that are able to play with the team system will be selected for the senior team this season.
“Individual skills come second to understanding the team system and playing as a team.
“South Hobart has always been one of the top clubs in Tasmania and I don’t think Northern Rangers as a club is anywhere near that.
“But, for a young club, we are definitely progressing and are heading to the right directions.
“It will be beneficial for us if we can play against good teams like South Hobart twice, as I believe the best way to learn is to ‘do it’ and to 'do it better' ”.
Taroona, in third place, meet Launceston City, who are a point behind the southerners, at 1pm.
“On Sunday, we play Launceston City in the Steve Hudson Cup, which is a game we desperately want to do well in as they absolutely smashed us last time we played them two seasons ago in the Statewide Cup,” said Taroona coach, Ben Horgan.
“This will be a pretty different team to the one that played that day, but a few of the guys were around for it and will want to make amends.
“We didn’t play too badly against Northern Rangers last weekend when we lost 2-0, but we lacked a cutting edge and Chris Cox didn’t get much support up front.
“He has been in outstanding form so we need to make sure we get players forward quickly in support and, overall, we need to be a bit more aggressive in attack.
“We’ve also been guilty of conceding silly goals through concentration lapses throughout the tournament, so we’ll focus on eliminating those from our game..
“Alex Edwards will replace Hugo Luttmer, who strained his hamstring in the first half last week, and Jack Elliott is also unavailable so Cian Carey will move into midfield, and I will take his place in central defence.”
The Tasmanian Institute of Sport take on Prospect Knights at 11am.
At the AGM of FFT on Thursday, most clubs opposed the TIS representing University at under-19 level in the southern competitions and it will be interesting to see if this puts any psychological pressure on the youngsters or their coach.
It must be unsettling to know you are not wanted in a competition.
But, the TIS is good enough to win this game against a side that has yet to taste victory in the tournament.
Launceston United and Riverside Olympic meet at 2.30pm and nothing is riding on the outcome of this clash.
Launceston, the hosts of the tournament, will be keen to get something out of it.
24 comments:
Top two from each group to play in Semi's then Final for div-1.
So things may go to next week....
Hi Walter, Great Blog
Can you or anybody else out there tell me the reason for most clubs not wanting the T.I.S. boys to play as uni u-19. Is it that they don't want them in the U-19 roster, or, that they don't want them to be attached to a club?
It seemed to be generally agreed that they should play in a regular comp. Now it is happening it seems many people are not happy again.
They are having a great time playing against the men up North, and are learning a lot from the experience. It has been a really worthwhile exercise, despite the usual knockers.
Hugo, I suspect it's because clubs feel they have to work hard to establish an under-19 team and University are presented with a ready-made one.
walter that is still no reason to pur obstacles in the way of a club that was a bit lucky to get an under 19 team the main thing is to get bodies on the park playing .
It seems to me the south just love to hate and trip each others clubs up where ever they can, I tend to agree with the captain of Common sence "Jerrie" guys on the park, and a development team getting a competative game each week, which when those players return to their respective clubs, can only be a massive plus, as they will be 16 years old and probably ready to go straight into their senior line ups! Send em north if the south dont want them and they can eliminate our bye, play out of york park and strengthen our league! What ever happened to a fair go?
Captain Australia
I agree Captain, playing the northern bye would be great, so why did I move South???
So Walter you think that in general clubs are not anti T.I.S. but not happy with Uni getting a percieved free ride.
Still not sure what the problem is, I am sure if T.I.S. weren't 'adopted' by Uni they would have got an u-19 team together, this arrangment simply helps out both parties. remembering that as mentioned these boys will end up elsewhere, they will not become Uni players in the future.
Hi Hugo
So if these players will not become Uni players how does this help Uni in the long term
What happens to the kids that are playing at Uni in the summer Cup when more senior players come back and these kids do not have a team to play in short sighted reaction by Uni to early and why are the TIS kids not released back to there clubs
I agree, this arrangement might help them now but I'm with you there long term not so sure.
In reply to the 'other' anonymous (it is hard to reply to so many people called anonymous) If you mean release TIS players to their clubs each weekend for game. that would be pointless as it is games with each other in the squad that trains in a particular style of play that the boys need.
I don't think there is too much arguement that the TIS need to play regularly together.
The way things have been set up allows that so why not let it happen. It can always change next year.
What about the kids at Uni who become disheartned and do not play again I believe that this age has a high drop out rate and TIS could play practice games during the week most clubs I am sure will accomodate them Why should the boys at Unj be disadvantaged
Last year the TIS were meant to play practice matches during the week, however once the season got into full swing nobody seemed to want a match mid-week. That was last years approach and to be quite frank..it didn't work.
They need to be in a competition where the teams they are playing want beat them for the points
You still have adressed What happens to the Uni kids who are the people that Club should be looking out for as they will form the basis in years to come and hopefully attract others to the club Still short sighted
Yeh, not going to diagree with you there, but that was their decision, and how things pan out in the future will tell if it was a good or bad one.
I just don't get why other clubs aren't happy with it.
I love how you can actually have a discussion on this blog, as it is updated straight away
I hope Uni comes to there senses and cans it before the season starts As for vthe other clubs How many of these kids go back to original clubs not many I think look at 2008 U/15s most have gone to clarence so that could be a reason for clubs objecting
By the Walter thanks for the advice I guess I am not as much of a nerd as I Thought
while planning for the future is important you must not forget the needs of the present.it is the players of today that are keeping everything afloat because of their fees etc .they must be catered for first
rivalry between clubs should only exist on the pitch.off the pitch they should cooperate to make sure no club goes under and all clubs grow.it is in everybodies interest to see every club grow and so see football grow,please dont put obstacles in the way that need not be there
Hi jerrie you are right yes we need to think about today and all those kids at Uni have paid upfront I wonder if the TIS are paying any form of club membership and if like Uni players they will spend money at thew canteen and participate in fund raising still a short sighted deal and does nothing for that club or players of that club What does TIS in other stater and sports do?
anonymus,if uni has suffiecient players to form their own team i still dont see any problem.anyone who who pays is entitled to play and the clubs and football tas are moraly and legaly required to provide that person with game time on the park.if tis can compete under its own name in the steve hudson cup why cant they compete under their own name in the under 19 league.maybe uni is only providing the framework,but no kid or any player of whatever ability should ever miss out,once he has paid his fees
Hi Jerry
Great sentiments but do the clubs put this into practise or are we going down the path of look after the elite and forget the rest You only have to look at 2008U/19 cup and see the teams that dropped regular u/19s for more players My concern is once again the drop out rate at this age. And the growth in acadamies (what is an acadamy )
Talented kids miss out on these type and FFT programmes because their parents can not afford it.
well lol anonymus,we need the hundreds of clumsy ones to make the good ones stand out.if we dont provide players people who are registeredand have paid their fees with a game that suits their standard we are taking money of people under false pretences and that is fraud in anyones language
What if Uni decides to play a TIS player or 2 in the ir senior team?
Not allowed to happen running a team within the club with no other ties other than name
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