Pies are up to it, says coach

BEING written off as a TSL contender is no concern to Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy, as the Pies prepare for another edition of one of the league’s best rivalries.

A commanding performance in the wet against rising North Hobart last weekend saw the club climb off the bottom of the ladder and join the

Demons, Lauderdale and Clarence with a 2-3 record.

Another stern test awaits in Round 7, when North Launceston travels to KGV.

But Kennedy is confident his troops are ready for the challenge.

The two clubs built a fierce rivalry after trading grand final victories in 2015 and 2016, with Glenorchy’s win in 2016 the only blemish on the Bombers’ record in the past six seasons of dominance.

“We feel with some players out, people write us off. They did it last year and we kept coming back and winning tough games,” Kennedy said.

“This is a good, hard footy team and I like coaching them when they really apply themselves like they have in the last two weeks. And four of the five weeks this year, the mental application and toughness has been great.

“There was one aberration [against Clarence in round three], it was one of those days you want to forget.

“North Launnie is a great test. There is a real feeling if we have the same mental application as this week, we are up for that challenge.”

The Pies will be bolstered by the return of Ryan BanksSmith,

with the tough midfielder completing his threematch suspension from a high hit on close friend Mitch Anderton in Round 2.

Mitch Rainbird, who was a late withdrawal against North Hobart, will also come under strong consideration.

Despite dragging themselves back into finals calculations after starting 0-3, Kennedy was reluctant to declare the club has fully turned the corner.

“Footy is a funny game, you can think you are trending in the right direction and the next week you are not.

“Trends are funny ones, but the last two weeks we have definitely made progress.

“We have got some guys who are building match fitness, which is good.”