Blues in it too, warns PK

SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 ON the eve of Glenorchy’s telling TSL clash with defending champion North Launceston at UTas Stadium today, Magpies coach Paul Kennedy says it is a four-way race for the premiership and warned not to underestimate Launceston.

A popular school of thought was North Launceston would be challenged for the flag by Lauderdale and Glenorchy.

However, PK said Launceston was a team on the rise . TSL ROUND 14 good young players, so I don’t think anyone should be selling them short.”

It took Glenorchy threeand-a-half quarters to shake off a determined Tigers at the Twin Ovals last Saturday and Kennedy put it down to sheer “G&D”.

“It was a really physical game of footy and we had 211 pressure acts and our ability to defend was really impressive,” said Kennedy.

“The level of passion and desperation, particularly in that last quarter, was a really high level.

“When we beat North Launceston up there last year we had 195 pressure acts so that part of your game has to be really good if you want to beat these guys.”

Glenorchy has been ravaged by injuries, but the thirdplaced Pies are still finding ways to win.

“Last week was the first time we’d spoken to the group about the injuries and we said let’s make a statement about the amount of heart we can play with,” Kennedy said.

“It doesn’t matter which 22 wear the Glenorchy jumper, it’s our centenary year so let’s stand up and represent what Glenorchy and the northern suburbs are about. They did that really well, and this week it has to be the same.”

That Lauderdale beat North Launceston at UTas last Saturday gave Glenorchy increased hope of doing the same, despite a 48-point loss there in Round 6.

“We played them up there last time coming off a loss to Lauderdale and they were pretty fired up,” Kennedy said.

“We showed last week our ball movement, when we get out and going, can still be really damaging.

“We feel like we can still play some really good footy even with some guys out.

“Whether Lauderdale’s win helps or hinders us, we don’t know. We can’t control that.

“We will go up there with confidence anyway.”