Five flags in six years, but coach wants more

THE most dominant club in the Tasmanian State League is not done chasing premierships, says coach Taylor Whitford, who plans to drive the Northern Bombers on a path of “sustained success”.

North Launceston racked up its fifth TSL flag from six consecutive grand finals at Blundstone Arena on Saturday when Lauderdale’s northern nemesis beat it in a grand final for the third year in a row. Whitford has played in all five flags and coached the past two. He said they won’t stop now.

“When we started this journey we were not looking to be a one-hit wonder,” Whitford said. “We wanted to come in, play in grand finals and win grand finals and have sustained success.

“That has got to continue next year.

“I haven’t even looked at next year and what that looks like, but we can’t rest on our laurels. Yes, we’ve won five grand finals, well done, but we want to be the club of choice for all people of Tasmania.”

Watching North Launceston’s 29-point win was teenage tearaway Tarryn Thomas, who played in North’s previous two premierships before he was drafted to North Melbourne this season.

Taylor believes his teenage full forward Jackson Callow, who kicked a game-high three goals in the grand final, can follow in the footsteps of Thomas and earn an AFL career.

“He’s going to be a superstar,” Taylor said.

“He’s got some things to work on, like his endurance and his ability to get around the ground.

“But he’s got a pretty good foundation — his strength, his hands, his size.

“We won’t see much of him next year. He will stay in the state and do the Devils program.

“He’s got to get his body prepared and follow in the trend that Tarryn did the year before.”

North Launceston had an enormous player turnover entering this season but Whitford believed they would be a contender.

“Oh bloody oath I did. The A-grade talent we have in this side is super and their ability to teach is even better,” he said.