North Launceston is expecting Lauderdale's best football when the pair meet up for another grand final rematch on Saturday.
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Both sides boast at least eight different players from last year's decider, with the Northern Bombers calling on Liam Davies, Will Edmunds and debutant Baynen Lowe at the expense of Tom Bennett, Ben Simpson and Connor Young.
Neither side has fully hit its straps this season, but North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford expects that to change as his side embarks on its first road trip of 2020.
"They've played in the last three grand finals the same as us so they're in a very similar position to us," Whitford said.
"They get up for big games - I thought they played really well on the weekend and were stiff not to win and they'll be up for this weekend with us I'm sure.
"We've played each other a lot over the last three years with the three games and finals on top of that, so we know each other really well and I can't wait, it's going to be a great contest."
The past three years have established perhaps the best rivalry since the TSL's reincarnation, with North boasting a 10-3 ledger since 2016.
"Off-field there's no angst against clubs or anything like that, on-field we've just played each other a lot and we know each other," Whitford said.
"Fortunately we've been on the better end of the wins and losses so from that perspective on-field it's definitely a really great game.
"It's a game that you're cracking in and you're always walking away sore from."
MORE FOOTBALL:
TEAMS
LAUDERDALE v. NORTH LAUNCESTON
2pm, Lauderdale
LAUDERDALE
- B: W. Francis, W. Poland, N. Raglione
- HB: P. Bellchambers, N. Baker, J. McGuinness
- C: R. McManus, B. Walsh, R. Sutton
- HF: A. Kalcovski, S. Siggins, L. Nelson
- F: S. Burge, T. Havea, J. Westell
- R: H. Smith, N. Oakes, N. Franklin
- Int: J. Dance, A. Hevey, B. Kingston, H. Richmond
- Emg: L. Arnold, J. Perkins, S. Tilley, J. Williams
In: A. Hevey, J. Westell
Out: T. Martin, J. Williams
NORTH LAUNCESTON
- B: O. Sanders, C. Nankervis, B. van Buuren
- HB: J. Avent, F. Bennett, A. Richter-Salter
- C: B. Lowe, B. Cox-Goodyer, M. Walsh
- HF: J. Laskey, J. Callow, J. Rushton
- F: Z. Burt, T. Donnelly, T. Whitford
- R: A. Lee, J. Ponting, J. Foon
- Int: L. Davies, W. Edmunds, S. Egger, D. Withers
- Emg: T. Bennett, B. McCulloch, B. Simpson, C. Young
In: B. Lowe, W. Edmunds, L. Davies
Out: T. Bennett, B. Simpson, C. Young
Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
