Launceston’s fleeting premiership defence is over.
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Minor premier Glenorchy has firmly flexed its muscle to earn back-to-back TSLW grand finals at the expense of the Blues on Saturday.
After holding the reigning champions to a goalless first half, the Magpies were able to maintain their advantage to win out the Bellerive Oval battle 6.10 (46) to 3.7 (25).
Launceston coach Alex Gibbins was philosophical over not facing Clarence in the women’s state decider.
“We were really quite confident today and thought we would’ve won it,” he said.
“It just wasn’t to be. But we wanted to be back there next week – that’s for sure.
“Grand final and the whole lead-up is fun, but it’s hit us we won’t be a part of it.”
Glenorchy was quick to dominate in attack nine shots to two during the first half and Gibbins felt the Blues should have been behind by more than 17 points.
Three unanswered goals after the break to Camilla Taylor, Dearne Taylor and Emma Manix-Geeves put the visitors within two points in the final term and the preliminary final was on the line.
But a further three goals to the finish it secured a 21-point Magpies win.
“We had a really poor first half,” Gibbins said.
“I felt we were lucky to be in the game at half-time.
“In the second half, we had a real crack and a real fight.”
Launceston, who scored 307 points in its previous three outings, had no firepower up forward when it mattered under pressure.
But Gibbins exonerated the big forwards, saying the game was lost in the midfield.
”Glenorchy were very good and they played the best I’ve seen them play all year in the first half,” he said.
“That was a factor, but we just didn’t execute our plan.
“We went man on man and just didn’t have our gameplan running at all. It’s not what we wanted.”