The Blues trailed by eight points at half-time but kicked six goals to two in the third to take a 17-point lead at the last change and held on for a 15.11 (101) to 13.12 (90) win.

Rulla Kelly-Mansell and Tom Sheppard kicked three goals each with Brodie Palfreyman and Brendan Taylor working hard through the midfield along with Mansell to be in their best.

“It was a good result – I thought Lauderdale were fantastic in the first half and had our measure,” Blues coach Sam Lonergan said.

“Our guys regrouped at half-time and got their heads in the right spot and re-focused on the things we wanted to focus on and we controlled a fair bit of the game in the second half and obviously went on to win.”

Lonergan said the Blues were slow to adapt to playing on a smaller ground but had better positioning and strong set-ups in the second half which created inside 50 entries and shots on goal.

“It was a tough game all day and there were probably some head drops late in the second quarter but to come out after half-time as a completely different side was my biggest message post game,” he said. “Brendan Taylor had 28 disposals and kicked two goals and is progressing really well and Brodie Palfreyman is another young player taking that next step and we’ve got some 17 to 18-year-olds contributing and to see those guys travel south and play well and hold on was a fantastic result for the club.”