"When the two boys that you've played the most footy with ring you and say we need you it's pretty hard to say no."
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That was the comment made by Launceston coach Mitch Thorp having received a phone call from Jay Blackberry and Jobi Harper to get him in the side.
Playing just his fourth game of the year, Thorp kicked two of the Blues' first three goals, but post-game, the focus was on the team.
"I'm proud of the group, they played the right way and North Launnie were super," he said.
"It was neck and neck, we'd get in front and they'd come back, we'd get in front and then in the last quarter we really showed our fitness level, desperation and want to go back to back.
"We had a little catch cry over the last two weeks that we needed to take the stairs and not the lift and the boys definitely took the stairs."
Having re-signed for "the next couple of years", Thorp put three premierships on his radar.
North Launceston
Obviously disappointed, the result was bittersweet for first-year coach Brad Cox-Goodyer.
"It's always tough to lose a grand final but I'm super proud of this group all year," he said.
"The development of what we've seen through these kids has been unbelievable and you watch Michael Stingel today, I thought he was best on ground to be honest in my opinion if the game went the other way.
"These kids are super and are going to be pretty hard to beat I reckon in a couple of years."
While admitting they didn't take their moments, using Jay Foon's miss late in the third term as an example, the leader was still able to put the year into perspective.
Having lost plenty of experience since last year's premiership defeat, lots of people in the Tasmanian football community wondered if it would be the end of the Bombers.
"We've had a great year, no-one gave us a chance at the start of the year and I think we've woken a few people up to our program, what it looks like and why it's so successful," he said.
"It's not because we go out and recruit players, it's because we invest in our own and that showed this year, unfortunately it just didn't show today."
While the team result obviously didn't go Cox-Goodyer's way, neither did the individual game.
The 200-game star copped a knock on the bicep half-way through the first quarter, impacting his left arm movement before a similar hit to the knee late, describing what was wrong as "a bit of everything".
"It just wasn't my day unfortunately, I wasn't able to play on ball which ultimately hurt us as well unfortunately but I can't do it forever and it's time for the next wave to be able to grind games out."