Mid season review: Blues prepare for a new era

Launceston is in a transition phase after winning three straight flags, with a new coach to take the helm next year and their young core starting to take ownership of the team. We take a statistical look at how they’re tracking in our mid-season review.

Isaac Hyatt in action. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Launceston began a rebuild bringing young players through last season, where they still managed to finish fourth after three straight flags from 2020-22.

Before this year they lost a number of experienced key players including Jake Hinds and Ryan Tyrrell (Bridgenorth) and former captain Jobi Harper, while current skipper Brodie Palfreyman has missed a handful of games through suspension.

It’s meant the young core have been given more responsibility, and the challenge that confronted them was evident early when North Launceston, still unbeaten, kept them goalless in a 162-point round one defeat.

However since then the Blues have kept their heads up and been relatively competitive in most matches, even notching a couple of victories against Lauderdale (away) and North Hobart.

They were also unlucky not to beat defending premiers Kingborough in round nine, when two very late Tigers goals condemned them to a one-point loss.

With triple flag-winning coach Mitch Thorp to stand down at the end of the season, the Blues will enter the post-TSL era with a new boss at the helm as they look to return as a northern powerhouse.

BLUES’ TOP THREE

Gold: Isaac Hyatt - His move into the midfield has proven to be a wise move as he takes on more responsibility for the Blues with an eye to the future. After crafting a reputation as a crafty small forward, Hyatt is third in average disposals for the club (22.3 per game), first in contested possessions (12.5), first in groundball gets (7.9), second in ranking points (100.2), fourth in tackles (5.8) and second in clearances (5.6). The numbers prove he has the class but can also win his own ball.

Bailey Gillow dives for a mark. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Silver: Bailey Gillow - Handed the vice captaincy this year, and the extra responsibility seems to sit well with the midfielder. Leads the Blues in clearances (5.9), tackles (7.4) and ranking points (101), is third in contested possessions (10.4), fifth in disposals (20.9) and third in goal involvements (2.7)

Bronze: Josiah Burling: The half-back returned to the club this year after an NTFA season with Perth, and has picked up where he left off when he was a premiership player. Has a good balance between defence and taking the game on. Leads the Blues for disposals (25.6), intercept marks (2.9) and spoils (1.3)

MOST IMPROVED

Ben Hyatt - Hyatt, brother of Isaac, has proven to be a shrewd pickup from NTFA premier heavyweights Hillwood. He leads the club’s goal kicking list with 18, and is one of only two Blues to rack up double figures in that category. Also tops the goal involvements list (3.6) and groundball gets (7.9), eighth in disposals (15.7), and third in inside 50s (3.6). Doesn’t need many possessions to make a big impact on a game.

BEST WIN

Only two to choose from, but a clear standout for the adversity they had to overcome to get the job done was their three-point victory at Lauderdale in round four.

Just three weeks after they were kept goalless in a humiliating 162-point home loss to North Launceston, the Blues pulled off the boilover of the year based on relentless pressure around the contest. The hosts had seven more shots on goal, but it was the heat the Blues applied which forced a lot of their inefficiency.

It was the shot in the arm the club needed after a particularly tough start to the year, one they’re not used to after a recent period of sustained premiership success.

Launceston captain Brodie Palfreyman and coach Mitch Thorp are ready for the last TSL season. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

OVERALL GRADE

B-: Yes, they’ve only won two games, but the youth of the roster and their ability to be competitive in most games since their round one debacle has been noteworthy.

The young leaders like Isaac Hyatt, co-captain Bailey Gillow and Liam Jones continue to improve despite being in a side struggling to get the end result.

One of the major focuses of the next coach is keep their top end talent together, but also getting to work strengthening their bottom six and adding more experience to the group.

SEASON STATS (COURTESY PREMIER DATA)

LADDER POSITION: Sixth Wins: 2 Losses: 8 Points scored: 510 Points conceded: 908 Percentage: 56.17

TEAM STRENGTHS (AVERAGE PER GAME)

Tackles: 68.3 (second in league); Tackle efficiency: 43.8 (second in league); Pressure acts: 48.11 (opponents average 37); Rebound 50s: 34.5 (opponents average 26.1)

North Launceston ruck Alex Lee dishes out a handball. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

PLAYERS (AVERAGE PER GAME)

DISPOSALS

25.6: Josiah Burling

22.3 Isaac Hyatt

21: Liam Jones

20.9: Bailey Gillow

CONTESTED DISPOSALS

12.5: Isaac Hyatt

11.3: Brodie Palfreyman

10.4: Bailey Gillow, Liam Jones

TOTAL GOALS

18: Ben Hyatt

12: Dylan Riley

CLEARANCES

5.9: Bailey Gillow

5.6: Isaac Hyatt

5.2: Jake Kilby

5.1: Brodie Palfreyman

INSIDE 50S

3.9: Brodie Palfreyman

3.8: Liam Jones

3.6: Ben Hyatt

TACKLES

7.4: Bailey Gillow

6.9: Sam Foley

6.1: Liam Jones

RANKING POINTS

101: Bailey Gillow

100.2: Isaac Hyatt

99.3: Sam Foley

98.9: Josiah Burling

INTERCEPT MARKS

2.9: Josiah Burling

2.1: Dylan Riley

1.5: Sam Foley