Baumeler on alert for fierce reaction to Launceston’s slip from top
A FRESHER Tigers hope to cash in on a longer break when they go to Windsor Park to face bogey side Launceston this weekend.
However, coach Trent Baumeler is wary of a Blues outfit coming off a four-day turnaround after Wednesday’s loss to North Launceston.
While the Tigers have the bonus of a full week between games, the hosts will be eager to atone for consecutive losses, which saw them hand over top place on the TSL ladder to their cross-town rival.
“They will be pretty hungry now coming into this game, Mitch [Thorp] said after it was good to have a short break, sometimes when you don’t have a great one on Saturday you would like to roll out on Sunday morning and play again,” Baumeler said.
“It is a good opportunity for us [with Launceston] off a short break, we haven’t had that midweek game and we have to take advantage of that and have a fast start and hopefully have some contests where they might be a little bit sore.
“But they will pull up well and be 100 per cent ready to go on Sunday.
“I thought North Launceston looked really sharp off the four-day break, we are expecting Launnie to bring the same heat.”
Of more pressing concern to Baumeler are the sluggish starts after Lauderdale piled on nine first-quarter goals.
Launceston also jumped the Tigers with a 6.2 to 0.1 start in Round 3.
“We have made a big focus on our start this week, we have to address that. We just can’t give up nine goals in the first quarter,” Baumeler said.
Lachie Gadomski will miss with a hamstring strain but the coach said he would be back after the Tigers’ second bye.