Lauderdale coach Allen Christensen on impending coaching departure ahead of TSL preliminary final clash

Lauderdale coach Allen Christensen has spoken for the first time since his impending departure was announced. Here’s what he had to say.

Allen Christensen will finish his time as Lauderdale coach at the end of the Bombers finals campaign. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While he admits juggling commitments across two states has been ‘brutal’, outgoing Lauderdale coach Allen Christensen says announcing his impending departure from the Bombers has been a weight off his shoulders.

Christensen will lead the Bombers into what could be his final game as coach in Saturday’s TSL preliminary final against Clarence following his decision to stand down following the conclusion of this season.

While hopeful his time at Lauderdale would last another week, Christensen said he was still unsure of his plans beyond this season with the ability to spend more time with his young daughter front of mind.

“Both Andy (Lyden) (Lauderdale president) and Phil Giffard (football director) have been away but we had a really good chat and it’s a little bit of a weight off my shoulders,” he said.

“I love those blokes they’ve helped me a lot. I’ve got to be able to have more flexibility to go home. So if I want to stay here in Tassie, I need to be able to get back and look after (my daughter) a little bit more, so that’s the main reason.”

Christensen has juggled coaching, playing and parental commitments across two states over the last two seasons. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Joining the Bombers ahead of the 2021 season, Christensen has become a much-loved figure of Tasmanian football with the second-year coach excited at a potential fairytale finish should they go all the way this September.

“The way this group’s always supported me and got around me, they’re like my brothers,” he said.

“I know I coach them but I love them to bits and I feel like I’ve had a good impact on them, and the way they play and how they are off field.

“So I’m pretty excited for the challenge that we can hopefully get a job done this week so we can celebrate four years of my football life here (with a grand final appearance next week).”

After knocking off reigning premiers Kingborough last week, the Bombers will head into Saturday’s clash against the Roos full of confidence despite a poor recent record at Blundstone Arena.

“I think the biggest thing for us on the weekend was our clearance numbers (were strong),” Christensen said.

“If we can try and emulate some sort of strategy like what happened on the weekend, it should hold us in pretty good stead.

“The game that was here earlier this year was pretty pathetic, to be honest, so we know we’ve got a bit of room for improvement when we play at this ground.

“If they (Clarence) play the way they did for two and a half quarters (against North Launceston), I think we’ve got a really, really good game on our hands.

“We understand we’re two completely different sides in the way we play and the way we structure up.”

First bounce on Saturday is at 1.30pm.