North Launceston has jumped back into the top two and recaptured its best football with a 26-point win at Lauderdale.
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The 10.7 (67) to 6.5 (41) victory was full of talking points with a typically combative grand rematch showcasing the untapped defensive abilities of draft prospect Jackson Callow and a return to form for key forward Bart McCulloch.
Six goals to two in the second half proved the difference as the Northern Bombers found their groove at one of the competition's toughest venues.
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"We spoke a lot about just doing the small things right over the last couple of weeks," coach Taylor Whitford said.
"Whether that's being clean below our knees and giving first option and hitting our handballs and kicks - it probably makes a fair bit of difference when you execute your skills.
"I thought our defence was really good firstly and offensively our fundamentals and out skills were a lot tighter."
Lauderdale had its fair share of highlights across the game - a classy Bryce Walsh finish, a courageous Nathan Oakes grab and three majors from goalsneak Luke Nelson - but North had an answer every time.
Josh Ponting and forward-turned mid Sherrin Egger were tireless around the contest and hit the scoresheet via a left foot snap and a 100m penalty respectively.
Dan Withers kicked his first TSL goal with a running snap, as did debutant Baynen Lowe, who had plucked a flashy two-grab mark just minutes earlier.
But it was the Northern Bombers' key position players who stood tallest.
Ruckman Alex Lee was best on ground for the second week running, successfully negotiating Haydn Smith and even Sam Siggins late in the game, while Callow produced perhaps his most complete game to date.
The 18-year-old's highlight reel included two goals from around 50m, a vice-like contested grab at half-forward and a soaring screamer on the wing - all before he was shifted into defence, where he combined intercept marks and contested work with aplomb.
"I think for his development it's going to be silly just to leave him at full-forward," Whitford said.
"I thought he was really, really good and that's one thing he can do now is can show AFL recruiters that he can play forward and play well, but also play as a tall defender and mark the footy so that's really good for him.
"He's our key forward, he's our focal point moving forward, but we know if need him down in defence to take a match-up or give some security or if we have a different look forward, we know we can play him there so that's a positive thing."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Also pleasing for Bombers fans was the form of McCulloch, who converted two strong marks and chipped in for Lee around the ground.
"He enabled Jackson to go back because he was giving us a really good contest in the air forward of the footy," Whitford said.
"He's definitely done enough for him to move forward and continue in that job so credit to him."
SCOREBOARD
North Launceston 1.2, 4.4, 7.6, 10.7 (67)
Lauderdale 2.2, 4.3, 5.4, 6.5 (41)
- GOALS, North Launceston : B. McCulloch 2, J. Callow 2, S. Egger 1, T. Whitford 1, D. Withers 1, J. Ponting 1, J. Foon 1, B. Lowe 1
- Lauderdale : L. Nelson 3, N. Oakes 1, B. Walsh 1, T. Havea 1
- BEST, North Launceston : A. Lee, J. Callow, S. Egger, B. McCulloch, D. Withers, B. Cox-Goodyer
- Lauderdale : N. Baker, P. Bellchambers, J. McGuinness, B. Walsh, W. Poland