Shoring up Brie Rattray’s shock emergence as a power player towards Launceston’s premiership defence is of the highest priority for coach Alex Gibbins on Sunday.
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The Blues have very little to play for entering their final rostered game of the TSLW season against Burnie.
No sizeable win is enough to overtake second-placed Clarence and gain a double chance in the finals series.
“The actual game itself probably doesn’t help with our finals preparation. Our training has been very much finals-focused,” Gibbins said.
“So we just want to get the win this weekend, obviously, but in terms of margins, it doesn’t really matter at all.”
But Launceston at least has the chance against the Dockers to qualify Rattray for next week’s minor semi final.
“It’s a bit of anomaly at this time of the year to bring someone in,” Gibbins said.
“So she must have something special if we’re seriously entertaining it for finals.”
The star netball convert to the game has proven to be a sensation since switching between the two sports.
The 33-year-old has flown from Flinders Island to play for State League netball club Cavaliers. She is set to play her third game of football – in any competition – after kicking a team-best five goals in just a second appearance.
Gibbins has identified the 182cm Rattray as a natural forward that in a clandestine move title threats Glenorchy and Clarence have not seen.
“She has picked it up real quickly – it’s just the small intricacies she needs a bit of time,” he said. “She has a real competitive edge and one you’d want on your team.”
Gibbins plans to rest key defender Meg Sinclair in favour of getting more run in the legs of Bianca White and Melissa Smith as insurance for the side’s backline.
Gibbins felt the Blues have no choice on selection ahead of a first final with Tigers.
“We have a soft run going into the finals, so we have to use that to our advantage,” he said, “we have no injuries, no real niggles now – that’s one positive we get out of it.”
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
