Tigers face formidable opposition in Bombers

FORGET the past, the heartache and sometimes humiliation that came with playing North Launceston at UTas Stadium — the Tigers are set to roar against the five-time premier there today.

At least, that is the hope of coach Trent Baumeler.

The Tigers go up against the five-time TSL premier in a massive test at UTas while Clarence takes on the other northern powerhouse, reigning premier Launceston at Blundstone Arena.

Baumeler’s boys are third on the ladder, one above the Bombers, and he feels the time has come to get one over their northern colleagues.

“North Launceston’s in good form. They’ve come out and had a couple of really big wins and a close loss down here to Clarence,” Baumeler said.

“They have lost some players but we are more worried about the players still there.

“They’ve got Brad CoxGoodyer in the middle and Jay Foon, Jack Avent, Braden Van Buren and Mark Walsh.

“Up forward Tom Bennett is back to where he was when he played for North Launceston a couple of years ago and Zac Burt as well.

“There is still plenty going on there and plenty of homework for us to do.”

The Tigers are without forward Luke Graham, who dislocated the same finger twice after kicking one goal in the loss to Clarence last weekend.

“The last quarter was really good – 4.4 to 1.2. We gave ourselves an opportunity to pinch it but the damage had been done,” Baumeler said.

“We were a step off in periods of the game, and maybe that’s related to our preparation during the week, which probably wasn’t where it had been in the first three or four weeks.

“We’ve addressed that and looking forward to our challenge against a really good quality opposition on their home deck.”