AFL North Coast defending premiers the Port Macquarie Magpies were thrashed up the road at Grafton on Saturday, but are still taking positives out of the match against the Tigers.
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Thirteen of the first grade side had already played a full game of reserves, so it was always going to be a tough afternoon for the Pies.
They went down 25.16 (166) to 5.6 (36).
The Tigers came out of the blocks quickly and led at every turn, but Magpies coach Scott Abercrombie wasn't too disheartened.
"It wasn't all doom and gloom," he said.
"I'm pleased with the effort of the guys. We had 13 blokes who had already gone around [in reserves] and we asked them to go again.
"But that's what we know and what we do.
"Not making any excuses. We lost.
"You can't take anything away from Grafton."
Despite not having much in the tank, the Magpies still ran all day.
"In some ways we were running harder than they were [at the end of the match]," Abercrombie said.
Dylan Beasley made his seniors debut and, according to Abercrombie, played some "very good football".
"He played a sort of half back, half forward/flankish role," Abercrombie said.
Scott Dickson picked up where he left off in last season's grand final win, while Michael Kemp and Andrew West were good in the backs.
"If it wasn't for them, we'd be further in a hole," Abercrombie said.
Now that the toughest road trip is out of the way, the Pies can concentrate on their first home game of the season against Sawtell Toormina Saints on Saturday.
The premiership flags will be unfurled and there's a rumour that Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling will take to the park in reserve grade.
Luckily for the Magpies, there won't be too many more on the injured list after the Grafton match.
Strains, bumps and corks were their biggest problem, Abercrombie said.
"We came out reasonably unscathed," he said.
