South Launceston Suns are hoping a blend of four triple-premiership players and a crop of eager energetic youngsters will combine to produce more silverware for the club trophy cabinet on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Suns are the only Launceston side in the Greater Northern League grand finals and will be seeking to secure fourth premiership medals for player-coach Alastair McBain, captain Brad Buchanan, Keelan Beattie and Rod Neville.
But McBain believes it is the youngbloods who could prove the difference as the minor premiers host the reigning premiers Burnie Baptist – who were also the only team to defeat them this season.
“We are expecting a game of high intensity,” he said.
“We have a lot of young players and will be seeking to use their speed and skills to take it up to them and hopefully exploit their weaknesses.
“We played them just a few weeks ago and they beat us.
“We were missing a few players and while it was disappointing it was probably good to lose heading into the finals.
“They are a class side and we don’t expect there to be much in the match. They have been the other outstanding side in the competition.”
Confirming McBain’s statement is the final GNL table which had the rivals separated by just a point with third-placed South Burnie a distant third 10 points behind.
Baptist defeated South Burnie to claim last season's premiership and inflicted more misery on their neighbours with a 2-0 win last week.
Meanwhile South Launceston has dominated the competition, eclipsing the 100-goal mark with McBain, Buchanan, Beattie and Kurt Budgeon each reaching 15 goals.
The Suns secured home ground advantage over their opponents by winning the qualifying final.
“We are a proud family club and want to be challenging for premierships and our expectation is to bring them home,” McBain added.
“They are fantastic to coach. We are all driven guys and push each other and that has bred a culture of success over a few years.
“We’re very lucky to have a group that has no ceiling on how good they can be for the next few years.”
The women’s competition presents a similarly enthralling grand final, with the qualifying final rematch between City Marians and West Devonport taking place at Marians’ home ground, McKenna Park in Burnie, at 2pm.
GNL grand finals
- Men: South Launceston v Burnie Baptist, 1pm
- Women: City Marians v West Devonport, 2pm
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
