With the game in the balance after the first term, Brent Plant’s men piled on 7.6 to 1.0 with a slight wind advantage to turn a five point lead into a 50 point one, with the Dockers holding firm after the long break to record a 17.21 (123) to 9.8 (62) win.

The victory allowed Burnie to stay within one game of ladder-leader Ulverstone, and equal with third-placed Wynyard, with an 11-3 record, but saw the 9-5 Demons drop three games behind the Robins.

Co-captains Nick McKenna and Luke Russell led from the front for the winners, with McKenna having an influence not only in the ruck, but around the ground and Russell starring in the midfield.

Harry Walters kicked four and Jack McCulloch, Brayden Hayes, Kyle Harman, Jack Weller and James Dowling all bagged two each in what was an even spread of goal-kickers.

Nick Walters, Dylan Smith, Brodie Knight and Lucas Ford also performed at a high level for the Dockers.

Shaun McCrossen  and Rory Gurr  were lively up front with two goals each for Latrobe, while Braden van Buuren, debutant James Colbeck, Nathan Rataj, Callan Mann and Travis Butler all impressed.

Meanwhile at Devonport Oval, Circular Head Giants regained fifth spot on the NWFL ladder with a hard-fought 28-point victory over Devonport.

A burst of four unanswered goals to finish the second quarter proved to be the difference in the 13.11 (89) to 8.13 (61) win.

Scott Bryan was the best of ground for the Giants and found valuable allies in Ryan Grey, Nathan Bransden (five goals), Guy Kearnes (two goals), Damien Barker, Toby Reeve (two goals) and Tyson Armstrong.

Quade Byard was the Magpies’ best, with help from Beau Bramich, Philip Crowden (four goals), Corey Burnett, Charlie Castles (two goals) and Jack Rand.

At Dial Park, six goals to Jake Sushames led Ulverstone to a 19.12 (126) to 6.12 (48) win over Penguin.

The ladder-leaders set the game up with a 10.5 to 1.7 first half , with Sam Brett, Travis Davies, Jack Dilger, Brodie  Connelly and Brandon Howard all having a scoreboard impact by the end of the game with two goals each.

Sam Brett, Dilger, Sushames and Claye Sculthorpe were the Robins’ best.

Lachlan McKellar and Jack Templeton kicked two goals each for Penguin, with Samuel Mitchell, Zach Targett, Jake  Wray-McCann, and Matthew Kinch their best players.

Saturday’s other match saw Wynyard record an easy win over East Devonport at Girdlestone Park. 

The Cats won 18.18 (126) to 7.5 (47) after the Swans could manage just three goals in the first three quarters.

Nicholas Hall kicked four and  Caleb Alford three for Wynyard, with Nick Milbourne kicking two for East.