Lauderdale has a plan to stop Launceston’s best players in TSL blockbuster

They’ve been shot down before by Launceston guns Jobi Harper and Dylan Riley so the Bombers have a plan to take the shine off Blues’ stars.

Lauderdale co captains Josh McGuinness and Bryce Walsh. Picture Chris Kidd

• Bomber Bryce Walsh was in the middle of the best performance by a TSL player this year until the smallest of injuries put him in hospital
• Lauderdale's new defender Will Poland adds strengths to Bombers backline

LAUDERDALE may have to “sacrifice” stars Josh McGuinness and Bryce Walsh to stop two of Launceston’s most destructive players for a chance to win their TSL clash at Lauderdale Oval on Saturday.

The Bombers are best of the rest on the TSL ladder after the two Northern powers – Launceston and North Launceston – and a win on Saturday would distance Lauderdale from its southern cousins.

To do that, Bombers assistant-coach Clint Brown says they must reduce the impact of Launceston’s raging bull Jobi Harper in the midfield as well as the TSL’s leading goal kicker Dylan Riley.

LAUDERDALE assistant-coach Clinton Brown. Picture: James Bresnehan

“We’ve played Jobi quite well over our last couple of encounters,” Brown said.

“But if you focus on one, the others one get you – and we probably did that when we played them last time.

“We kept Jobi quiet in the game at Windsor Park but other guys bobbed up and did the damage.

“We will still put time into him but there’s others we need to focus on as well.”

Bombers full-back Will Poland will continue his work on Launceston coach Mitch Thorp, leaving Lauderdale to assign a different defender to Riley, who has kicked 27 goals this season including a bag of eight.

“Will is the likely match-up for Thorp so we will probably have to send our best defender Josh McGuinness to Riley,” Brown said.

“Sometimes you don’t want to do that, because we don’t want to take away Josh’s run, and rebound and attacking flair.

“Riley has proven to be a thorn in our side recently so we need to try and shut him down.”

Brown said Lauderdale and Launceston were developing a “good rivalry”.

“Their midfield is very potent, they’ve got some great forwards and their backline plays tight, close defence so we are certainly looking forward to the challenge,” he said.