Trupp riled up for Riley

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 LAUDERDALE’S no- nonsense defender Edward Trupp is the man the Bombers have given the job of stopping Launceston’s most dangerous forward Dylan Riley in the TSL preliminary final at Blundstone Arena today.

Lauderdale coach Darren Winter said Riley must be subdued for the Bombers to have any chance of winning the door-die final.

In Launceston’s first two finals, Riley has kicked eight goals — two against the Tigers and 6.4 against Glenorchy — making him public enemy No.1 at Lauderdale. Winter is confident he has picked the right man for the job. TSL PRELIMINARY FINAL sneak Jay Blackberry, who kicked two against the Pies, more through the middle.

“Last week it was a wet day for the big bulls around the ball, but this week with fine weather and a hard deck at Blundstone, it will be different,” Thorp said.

“Jobie Harper, Fletcher Seymour and Tim Bristow got the job done for us against Glenorchy, but this week we will throw Jay Blackberry, Jared Daken and Brodie Palfreyman through the middle of the ground to give us the speed that is going to be required.

“Blackberry, Daken and Palfreyman are quick and really good kicks, so we are looking to have more texture around the footy than last week.”

The last time they met, at Windsor Park in Round 16, Launceston won by 44 points.

Winter said Launceston was “predictable” as an opponent last year but this year was different.

“They certainly are not that this year,” Winter said.

“They are more well-drilled this year and harder to play against and they put a lot more thought into their opposition.

“They did a number on us at Windsor Park so we’ll have our work cut out to get over them.”

Lauderdale has the “home ground” advantage playing at Blundstone Arena, but Winter said only because they do not have to travel.

“The team that brings the effort will win the game,” he said.