Top Blue can see turn-up in form

A NARROW one-point loss to its cross-town rivals consigned Launceston to a fifth straight TSL defeat but star utility Dylan Riley believes the performance indicates the side is turning the corner.

The Blues were cruising along in second place on the ladder after Round 9 with a 6-2 record — both losses at that point coming to North Launceston — before the wheels came flying off.

The early season flag fancies are now perched in fifth place at 6-7 and eight points behind third-placed Glenorchy but Riley is confident their showing against the Bombers could be the catalyst for a lateseason revival.

Launceston led by 16 points at three-quarter time but fell behind in the last term when the reigning premiers booted the first four goals.

A goal to Ethan Jackson and then a point from Riley locked the scores before Sherrin Egger put North Launceston back ahead with about five minutes remaining.

Neither side could hit the scoreboard before the full-time siren sounded and, while immediately deflated, Riley said the Blues could move forward with renewed confidence.

“It was definitely our best game of footy we have played all year team-wise,” Riley said.

“Even though at the start of the year we were 5-1, and we had four losses prior to last week, a lot of the guys just had the mentality to take the game on a bit more and just go out there and play instead of worrying about things too much. I think we can still make the top three.

“Third is probably the best we could do at the moment. I guess we would have to win every game from here and hopefully a couple of other results go our way. If not, our aim would be to finish fourth to get that first home final.”

Riley, in his first season at the Blues after crossing from Devonport, kicked four goals to be best afield in the loss.

He has been required to fill several roles for coach Sam Lonergan but has settled into life at his new club.

“I knew most of the guys before I moved. I went to school with some of them and played with a few at South Launny as well. It wasn’t a big transition for me, just more getting to know how they wanted to do things with the club and how they wanted to play footy.”

North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford’s two points saw him close the gap at the top of the player of the year leaderboard to one behind Glenorchy’s Daniel Joseph.