Jaye Bowden’s focus is on grand final glory for Glenorchy

HE could walk away with a swag of medals on TSL grand final day but Glenorchy star Jaye Bowden would settle for one — premiership bling.

TASMANIA’S  best player could walk away with a swag of medals on TSL grand final day at Aurora Stadium today but Glenorchy star Jaye Bowden would settle for one — premiership bling.

The 27-year-old has already bagged the Hudson Medal as the TSL’s leading goalkicker and the REACT TSL Player of the Year media award.

He is favourite for the Alastair Lynch Medal as the competition’s best in today’s pre-game count, and another good on-field performance might also earn him the Baldock Medal as best afield.

Glenorchy’s Jaye Bowden says he would swap all his personal accolades for a Pies premiership.

But Bowden’s focus is squarely on the team prize.

“I’d be happy to walk away with a premiership medal,” he said.

“That’s all I’m really worried about.

“It has burned since we lost last year. It has burned since we lost in 2009.

“You don’t rock up each year to lose — that’s the same for every club — so that burn is there for every club, not just for us.

“Hopefully we can make amends this weekend.”

After losing the grand final to the Northern Bombers last year, victory today would be extra sweet.

“It would be fantastic,” said Glenorchy coach Aaron ­Cornelius.

“That’s what we play for. That’s what all of our supporters and staff are here for and that’s why we go through ­preseason.

“We’re in it to win it and we’ve given ourselves a good opportunity this weekend to go up against one of the best sides in the state and really have a crack.”

Standing in Glenorchy’s way is North Launceston, which is shooting for a third consecutive flag.

Since losing its last home-and-away game to the Burnie Dockers, which cost it a home qualifying final, North Launceston has been back to its best.

“It was a reminder that you can’t take your foot off the pedal against any opposition,” said Bombers coach Zane Littlejohn.

The Bombers narrowly beat Glenorchy in the second semi-final and Littlejohn said if his men played to plan, they would be hard to stop.

“We’ll back our troops in, in terms of how we need and want them to play,” Littlejohn said.

For those who can’t make it to Launceston, all three grand finals can be live streamed by clicking the link on tasmanianstateleague.com.au