Bombers grind out tough win to advance to TSL decider
It was a game for the purists, but North Launceston proved they can win ugly after coming from behind to beat Clarence and advance to the TSL grand final.
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North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer likened Sunday’s grinding preliminary final win over Clarence to “builders do all the building, and the painters finish it off.”
For a long time, as the Bombers battled to find targets inside 50 in a low-scoring scrap, it seemed the splash of paint they desired to reach a TSL grand final wasn’t going to come.
But eventually the dam wall broke, with North Launceston kicking the last six goals of the game to prevail 7.8 (50) to 4.6 (30).
Renowned as the most potent attacking team in the competition, the Bombers were kept scoreless in the first quarter but their defence limited the damage to two goals.
Clarence led by 17 points in the third quarter and it appeared they would grind out a famous road win.
But North Launceston showed they had learned plenty from last week’s loss to Kingborough, as their resolve willed them home.
The Bombers will now get a chance to shoot for a first flag since they won their fifth in six seasons in 2019.
Cox-Goodyer said the result gave them belief they can win a tight, contested battle before they get another crack against the Tigers.
“The builders do all the building, sometimes we need painters to finish it off,” he said.
“I had 100 per cent belief (before the last quarter). I kept reiterating the message we were winning clearances and inside 50s but we kept blazing away a little. We just had to tidy up going inside, and once we did that we controlled the game.
“We need that finishing touch, in the last quarter we were able to do it and hit targets inside 50s.
“I’m super proud of them for sticking it out, and they get the reward of playing in a grand final.”
Veteran midfielder Jack Avent was outstanding, particularly in the second half, his efforts contest after contest helping inspire his team when their season was on the verge of extinction.
He backed his words with actions after admitting the midfield ‘let the team down’ in an interview during the week.
The Bombers’ defence was again outstanding, as was the midfield and star ruck Alex Lee, while youngsters Blade Sulzberger and Declen Chugg added to their growing reputations.
“Jack’s a warrior. I’ve said it for a long time he’s the most underrated player in the league, and probably league history,” Cox-Goodyer said.
“He just keeps coming, grits his teeth and gets it done.”
“After dominating territory since the back end of the third quarter, North Launceston were finally rewarded when Chugg’s bomb from just outside 50 got them within two points, 14 minutes into the last term.
Soon after Bombers goal sneak Brandon Leary, who was kept very quiet all day, marked and kicked truly from 30 metres to give them their first lead of the day.
When Avent capped a big second half by setting up a goal for Connor Young, the Bombers had the buffer they needed.
Clarence coach Peter Ryan was proud of his guys’ resolve, but said decision making late let them down.
“It was two sides fighting it out for a spot in a grand final. It was a scrappy game, it just came down to them making smarter decisions in the last quarter,” Ryan said.
“They (North Launceston) are a great footy club and well coached, they know what success looks like.
The Roos had bounced back strongly after a horror opening quarter in a 60-point loss to Launceston at Windsor Park in round 17.
They had won their last four games since as they strived for a first flag since 2010.
“There was (some hard conversations after that game),” Ryan said.
“We embarrassed ourselves and it was the first quarter they blew us away.
“It shows us you have to come with the right attitude, which I thought we did really well today, but to their credit they fought the game out.”
Kangaroos defender Baker Smith was outstanding throughout in a low-scoring stoush.
North Launceston also advanced to the Development League grand final with a 32-point win over Lauderdale.
TSL PRELIMINARY FINAL
NORTH LAUNCESTON 0.0 1.2 2.6 7.8 (50) def CLARENCE 2.1 2.4 4.4 4.6 (30)
Goals: North Launceston - Brandon Leary 2, Jack Aherne, Josh Rickard, Declen Chugg,, Connor Young, Mitchell Nicholas; Clarence - Colin Garland, Bryce Alomes, Jarrod Harper, Oscar Paprotny
Best: North Launceston - Bradley Cox-Goodyer, Jack Avent, Ben Simpson, Alex Lee, Fletcher Bennett, Declen Chugg Clarence - Jarrod Harper, Oscar Paprotny, James Bealey, Keegan Wylie, Ollie Preshaw, Liam Howard
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