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In form and firing, the red hot Two Blues are on a Lion hunt in pursuit of three-peat

Winless after the first two rounds, Lindisfarne’s quest for an SFL premiership three-peat looked done and dusted. But the Two Blues have surged into the preliminary final against Huonville full of confidence and form.

BEWARE the reigning champs as Lindisfarne goes into the preliminary final in red hot form, fully fit and full of confidence.

The Two Blues are chasing a third SFL flag in a row but will need to get past minor premier Huonville at Huonville to make the grand final and then Cygnet at North Hobart next Saturday.

Lindisfarne’s reign looked over when it lost the opening two games of the shortened season to Hobart and Cygnet, followed by a round six loss to the Lions by a kick.

But the Two Blues have been on a run since, highlighted by a 34-point elimination final win over Hobart and then a 56-point demolition of New Norfolk at Boyer in last week’s first semi-final.

SFL preliminary final preview. Kieran Rogers captain Lindisfarne and Tim Lamprill coach Huonville. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
SFL preliminary final preview. Kieran Rogers captain Lindisfarne and Tim Lamprill coach Huonville. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Lindisfarne captain Kieren Rogers said a meeting post those first two defeats changed the club’s season.

“We sat down after that round two loss and had a bit of a chat and said we could either go two ways,” Rogers said.

“We could either potentially do a three-peat and go back to back to back or just fizzle out and it is nothing.

“So we drew that line in the sand and went the other way and started digging deep and working hard together.”

Rogers said there was no fear of his side hitting the wall after playing virtual elimination finals for the past three rounds of the season.

“We are actually building perfectly,” he said.

Southern Football League grand final 2019. Lindisfarne V Huonville at North Hobart Oval. Lindisfarne after their win. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
Southern Football League grand final 2019. Lindisfarne V Huonville at North Hobart Oval. Lindisfarne after their win. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We are cherry ripe at the moment, we’ve got our full list to pick from for the first time this year and we think that we are just peaking at the right time and we are going to bring serious effort tomorrow.

“It should be a massive contest down there.”

Huonville was smarting after blowing a 35-point lead to lose by two points to Cygnet last Saturday, but coach Tim Lamprill said the club had moved on.

“We were all probably a little bit hard on each other after the game straight away,” Lamprill said.

“But in the end of the day it was two points on a really wet day and a couple of things didn’t go our way and if the ball bounces a different way then it might have been a different story.

“But that’s done and dusted. We’ve gone over what we need to and we are ready for this week.”

Today’s game starts at 2.30pm and can be streamed live at themercury.com.au

brett.stubbs@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/afl/in-form-and-firing-the-red-hot-two-blues-are-on-a-lion-hunt-in-pursuit-of-threepeat/news-story/4c45a7f0e2811aa8a3719dd6379ef38c