Lauderdale captain Nat Franklin confident their midfield game will stand up against North Launceston in TSL Grand Final

It’s an area of their game that’s a key reason behind their September charge towards a fourth TSL grand final and it’s one that Lauderdale skipper Nat Franklin is hoping will aid their charge to a maiden premiership.

Lauderdale captain Nat Franklin has led the Bombers midfield numbers this season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

It’s been the strength of their finals campaign to date and with grand final experience on his side, Lauderdale captain Nat Franklin knows Saturday’s contest will be either won or lost in the midfield.

The first-year skipper has led the front inside the engine room this season and while they sit first in the competition for both contested possessions (150.4 average) and clearances (48.1 average) this season, both Franklin and his fellow midfielders have taken it to another level in September.

Their seven-point elimination final win over reigning premier Kingborough was highlighted by a plus-12 win in contested possessions and plus-22 in clearances while against Clarence, they broke even in contested possessions but improved their clearance numbers to plus-27.

Led by both Franklin and former AFL ruck man Andrew Phillips, Lauderdale will face a North Launceston midfield group full of young talent but Franklin was confident if they could once again replicate those numbers that it would aid their charge towards a maiden state league premiership.

Nat Franklin and Andrew Phillips were both named in the TSL Team of the Year after impressive seasons. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It’s been a strength of ours over the last, you know, four to six weeks,” Franklin said.

“We’ve really gone to work in that area. I think in grand finals you don’t want to make anything up. So it’s just about falling back onto our strengths this week that’s going to be so important. And those contested ball numbers and clearance numbers is what’s going to hold us in good stead for that game.”

A stalwart of the Bombers line-up, Franklin is one of just six Lauderdale players who will play in his fourth state league grand following their three straight losing appearances between 2017 and 2019.

With all three of those contests coming in the early years of his senior career, Franklin said the opportunity to once again win a state league premiership wasn’t lost on him and was hopeful the more experienced heads of the Bombers could draw on that big-game experience.

“I was 19-20 when we were playing in those games … I just thought that’s what you did,” he said.

“It’s been a while fighting to try and get back into that position. There’s such personnel change in both teams that there’s not really much you can draw on.

“I think the guys that were there those years ago definitely appreciate it (more) and I think we’ve got that experience now around what it takes to play in those games.

“We’ve lost a few, they’ve lost a few in the previous years as well, but all that matters really is this week and getting up for the game.”