HISTORY doesn’t lie, not every player gets to play off in a grand final – just ask Tasmanian and Richmond legend Matthew Richardson.
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But for four North Launceston leaders grand finals have become annual diary entries.
Four State League deciders in a row is a magnificent achievement and one Northern Bombers skipper Taylor Whitford, vice-captains Brad Cox-Goodyer and Jack Avent and utility Zach Burt will register at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
Whitford, 25, took over as captain at York Park from Mitch van den Berg following the club’s drought-breaking premiership in 2014.
He led them to glory in 2015 but tasted the disappointment of last season’s failure at the final hurdle.
Fair to say he is keen to lift the cup for a second time following triumph over Lauderdale.
“Captaincy is a position you learn as you go along. Not to say that I was a bad captain three years ago, but I’ve learnt a lot over my time and hopefully I continue to do so,” he said.
“The opportunity to have the younger boys come up to you and give them concrete examples of what we believe and what we value as a football club is great.
“The past three grand final sides are all different. In 2014 we had 22 good players and Chris Tarrant, in 2015 we had probably a closer group than the year before and I think we’ve grown closer again this season.”
Cox-Goodyer, 24, has played about 130 matches in red and black and has flourished with often leading the team along side Avent in Whitford’s absence with an ankle injury.
“It never gets old. You feel privileged to play in one no matter how many you play in,” he said.
“People are quick to forget that before this run we were bottom of the ladder for a number of years.
“I won two flags with my brother Andrew and that’s probably the highlight of my career other than winning the premierships – to do it with your brother is pretty special.
“For the guys that were there [at the bottom], they know what it’s like so they don’t take this for granted at all.”
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Avent, 24, has held roles on every line this season after starting as a small forward, running through the middle and now settling in his more natural position down back.
He said the only difference between this year’s decider was that North took out the minor premiership in the lead-up.
The Northern Bombers have finished third in all three of their previous campaigns.
“This year finishing on top, it’s kind of expected a little bit more,” Avent said.
“I try and treat it as another game even though there is a big prize at the end of it.
“Myself and Brad have had to captain a few games this year, which is something that I thought I’d never do at North Launceston but I’m quite proud of it.”
George Town boy Burt, 23, has also endured a mid-season positional change.
Burt has gone from a key forward to a swingman in defence and will likely look to stop Ryan Wiggins, but he is just happy the team is at the peak of its powers.
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“We’ll go in with the same mindset that we have all year and hopefully we come out with a good result,” Burt said.
“I don’t mind getting a goal but going down back and playing my role is good.
“If that’s what it takes at the end of the day then that’s great.”