Edmunds to take Garland as Bombers train in 'bog hole'

Battling niggling injuries early this season, the 33-year-old has kicked bags of six in convincing wins over North Hobart and Lauderdale in the past two weeks.

Garland looms as the evident danger man in Saturday's trip to UTAS Stadium, but North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer has backed a forward-turned defender to keep the ex-AFL utility quiet.

"He's obviously playing some really good footy ... Billy Edmunds will go to him, there's no doubt about that," Cox-Goodyer said.

"He's our biggest defender we have and a bloke that gives you 110 per cent no matter what - we love the way Bill goes about it and it'll be a really good challenge for him against a player in some really good form."

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A marking forward in the Bombers' 2019 flag, Edmunds was on the fringe of the senior side in 2020 before re-inventing himself in pre-season.

"For a bloke that's never played as a defender to go back there ... he's been really good," Cox-Goodyer said.

"He's such a powerful mark and really strong overhead, reads the ball really well.

"He's a bit shaky with his kicking at times, but you've got to take the bad with the good sometimes with these players and what Billy gives us far outweighs his deficiencies - we love him behind the ball."

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North Launceston has endured a frustrating week at training with incessant rain putting UTAS Stadium off-limits.

The Bombers instead completed their sessions on the equestrian field near Invermay Park, which Cox-Goodyer described as "a bog hole with grass up to your ankles".

"Not being able to get a good couple of sessions in before a big game - it's extremely frustrating," he said.

"Hopefully we don't come out too flat on the weekend because that tends to happen when you can't train."