Both development league sides contesting this year’s premiership are full of raw talent – a testament to the programs of the region’s two State League clubs.
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Those Launceston and North Launceston smarts will start Tasmanian football’s biggest day at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
And there is nothing like a battle between two sides that don’t want to see each other succeed.
North midfielder Oliver Sanders – son of former Northern Bombers player and Blues coach Adam – has had a brilliant finals series and is keen to help his side take down their unbeaten cross-town rivals.
Sanders, 16, said he learnt a lot from his maiden senior match earlier in the year.
“It was a great eye opener to see how fast footy is compared to the D-league, I took a lot out of that," the state under-16 representative said.
“Launnie have been the best team by far all year so it will be a big task but I think we can do it.”
Sanders’ teammate James Curran, also an accomplished swimmer and cricketer, said he has enjoyed being back at the Invermay-based club since recommitting midway through the season.
“I spent a little bit of time away due to other commitments but I came back a few weeks before finals and I’ve been playing some pretty good footy,” the 17-year-old Launceston Church Grammar student said.
“It's going to be a tough task, we’ve got a bit of momentum going and we're going to give it a crack.”
North has won its past eight matches, and Blues defenders Tyson Miller and Bayley Neil aren’t taking their flawless record for granted.
“We're expecting a good hard contest. They are certainly moving the ball a lot better then when we last played them,” Neil, 17, said.
Miller, 18, added: “We’re a lot more settled this year after losing last season’s final. A good start is the most important thing for us so we can get the game on our terms”.