History against Magpies’ repeat

GLENORCHY is all but resigned to needing to create State League history to defend its 2016 premiership but coach Aaron Cornelius believes records are there to be broken.

No side has ever won the flag from outside the top three and after yesterday’s 13-point defeat to Lauderdale, the Pies slipped eight points behind the Bombers in the race for third with three matches remaining.

Despite the enormity of the task now presented Cornelius remains unwavering in the belief of his troops, despite the injury toll continuing to mount.

Already without skipper Brayden Webb and with Jaye Bowden (five goals) only proving his fitness late, Glenorchy lost Zac Webster (hamstring) and Dylan Grant before halftime to compound the defeat.

“It certainly makes it difficult now, but where teams finish so be it, we just have to be better,” Cornelius said.

“Again simple things really hurt us, silly mistakes where guys don’t think the game through and it cost us.

“History and records are there to be broken, we saw it last year [in the AFL].

“If it’s the way we have to go, it’s the way we have to go.”

Cornelius was measured in his opinion of a crucial last quarter moment, in which Josh Watts appeared to take a mark in his own forward line only for the umpire to call play on.

In frustration Watts launched a scathing spray at the umpire that saw him reported for abuse, but the biggest blow was the 100m he then gave away, which saw Josh McGuinness put the Bombers back ahead in a huge shift of momentum.

“It is not a mark if the umpire calls play on, it is as simple as that,” Cornelius said.

“Josh can’t control that, he should have just played to the whistle.’’