A PROFESSIONAL, four-quarter effort earned Devonport a six-goal victory over Launceston in their TSL match at Windsor Park on Saturday.
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Aaron McNab starred in a best-on-ground performance kicking five goals up forward when the Magpies kicked with the stiff breeze blowing to the town end and pulled down countless marks playing as the loose man in defence when they kicked against it.
The Magpies booted 4.6 with the wind in the opening quarter while the Blues went scoreless and held a 23-point advantage at half-time after kicking two valuable goals into the wind in the second, while Launceston managed only three with it.
The margin blew out to 46 points at three-quarter-time after Devonport kicked seven goals to three in the third with McNab on fire up forward with four for the quarter. The Magpies were never threatened in the final quarter going on to win 14.10 (94) to 8.10 (58).
Devonport wanted the ball more around the contests and stoppages and had a stronger defence and more functional forward line putting in their best performance of the season to date, according to coach Mitch Thorp.
‘‘The most pleasing thing was the endeavour and the tenacity to win the footy in tight and we smashed them at the stoppages and had some really good players on the day. It was a four-quarter effort by 22 blokes and generally when you do that you win.’’
Devonport had plenty of good contributors with Billy and Beau Sharman impressive ball winners along with captain Brad Symmons, Kurt Heazlewood, Sam Douglas, Nick Pearce and Braden Van Buuren.
Launceston coach Scott Stephens said his team failed to produce the same endeavour and effort as last week when they beat Western Storm.
‘‘With a young side it is hard being able to sustain that effort consistently against good sides,’’ he said.
‘‘We need to compete against sides fighting for the same spots we are and Devonport came to play today and made us pay.
‘‘We competed well through periods of the game but for the full four quarters they were clearly the better side and took their chances going forward.’’
Joe Boyce played well to be the Blues best with Sam Rundle, Michael Musicka, Jake Rice, Zac Oldenhof and Joe Groenwegen other good players.
The Blues’ injury problems got worse with Tim Gibbons likely to miss an extended period with what Stephens said was a bad ankle injury.