COACH BACKS HIS ‘BEAST’
NORTH Launceston coach and former Melbourne AFL player Tom Couch rates Brad Cox-Goodyer as the strongest man he has played with and today hopes to unleash his onball “beast” on Clarence in the top-of-the-ladder TSL clash at UTas Stadium.
Both sides go into what could be a preview to the grand final on 13 wins and two losses, with only 14.34 percentage points separating them. Clarence beat North Launceston when they met at Blundstone Arena in Round 8, which was the Bombers’ first loss.
“It stung and it was definitely a great learning experience for myself and the rest of the coaches, and the playing group as well,” Couch said.
“We were 7-0, playing against a side that’s really well coached and has got some really good players, so I definitely wasn’t disappointed be- cause Clarence, Lauderdale, Glenorchy, they are the games you get the most out of.”
Cox-Goodyer had a strong start to the season and struggled mid-season with a groin injury but since his return to full fitness five weeks ago has been in scintillating form.
“He’s unlike any other player I’ve played with,” Couch said. “He’s the strongest player on any list that I’ve been at — AFL, VFL, SANFL.
“He’s so unique and he’s a pleasure to play with.
“And when we do competitive work at training I stay as far away from him as possible. He’s just a brute of a man.
“He and Jack Avent and Mark Walsh, they all go in 100mph. He’s vice-captain and leads from the front, especially with [captain] Taylor Whitford being out, he has really stepped up. He’s a coach’s dream.”
North Launceston has changed since the first time it met Clarence.
“Since then I think I’m getting a better grasp on the competition and am better prepared for the next time we play a team,” Couch said.
“We’ve been improving over the past few weeks.
“With Taylor and Jay Lockhart missing the past five weeks, it has given opportunities for guys to step up and prove themselves.
“We’ve found a couple of players in Mitch Donnelly and Ben Simpson and the team is starting to jell.
“Even though the club has had success over the past three years or so, it is a new side. The team in terms of numbers has generally been only about half the grand final side last year.”
The Roos regained ruckman-cum-defender Sam Siggins for the critical match, with the chance that coach Jeromey Webblerley could return from a hamstring.
Lauderdale faces the Burnie Dockers in what is expected to be a wet-weather slog at West Park, and the Tigers meet Devonport at Devonport.