SOUTH Launceston is an unbackable favourite to win the NTFA division 1 grand final today after the pundits threw their endorsement behind them to make it back-to-back flags.
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NTFA general manager Robert Anderson and opposition coaches all gave the Bulldogs their tick of approval and expect South to be too good for grand final rival Bridgenorth, with NTFA president Ian Morrison the only dissenter.
"I think South has played the superior football throughout the season and obviously being undefeated will be to their advantage, but Bridgenorth can't be denied a chance either with the way they have played through the finals series," Anderson said.
"They are very capable of winning, but I think the way South have set themselves throughout the season and their finals experience will see them through."
Deloraine coach Rory Mansell said he expected South Launceston to win by about 10 goals.
"They have too much depth all over the field and too many game winners," he said.
"They are familiar with it and have 17 players repeating, so it won't be anything new to their boys and they all know how to win it."
Hillwood's Ryan Worn said he could not go past South as his tip to win.
"It is pretty hard not to back South, and I think they will win by between 40 and 60 points," he said.
"Their midfield is just far too classy for anyone else in the competition, with the likes of Leigh Harding, Adam and Aaron Viney, and I think they will be too hard to control and will run away with it in the end."
Scottsdale coach Heath Fox continued the theme, picking the Bulldogs to win by 36 points.
"I think they play a better brand of footy and they are a tighter unit than Bridgenorth, who I found to be a bit more individual and with the players they brought in late they might not have spent as much time together," he said.
"My tip is Jake Laskey for best on ground."
Longford coach Ben Chugg said South had been good all year and he expected them to win in a close one.
"Hopefully Bridgenorth come to play, but South by about 17 points - with their good players like Leigh Harding, and their forward line is strong, as is their backline, and they are good all over the ground."
George Town coach Myles Baker picked South to win because he felt they were a much more even team.
"They have too much depth in their talent, and that will get them over the line," he said.
Bracknell's Gary Shipton favoured South, saying the Bulldogs had an easier run coming into the grand final compared with Bridgenorth.
Rocherlea coach Lyndon Stubbs backed South to win, saying their fresh legs would help, but he expected Bridgenorth to put up a strong challenge.
"Their older, more experienced players will have had time to rest up, and Bridgenorth have had a big finals campaign already ,so South will be fresher and able to play their game a lot freer."
Morrison bucked the trend, picking Bridgenorth by five points.