Bombers still have work to do to – McGuinness

Written by Grant Jessup

Key defender Josh McGuinness claims that Lauderdale has yet to reach their full potential in the 2019 Bupa Tasmanian State League.

The Southern Bombers have made an impressive 8-1 start to the season, including a hard-fought 42-point victory over the Tigers in Round 10.

However, the final margin did not reflect the overall contest, with the Tigers trailing by only six points at three quarter time.

“The Tigers really challenged us in the third quarter and really put it on us,” McGuinness said.

“They had all of the momentum but a few of our leaders stood up in the last quarter and really got the ball moving forward early, we got a couple of goals and we seemed to level it there.”

The rebounding defender believes his side has room for improvement despite only suffering one loss this season.

“We feel like we’re going along pretty well at the moment. We’ve still got a lot of things in our game we want to fix.”

“We haven’t played a real big four quarter offensive performance,” he said.

McGuinness said the Bombers showed glimpses of their best against the Tigers, particularly during a powerful final term.

“The last quarter on the weekend, that showed when we are up and about, using our hands, taking that kicking side, we can pick apart sides reasonably easy at times.”

The Bombers kicked six unanswered goals in the last term to run away with the four points.

“We haven’t been able to do it in four quarters yet so we’re still working at that [offence] and also our defensive side can still get better,” McGuinness said.

Former Bombers skipper Alex Hevey was a talking point of Round ten after he turned back the clock against the Tigers.

The midfielder was on fire in a best on ground performance, kicking three majors, including an astonishing banana goal during the final term.

https://www.facebook.com/tasmanianstateleague/videos/447941849354557/

Hevey’s remarkable banana goal did not surprise McGuinness in the slightest.

“He used to do that on a weekly basis there six years ago. He’s won the best and fairest at the club, he’s a past captain, but he is very artsy.”

“He can do that at training nine times out of 10.”

McGuinness is wary of the Bombers’ next challenge, Eastern Shore rivals Clarence at SkyBus Oval.

“Every game is a danger game.”

“I think this year, you’ve seen the gap close between the top teams and the bottom teams.”

Lauderdale will host Clarence at SkyBus Oval on Saturday June 15 at 2:00pm.