BLUES REFUSE TO HIT THE PANIC BUTTON
LAUNCESTON resisted the temptation to over-react to its semi-final loss to North Launceston with sweeping changes at the selection table, showing trust in its core group heading into the make-or-break TSL preliminary final against Clarence at Windsor Park on Sunday.
Blues coach Mitch Thorp said only subtle changes were needed, and a demand his players return to the belief system that saw them claim the minor premiership.
“It will be a couple of younger guys going in and out, just based on form from last week,” Thorp said.
“We led for the majority of the game so we won’t throw the baby out with the bath water. The boys have built a fair bit of trust in each other over the course of the year, so we’ll get back to that this week.”
The Blues added Bailey Gillow, Jayden Hinds and Josiah Burling to the bench at the expense of James Dowling, Grant Holt and Brayden Pitcher.
North Launceston stunned the reigning premier with its nine-point win, handing the Blues their first loss at Windsor Park this season and
Bombers an eighth consecutive grand final appearance.
“It was a pretty brutal lesson that you’ve got to play four quarters in finals. We probably played two and a half, and North Launny got a roll-on late,” Thorp said.
“Some of the boys who haven’t played TSL finals now know they are hard games to win.”
Clarence’s Colin Garland kicked 2.4 in its semi-final win over the Tigers, making Launceston’s premiership full-back Jamieson House an automatic selection for that job.
“It depends where Garland plays, deep forward or high forward, but Jamieson played on him last time but we’ve got a couple of good key defenders as other options.
“Jamieson stood up in big finals last year and he’s got runs on the board so we’ve got a lot of trust in him and our defenders.”
Launceston will adjust his approach to match Clarence.
“They have got a pretty distinct game-style – they’re a high handball team and they’re a high-possession team,” Thorp said.
“So we need to put a lot of pressure on them.