North Launceston's development league coach Jade Selby took a good-humoured view of last week's one-point extra-time loss to Kingborough.
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"I said last week it was going to be a 50-50 and it was 50-49 - I didn't realise how close I'd be," Selby said.
Up by two goals in the last term of an epic semi-final, the Bombers had to settle for 7.7 (49) apiece at full time before a scrappy behind sealed a Tigers victory.
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The loss robbed the Northern Bombers of a direct path to the grand final but will give Selby's side confidence they're not far off the mark heading into Saturday's 11.30am preliminary final against Lauderdale.
North have won two of their three encounters with Lauderdale this season but will by no means take the fifth-place finishers - who have won five games straight - lightly.
"They've been playing some really good footy and doing similar to what we did last year in coming from the elimination final so we've got to regroup," Selby said.
"We've had a good training run, hopefully it's a nice day down there and everything being even we'll give ourselves a good account."
North Launceston made just one change to last week's side, with a bye in seniors rendering star midfielder James Curran ineligible.
The multi-sport talent will be free to return to the development league line-up for the grand final should his club qualify both divisions for the second year running.
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Selby said playing off in another grand final would be a huge reward for his group.
"It is development league but once you get into these positions you want to get the boys those experiences to make it," he said.
"It'd be great and we loved that the seniors are there - they're great blokes and we're rapt that they're there and we'd really love to join them.
"It'd be great for the club to have 46 players and however many staff involved in a grand final - that'd be outstanding."
Saturday's game will be played at Bellerive Oval, which will also host the grand final on September 21.
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