On a day when Launceston had the eyes of the AFL world firmly fixed on it, it was North Launceston who stole the spotlight, and a TSL grand final spot.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bombers became the first side through to the big dance with a nine-point victory over bitter rivals Launceston, adding another chapter to the already storied history between the sides.
North Launceston playing coach Brad Cox-Goodyer said the win was a credit to his team's ability to rebuild through youth.
"We lost some key players over the summer and we didn't replace them with anyone," he said.
"Instead we brought in our youth and they're rewarded with a grand final appearance now.
We debuted 19 players that haven't played senior football before, so to do that and still make the grand final is sensational.
- North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer
After dominating the first quarter, an ominous looking Launceston carried a 20-point lead into quarter time, built largely on the back of Jake Hinds who kicked three goals in the opening stanza.
Opposed to young Bomber Blade Sulzberger, Hinds looked unstoppable, but a quarter time change that saw the more mature Fletcher Bennett moved onto the game breaker changed the narrative.
That was until Bennett went down with a match ending injury and stalwart Braden Van Buuren was handed the daunting task of keeping Hinds quiet.
A three-goal to one second quarter saw the Bombers fight back into the game. Alongside the decision to make a move against Hinds, a run-and-gun approach taken by Ryley Sanders, two goals to Cox-Goodyer and a dominant ruck performance from Alex Lee turned the fortunes of North.
A halftime scorecard that saw Launceston lead their cross-town nemesis 38 to 27 was more fitting of the two evenly matched teams.
The third quarter reflected the scoreline, with neither team gaining significant ascendancy, and most successful forward forays coming from opposition mistakes.
Two goals separated the sides right until the three quarter time siren before Launceston enforcer Cody Thorp conceded a damaging free with seconds to play.
The ensuing kick, coming downfield and 50 metres away from where the free was given, saw Bombers live wire Nathan Pearce put through his second of the quarter to bring his side within just one goal.
The final quarter was a tight and tense affair. Tackling pressure was through the roof, befitting of the two most successful sides in the 2021 regular season.
After an arm-wrestle to open the quarter, the Bombers broke through for the first goal - and their first lead of the game - when Brandon Leary banged through his second goal, and one of the goals of the game.
When Leary then found Tom Bennett for the second goal of the quarter, a possible boil-over at Windsor Park began to simmer with North skipping away to 10-point lead.
Launceston were not going away, however, with a miserly defence led by Josh Woolley and Zach Morris continually thwarting an insistent Bombers side.
Hinds was moved back onto the ball when the clock ticked to 16 minutes gone, and he had an immediate impact. A hard won ball at half back by Hinds saw them thrust forward before a turnover by Bombers utility Tom Donnelly was pounced on by Launceston speedster Brendan Taylor.
A perfectly weighted kick from Taylor to Musicka, and his accurate conversion, saw the Blues climb back into the contest to trail by just three, 9.7 (62) to 8.11 (59).
From there on a monumental defensive effort from Bombers brick-wall Will Edmunds kept the Blues at bay before North forward Pearce snuck through his third goal of the half in what proved to be the final dagger in the coffin of the home side.
Cox-Goodyer said Edmunds' performance was match changing, and particularly outstanding as he was giving away height and weight to his bigger opponent. "He's undersized for a key defender, but he can really jump and he can take a mark," he said.
North Launceston's upset victory came after a gripping 27 minute last quarter of momentum swings.
Launceston were left to lick their wounds after managing just four goals after quarter time to finish 8.11 (59), nine-points shy of the Bombers 10.8 (68).
The struggles forward of centre after half time remained a concern for Launceston coach Mitch Thorp. He said losing star forward Dylan Riley left a hole, and filling it with Hinds meant his midfield was deprived of one of its stars.
"We were tossing around in the box whether to move [Hinds] on the ball, and when we put him on ball late he had an impact," he said.
"But ultimately we needed to hit the scoreboard ... we're still trying to manufacture who that deeper forward is."
Thorp said the week before his side's next final would be spent with a focus on what he thinks was where Saturday's game was won and lost - in the midfield.
"Alex Lee [North Launceston's ruck] was sensational and so were their midfielders. They really went to work at the stoppage and they blew us away at the centre bounce," he said. "But we've had a solid year and today was a good game - it could have gone either way."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner
