‘Keeping Elastoplast in business:’ Lee’s drive to Bombers life membership

He uses more tape than an Egyptian mummy most seasons, but sealing life membership at North Launceston will be a proud moment for co-captain Alex Lee on Saturday.

North Launceston co-captain Alex Lee will seal life membership at the club when he runs out for the 150th time on Saturday. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Ask North Launceston ruckman Alex Lee how much strapping he uses on his troublesome shoulders and he simply chuckles.

“I’d definitely keep Elastoplast in business, that’s for sure,” he quipped as he prepares for his 150th game for the Bombers - and subsequent life membership - against North Hobart at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.

All jokes aside, the Bombers co-captain is a quiet assassin, a leader by actions more than words, and is vital to the club’s hopes of securing another TSL flag.

Lee, who turned 28 on Monday, crunched the numbers before the season began, and having his name etched on the club’s life members wall is an achievement he holds dear.

“As the games racked up and it became within reach, it’s definitely something I wanted to achieve,” he said.

“I worked out the end of last year I needed to play every roster game bar one. That’s something I aimed for and I probably played a couple of games I shouldn’t have, but here we are.”

Lee leads the league’s hit outs by a considerable margin and the Bombers’ strong clearance and effective clearance numbers further highlight his importance.

He has shared the skipper duties with on-baller Ben Simpson the past two years, and he reflected on his growth as a leader.

“We have two very different leadership styles. Ben’s more vocal and I’m more lead by actions, so we complement each other very well,” he said.

“I’ve learned it’s not a good reflection for others to see me with my head down. That’s not a good representation of a leader so if I’m pushing through things with my head held high, that’s how I try and motivate as best I can.”

There’s weeks where Lee motivates simply by leading the team onto the ground, despite his body screaming for a week off.

“I don’t think there’s been a year where I haven’t had some sort of niggle. It’s either been the left shoulder or the right shoulder that plays up, but I’ve carried it through and done my best to make it to games.”

North Launceston’s Alex Lee (left) battles with Lauderdale’s Haydn Smith earlier this season. Picture: Chris Kidd

Lee, who also played 49 games for Devonport, will tick off another milestone next weekend with his 200th TSL game in the qualifying final against Kingborough.

Bombers coach Brad Cox-Goodyer has had the privilege of playing under Lee’s feet in the midfield for a number of seasons.

He’s watched Lee progress from a skinny 20-year-old loaded with potential to Tasmania’s premier ruck.

“Alex has been very loyal to us. Like most top flight players they get offers thrown at them left, right and centre,” Cox-Goodyer said.

“He’s already had offers for next year so he’s been extremely loyal and has helped us be a formidable outfit over the years.

“You speak to any midfielder who’s played with him and they would say they’re better playing with him with the service he gives. I can speak first-hand to that, it’s pretty easy to play with a guy like that.

“There’s not many real dominant ruckmen, and we’ve been lucky to have a dominant one over the years.”

Cox-Goodyer joked he likes to call Lee ‘soft’, but knows he’s anything but.

“He always seems to get niggles, but he’s pretty competitive and he doesn’t like to miss games,” Cox-Goodyer said.

“I have had a chat to him every now and then over the last couple of years ‘do you think you need a week off to refresh?’, and he says ‘no chance’.

“He’s pretty resilient and I think he understands how important he is to us.

“When he first came to us in 2015 he was skinnier than what he is now and has put a lot of work into his body to compete with the bigger rucks.

“He’s always been super athletic and been able to jump, the biggest thing with him is it’s really easy to read his hand as a ruckman.”

North Launceston's Alex Lee and Launceston Football Club's Jake Hinds before the 2020 TSL grand final. Picture: PATRICK GEE

The second-placed Bombers are virtually certain to travel to Twin Ovals to play the Tigers for a grand final spot next week.

Assisted by a ‘chop out’ from Theo Ives, Lee will clash with the TSL’s best ruck duo in Jack Tomkinson and Marcus Gardner.

It’s a challenge Lee embraces.

“In terms of the TSL I don’t think there’s been a team that has had two really good ruckmen like Kingborough does,” Lee said.

“It’s a challenge to come up against and we back our systems in. Theo and myself have a fair crack every time, and that’s what we’re going to have to do the first week of finals.

“It’s always mentally challenging and pretty taxing. Something we might have to get better at is the rotations so I’m not gassing myself as much, and keep myself fresh to give it a crack as best I can.”

Cox-Goodyer made no secret he will be winding Lee up for a dominant final against the Tigers, who won a five-point epic against the Bombers two weeks ago to virtually sew up top spot and a home final.

“We’re quite aware that’s one of Kingborough’s strengths and Tomkinson took the game away from us last time they played us up here,” Cox-Goodyer said.

“I’ll be putting it on him next week for sure knowing how important they are to them, but also how important he is to us.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it and celebrate him this week first.”