Two beauty, but Blues want more
LAUNCESTON coach Mitch Thorp has set his sights on steering his club to the next TSL dynasty after the Blues captured back-to-back premierships over cross town arch enemy North Launceston.
Thorp – who was only convinced to pick himself by leaders Jobi Harper and Jay Blackberry earlier in the week when brother Cody was suspended – has spruiked all season how his side is the fittest in the competition and after three quarters of war it proved the difference.
Launceston rattled on five unanswered majors in the last term to run out 12.5 (77) to 6.7 (43) victors at UTAS Stadium, finally breaking the shackles after never being headed from the moment Thorp slotted the opening major of the game.
Twice the Blues skipped 16points clear only to be reeled back by a Bombers outfit severely hampered by an injury to star coach Brad Cox-Goodyer, who was forced to spend the last three quarters deep forward following a bicep injury.
North could have snatched the lead going into the last change, only for a Jay Foon kick from near point blank range sailing across the face before the siren.
Darrel Baldock medallist Joe Groenewegen booted the first goal of the last term 80 seconds in to give the minor premiers the breathing space they needed and the dam wall burst 15 minutes later.
Livewire forward Brendan Taylor booted three goals, Thorp, Groenewegen and Michael Musicka all slotted two while midfield generals Harper, Fletcher Seymour and Miller Hodge helped Launceston dominate clearances to nullify Alex Lee’s win in the hitouts.
“The boys rang me on Tuesday morning and said I had to play ... when the two boys you have played the most footy with ring you and say they need you, it’s pretty hard to say no,” Thorp said of his inclusion.
“Absolutely [he had doubts], I’m 32, I haven’t played for a while but when the two boys ring at 9 o’clock and they both tell me they need me, then as a coach you just to what is best for the team.
“North Launnie were super, for three quarters it was neck and neck ... the last quarter we really showed our fitness level and desperation to want to go back-toback.
“They hold high standards, and you saw it when it was most needed, Hodge and Harper and Groenewegen were just running on top of the ground and Jake Smith taking a great catch, all that stuff comes because they have done the work.”
North Launceston, featuring in its eighth consecutive grand final which has yielded five flags, has set the benchmark in the league and now Thorp is hopeful his club can grab the torch.
“That’s why I have re-signed for the next couple of years, they are such a great group, we have done a lot of work together to get to this point,” he said.