Sixteen minutes in and with Devonport already holding an impressive 17-point lead, two of their defenders collectively brought down a Burnie opponent to ensure a scoring opportunity would not open up.

It was part of fast and frenetic opening term from Devonport, which set up the breakthrough victory, their first over North-West Coast rivals Burnie since 2014, 14.10 (94) to 9.6 (60).

It also sees the Dockers replace the Magpies at the bottom of the State League ladder.

The Magpies kicked 6.3 to 2.3 with some strong transition from defence, with the centre corridor the desired route to home.

The tempo slowed in the second, with Burnie forcing Devonport to attack via the wings and turning it into more of a stoppage game, but the Pies were still able to control proceedings with a 4.2 to 2.0 term to go to half-time with a 38-point lead.

The Dockers got themselves back into the contest in the third, with coach Clint Proctor goalling in the opening moments and his charges applying the sort of pressure they faced earlier on.

It was 28 points at the final change and as close as 22 with plenty of time left in the final quarter with the intensity rising.  

But the Pies steadied through Harry Barker and Dylan Riley to ensure they would collect the much-needed points.

“We are trying to play a brand of footy that is going to hold up over the next couple of years, not just today,’’ Devonport coach Mitch Thorp said post-game.

“Our tackle pressure has been the thing which has got us in games in the last month, and I think that again was the backbone, particularly early in the game as we forced a few turnovers by tackling relatively well.”

The fact that the Dockers didn’t throw the towel in gave their coaching staff a reason to smile

“We never gave up and fought it out to the boys’ credit,’’ assistant coach Shannon Wolarczuk said.

Dylan Riley, playing a forward, kicked three goals, as did Thorp who also took 13 marks [six contested], while Quade Byard bagging two.

Beau Sharman was outstanding in the middle, while Mitchell Perry was strong around the ground.

Dockers youngsters Sam Kalbfell, Bailey Boag and James Dowling never stopped trying.

Rudy Barrett up front and Nick McKenna on Thorp in the second half were good.

Barrett, Proctor and Darcy Crane each kicked two goals 

Burnie will host Hobart City on Saturday at West Park, while Devonport travel to face Clarence at Blundstone Arena.