Launceston lost the arm wrestle but showed plenty of promise in starting its TSL campaign with a 29-point loss to finals fancy Glenorchy.
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Lining up with 11 players of three games or less senior experience, the Blues kept withing striking distance for much of the game before Glenorchy ran away in the final term to win 9.15 (69) to 5.12 (40).
The Mapgies' experienced bodies ultimately proved the difference, with Aiden Grace kicking four goals in his first game back from the VFL, but Blues coach Mitch Thorp was encouraged by what he saw in his new-look side's first hit-out.
"I thought the endeavour was fantastic - we had 90 tackles, so for a young side that says to me the effort was certainly there," Thorp said.
"We lost the centre bounce 11-4 and when you give a side as good as Glenorchy first look at it with the new rules getting it inside 50, they're going to hit the scoreboard.
"Our ball movement was a little bit stagnant which made it difficult to get enough inside-50s, but at three-quarter time we were right in the contest, it was anyone's game.
"Their maturity showed through but some of our young guys did a great job."
Just four goals were kicked in a scrappy first half as a Blues defence led by Jake Smith and first-gamer Jack Tuthill held out the likes of Callen Daly and pinch-hitting defender Josh Grant.
A Harvey Griffiths checkside and a Jobi Harper contested grab in the goalsquare late in the third brought the home side back within ten points at the final change, but the Pies had all the answers.
Luke Walsh's first senior goal was Launceston's only major in the final term as ex-Blue Sam Rundle marked his first game as a Pie with a win.
"The reality is we've got to get the games into these guys," Thorp said of his young crew.
"While we're disappointed with a loss, we're pleased that plenty of the things we've been training for over the summer have been shown in our first game."