Stung Bombers danger

LAST week’s second semifinal flogging only makes Lauderdale a more dangerous proposition in today’s TSL preliminary final, says Launceston coach Sam Lonergan.

The Bombers were handed a finals lesson to the tune of 94 points by raging flag favourite North Launceston last Saturday, and will cash in their double chance this afternoon at Blundstone Arena.

While Lauderdale is coming off one of its heaviest defeats in the State League era, the Blues have stormed through two knockout finals from fifth.

But Lonergan is bracing for a resurgent Bombers to bounce back.

“It certainly did, I’m still a bit unsure on how it happened,” Lonergan said when asked if the result shocked him.

“You see things in vision but to get a good understanding you probably needed to be there to watch it live to see what happened and unfolded.

“They are a really strong football club and football side, and I’m sure most strong football clubs come out wanting to redeem that.

“It makes them more dangerous than they have been across the course of the year for this week.”

The Blues will be making their third consecutive trip south and have history stacked against them to reach the grand final, with no side making the premiership decider from outside the top three.

And while unaware of needing to rewrite the record books, Lonergan didn’t shy from the fact it could be used as extra motivation for his troops.

“We have had occasions where we have certainly delivered a message to get the group up and about and fighting for their football club,” Lonergan said.

“Little things, the Mercury Cup side being moved to Hobart last weekend, little things like that, internally we use those factors to drive our playing group and make sure they are as committed to everything as we are as coaches to them.”

Bombers coach Darren Winter is confident his men have put the shellacking behind them and are focused on the task at hand as the side chases a maiden grand final appearance.

“Whoever brings their game on the day and can do more things right and exert more pressure on the opposition, they normally win the game,” he said.

“They are a good pressure team and we will bring a better pressure team than we did in the second semi.

“You just have to make the most of the momentum when it comes your way and you have to try and hold them when it’s not.

“That happens in finals, it goes both ways.”