The last time cross-town rivals Launceston and North Launceston played off in a seconds grand final, North claimed the 2012 colts premiership by a narrow two-point margin.
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The Northern Bombers surprised all by coming from fifth place to secure glory.
On Saturday, Jade Selby’s charges will be up against it with the Blues yet to drop a development league match and have prevailed by 101, 49 and 59 points in the two sides’ three previous encounters this season.
Launceston lost last year’s decider to three-time reigning premier Clarence by three goals, a result utility Grant Holt said has spurred his teammates on to hunt success.
And personally, the 18-year-old has put the disappointment of missing out on Mariners and senior selection this season into getting the best out of himself each week.
“Cookie (coach Oli Cook) throws me around a lot and I’m enjoying playing half forward and in the midfield at the moment – he’s given me a lot of freedom,” Holt said.
“Nerves are starting to kick in and I’ve been thinking about it after last year’s grand final defeat [but] I’m really confident.
“Anything can happen so you’ve got to forget about everything that happened earlier in the season, it’s zero-zero from the start so you’ve just got to take it up a level on the day.
“It’s always a big game against North Launceston as they’re our number one rivals so they will test us.”
The Newstead College student expects Cook to keep the 22 that defeated Glenorchy in the second semi-final two weeks ago intact.
“There is the thought of going in undefeated and having a loss but we’ve just got to have the mindset that we’re going to go out there and do what we do every week.”
North Launceston has been a big improver as the season's progressed, notching up seven wins and a draw from the eight games since last playing Launceston in round 15 to finish fourth and then book a grand final berth.
Nathan Jackson, who was awarded the Bombers captaincy this season having crossed over from Longford in the summer of 2016, said stability in the side throughout the second half had been key to his side’s resurgence.
“We’ve got the personnel and the belief now, especially in the past four to five weeks and we’ve go a lot of belief in each and every player,” the 21-year-old said.
“Launceston just use the ball so well through the midfield so hopefully we can reduce that as much as we can and attack.
“Our strength is moving the ball into our bigger forwards so hopefully we can maintain that.”
The Northern Bombers will be represented in both the TSL and development league deciders, a feat Jackson said has lifted the whole club.
“The belief is at the highest point I have seen it, it’s an awesome feeling,” he said.
“We all went out for a meal together on Monday night and most of the week has been about recovery ahead of the big game.”
First bounce is at 9.45am.
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