Adapting to counter threats

LAUDERDALE may have to “sacrifice” stars Josh McGuinness and Bryce Walsh to stop two of Launceston’s most destructive players for a chance to win their TSL clash at Lauderdale Oval on Saturday.

The Bombers are best of the rest on the TSL ladder after the two northern powers — Launceston and North Launceston — and a win on Saturday would distance Lauderdale from its southern cousins.

To do that, Bombers assistant-coach Clint Brown says they must reduce the impact of Launceston’s raging bull Jobi Harper in the midfield as well as the TSL’s leading goal kicker Dylan Riley.

“We’ve played Jobi quite well over our last couple of encounters,” Brown said. “But if you focus on one, the others one get you — and we probably did that when we played them last time.

“We kept Jobi quiet in the game at Windsor Park but other guys bobbed up and did the damage.

“We will still put time into him but there’s others we need to focus on as well.”

Bombers fullback Will Poland will continue his work on Launceston coach Mitch Thorp, leaving Lauderdale to assign a different defender to

Riley, who has kicked 27 goals this season, including a bag of eight.

“Will is the likely match-up for Thorp so we will probably have to send our best defender Josh McGuinness to Riley,” Brown said.

“Sometimes you don’t want to do that, because we don’t want to take away Josh’s run, and rebound and attacking flair. Riley has proven to be a thorn in our side recently so we need to try and shut him down.

“Their midfield is very potent, they’ve got some great forwards and their backline plays tight, close defence so we are certainly looking forward to the challenge.”