The under-18s newcomers dropped an eight-point game in a loss to Northern Knights.

The Tasmanians kicked the last four goals of the game to lose 8.8 (56) to 7.7 (49).

They had trailed by 33 points just six minutes into the final term following back-to-back Knights goals had looked to seal the contest.

"There was a period there after half-time where we didn't come out and play, and win our one on ones," coach Adrian Fletcher said.

"So we spoke about that at three-quarter time and the boys rallied. We had the wet sail as they say, but we ran around of time in the end.

"We let ourselves down earlier in the game with some of the 50-50 contests."

The Devils had the better of the forward 50 entries, going in 40 times to 38 that further frustrated Fletcher.

"We have to hit the scoreboard better and get to our forwards' advantage. We'll do a lot of work on that," he said.

North Launceston forward Jackson Callow was one of the Devils top stars, grabbing a game-high 10 marks and booting a goal.

Jordan Lane kicked three goals including two late. Ollie Davis was the Devils' best onballer with 23 disposals.

The nine-point loss hurts the Devils chances of making the finals, falling a spot to ninth with a 4-6 record as the Knights maintain seventh.

A Tassie victory would have leapfrogged the side over the Knights.

"I don't really talk to the boys about the ladder at all," Fletcher said.

"Really, I'm about coaching the behaviours.

"I know if we get the behaviours right consistently when we're playing well, we'll beat a lot of the NAB teams."