TSL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: WHITFORD AND JOSEF IN HISTORIC TIE

GLENORCHY defender Daniel Joseph and North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford have created State League history by sharing the 2018 TSL Player of the Year Award.

Whitford and his Northern Bombers have the first week of the finals off, allowing them to sit back and watch the action in the opening week of TSL finals.

“We’ll go and have a look at Glenorchy and Launceston and whoever win that game, we will play in the second-semi, so

we will be watching both teams and what they both do,” Whitford said.

“To win the award with Daniel is something quite special.

“It’s something you’ll look back on it at the end of your career and remember it fondly, but not so much in the moment because we’ve still got a job to do.”

Joseph, the Magpies’ centre half-back, said the award was an honour but his main focus was on turning the tables on Launceston in Glenorchy’s qualifying final against the Blues at Blundstone Arena on Saturday.

Launceston downed Glenorchy by nine points in a classic clash at Windsor Park in the last round of the home-andaway series on Saturday.

Despite the loss, Glenorchy held on to second spot on the ladder and won the right to host a home final in the state’s south.

With the winner to advance to meet minor premier North Launceston in the second semifinal at UTas Stadium, “DJ” is confident the Pies can get the job done.

“Yes we are. We had a good look at them on Saturday and we’ve got a good read on what we’ve done wrong and what we’ve done right,” he said.

“We know we’ve got to put together a four-quarter performance to knock them over.

“We don’t have to travel this week, so that will come into it.

“We match up well and we had a good look at each other on Saturday.

“I don’t think we showed too much, so we are looking forward to a good contest.”

Joseph said it was a finalslike match a week early.

“It was pretty hot out there,” he said.

“We didn’t have a good third quarter when they got that runon, but we fought back from six goals down.

“It was good the fight that the boys showed.

“We’ve done everything right to get to second, but that’s all it is.

“This is the business end of the year. This is where you’ve got to make it count.”