Australian Football

Lauderdale

A founder member of the Southern Football League in 1996, Lauderdale’s early years in that competition were scarcely memorable. In the six years between 1996 and 2001 the side managed a success rate of just 30.2%, but in 2002, following the reorganisation of the competition into two divisions, Lauderdale - competing in the regional division - began to show signs of improvement. In 2001 and 2003 the team reached the grand final, and although beaten by Cygnet on both occasions it subsequently made a successful application to join the SFL’s premier division.

The Bombers failed to impress following their elevation but were still regarded as having sufficient potential to be admitted to the Tasmanian State League as inaugural members in 2009. Over ensuing seasons performances have improved with a first finals appearance coming in 2012 followed by others in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2017 the Bombers made it as far as the grand final only to lose by 87 points to North Launceston. A year later the season ended in virtually identical fashion courtesy of another hefty grand final defeat, this time by the comparatively modest margin of 30 points at the hands of North Launceston.