Fast start helps North Launceston to 12-point TSL grand final victory over Glenorchy
FEW gave North Launceston any chance of toppling powerhouse Glenorchy in the TSL grand final, but the Bombers proved the doubters wrong.
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FEW gave North Launceston any chance of toppling powerhouse Glenorchy in the TSL grand final at Blundstone Arena, but the Bombers proved the doubters wrong and surprised themselves at the same time.
Against all odds, North Launceston lifted the premiership cup in front of 5978 footy fans and became the first team since Clarence in 2009-10 to win the title back-to-back.
The Bombers did it without man-mountain Daniel Roozendaal, suspended after a clash with Burnie’s Clint Proctor in the preliminary final, and teenager Jake Sushames, injured in the opening minutes.
GALLERY: NORTH LAUNCESTON WINS THE 2015 TSL GRAND FINAL
North Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn was over the moon at taking possession of his second cup in a row.
“My emotions have just kicked in 10 times quicker than they did last year,” Littlejohn said. “I’m just ecstatic for this group. What resilience they’ve shown.
“I said to them at three-quarter time not many people in Australia picked us to win today, and I’m just super proud of them.”
North Launceston became the third team to take the long road into the grand final and walk away with the premiership – the other two were Clarence in 2009 and Launceston in 2011. For Glenorchy, it was the second time it had gone into a grand final first and walked away empty handed, mirroring 2009.
The Bombers did what many believed was impossible in beating Glenorchy by 12 points – 13.13 (91) to 11.13 (79).
To do it, they beat the Magpies at their own game, applying incredible pressure, forcing turnovers and punishing them on the scoreboard.
Given all that, Glenorchy went down by only two goals.
“They say you’ve got to lose one to win one, so you’ve got to have the experience and North Launceston certainly did today,” Pies coach Aaron Cornelius said.
“They showed they’ve been there before and could certainly handle the pressure.”
North Launceston’s start was blinding.
The Bombers jumped to a four-goal lead 17 minutes into the opening term and, but for goals to Jaye Bowden and Mitch Rainbird, the Pies would have been reeling at the first break, when they were still 19 points in arrears.
Glenorchy held North in the second but the third will haunt the Pies forever.
They kicked 1.9 – the most behinds in a single quarter of a TSL grand final, beating the previous worst of seven misses by Devonport in 2010.
“Bad kicking is bad footy,” Cornelius said. “We had 10 shots and they had four, so we had our opportunities but we didn’t capitalise.
“You can’t come along and play one quarter and expect to win a grand final.”
North Launceston’s best were many, including defender Andrew Cox-Goodyer and his brother Brad, who was North’s leading goalkicker with four.
The run-and-stun came from Ethan Petterwood, but the hard work inside the packs was done by Josh Holland and that’s why he walked away with the Baldock Medal as best afield.
Had Glenorchy won, the medal would have been around Bowden’s neck, as he was phenomenal and kicked four goals on the way.
Old timer Shane Piuselli showed the young Turks how to play in a grand final and Matt Dilger, Sam Hall and Cam Brown could walk off with their heads high.
Glenorchy’s Sam Hall and North Launceston’s Geoff Mohr were reported.
See the Sunday Tasmanian for more on the Tassie football finals.
Re-live the grand final action below.
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