A decreasing gap between the TSL's top and bottom sides is a good thing for the competition, says North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford.
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Three rounds into a shortened season, the State League has already thrown up several surprise results - not least North Hobart sitting at second spot on the ladder.
Wooden spooners of the past two seasons, the Demons have knocked off grand finalist Lauderdale and up-and-comers Kingborough in the past two rounds, while fellow 2019 cellar-dweller Clarence pummelled Glenorchy last Saturday.
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Whitford said the competition's evenness left the top sides with little room to tinker and experiment from week to week.
"Every side that you play is a contest and probably something that hasn't happened in the TSL of late," Whitford said.
"There's always been a couple of games throughout that you could possibly try something new and try some different things but not this year, not with 12 games.
"North Hobart have obviously improved internally, but they got some external recruits in and they're up and going and that's really exciting.
"Launceston obviously are playing some fantastic footy and Clarence have come out and shown that it's not about the names on paper but the way they play together as a group - they've been really good at the start of the year."
The Northern Bombers welcome Clarence to UTAS Stadium at 2pm on Saturday.
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