Bolstered Blues have Tigers wary
THE Tigers are bracing for an almighty contest in their historic first TSL finals appearance against Launceston at Windsor Park tomorrow, with the home side bringing back three of its best players for the knockout bout.
Gun onballer Fletcher Seymour is back from a hamstring complaint and damaging forwards Jay Blackberry and Dylan Riley return from a rest in the last round of the home-and-away series last weekend.
Launceston coach Mitch Thorp said Seymour could have played against the Tigers last week — a decision that cost him the lead in the TSL Player of the Year Award — but it was decided to rest him for the finals. Blackberry and Riley were put on ice in readiness for finals.
“Fletcher was probably 95 per cent last week but we didn’t want to take a risk given how important he is to us,” Thorp said.
“Both Jay and Dylan didn’t do a pre-season so we took the opportunity, given how important they are to us in front of the football, to sit out the last round because there wasn’t much to gain from playing that one.”
The Tigers were struck a double blow with the loss of gun defenders, full back Will Poland and half-back Jarryd Drew.
On the plus side, onballer Kieran Lovell and defender Marcus Davies, and teenagers Lachie Gadomski and Ollie Burrows-Cheng, are back just in time.
“We hope that their ins and our ins this week cancel each other out,” Tigers coach Trent Baumeler said. “It’s going to be two quality teams going at it, and with those players back in for both sides, it’s going to be an exciting game.”
The Blues and Tigers met in the last roster game, giving each club an insight into what they can expect this week.
“We’ve played each other three times this year and we know they’ve got some power around the footy,” Thorp said. “It’s a real advantage to have a home final and it’s the first time in 11 years for the Launceston Football Club.
“It’s also Tim Bristow’s 150th game, and I dare say there will be even more support for us given he reaches life membership on the day.” BACK ON DECK: Gun onballer Fletcher Seymour (left) returns to the Launceston line-up tomorrow from a hamstring complaint. Seymour could have played against the Tigers last week, but the club decided to rest him for the finals.