Launceston is the biggest sleeper left in the State League finals series having sent two Southern rivals packing already.
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The Blues, who finished eighth last season, advanced through to next weekend’s preliminary final against Lauderdale, after outclassing Clarence by 33 points in Saturday’s first-semi at Bellerive Oval.
It was Launceston’s fourth-straight finals victory over the Roos, winning 13.8 (86) to 7.11 (57) and knocking Jeromey Webberley’s men out in straight sets.
The Roos controlled most of the opening term with the game’s first three goals coming in 14 minutes via Ian Callinan, Jarrod Harper and Trent Standen.
The hosts wasted several flurries forward but swooped on Launceston’s poor ball use and cut off many of the visitor’s attacking moves.
It took the Blues 15 minutes to register a forward-50 entry and it paid dividends with Jake Nunn marking and goaling from a Sam Rundle pinpoint pass.
Gabriel Chambers had a goal on the quarter-time siren disallowed with Clarence entering the first break 14-points up. However, Webberley was hampered by a damaged calf and Jake Cox was sidelined for the match with an unspecified injury.
Launceston started to gain the ascendancy in the second stanza with veteran tall Nathan O’Donoghue moving them to within eight points.
Sam Lonergan booted two in as many minutes either side of a brilliant snap from Webberley as Blues ruckman Hamish Leedham and midfielders Brodie Palfreyman and Jake Hinds began to dominate.
Sonny Whiting kicked his 49th goal of the season to put Launceston in front before Joe Boyce brushed off a would-be-tackler to send his side into half-time with a 6.2 (38) to 4.4 (28) lead, thanks to a five goal to one term.
Launceston’s fast and clean ball movement troubled Clarence after quarter time with the midfield brigade leading the way.
O’Donoghue’s second extended the Blues’ advantage to 16 points before Alex Silver responded in quick style.
But Launceston was not to be outdone and went bang, bang with goals from Jay Blackberry and Boyce to ensure their teammates had a 21-point buffer to protect with a term to play. The Blues ran out the match with five majors to two to keep their September dream alive.
O’Donoghue led Launceston’s nine goal-kickers with three, while Lonergan and Boyce finished with doubles.
Lonergan praised his defenders led by the underrated Stewart Williams.
“Hamish was fantastic, two back-to-back standout finals performances is outstanding… we had about 43 to 30 clearances so he gave us first look and our mids controlled that part of the game,” he said.
“We had an even contribution across the group, our backs were super again.
“As a collective group they did a fantastic job and in our forward line we had a good spread of goal-kickers.”
Jack Gleeson was the Roos’ best along with Jason Bailey and Chambers. It was the Blues’ first win over Clarence in three attempts this season.
MATCH RESULTS
Launceston 1.0, 6.2, 9.4, 13.8 (86)
Clarence 3.2, 4.4, 5.7, 7.11 (53)
GOALS, Launceston: N. O'Donoghue 3, J. Boyce 2, S. Lonergan 2, J. Blackberry 1, J. Nunn 1, S. Whiting 1, R. Kelly-Mansell 1, S. Rundle 1, J. Gillow 1. Clarence: J. Webberley 2, I. Callinan 1, A. Silver 1, J. Harper 1, T. Standen 1, W. Wall 1.
BEST, Launceston: S. Williams, N. O'Donoghue, J. Hinds, B. Palfreyman, J. Blackberry, S. Whiting. Clarence: J. Gleeson, J. Bailey, G. Chambers, T. Castle, M. Ling, K. Wylie