They fought valiantly from start to finish, but the Tasmania Devils couldn’t quite open the NAB League Girls season with a win as they went down to Sandringham by three points. The Devils led at the final change after withstanding a barrage of scoring shots from the Dragons, but they fell behind early in the fourth and couldn’t quite find the match-winning goal they needed.
TASMANIA DEVILS: 1.1 2.1 3.2 3.4 (22)
SANDRINGHAM: 1.4 1.11 1.13 2.13 (25)
Brooke Barwick was the best player for Tasmania on the day, showing off her clean disposal and composure in traffic to finish with 18 disposals and six clearances. She was well supported in the midfield by Claire Ransom, who was prolific as always with 21 disposals and six clearances, while Meghan Gaffney provided plenty of outside run and carry while collecting 18 disposals of her own.
Lining up in sweltering conditions at Launceston’s Prospect Park, the Devils made the perfect start to their season when Georgia Clark kicked the opening goal after less than three minutes. The visiting Dragons turned up the heat from there, kicking the next five scores but only managing one goal before quarter time to leave the door ajar.
Through the first term and into the second, the Devils competed well around the contests and made life difficult for the Dragons. Liana Freestone and Candice Belbin both won plenty of hard ball in the middle, and after spending the first quarter forward Gaffney was shifted onto the wing and helped to drive the ball into attack. They struggled to convert that into points the scoreboard, but so too did the Dragons, who kicked seven straight behinds in the second quarter. A goal from Maisie Edwards in the dying moments brought the Devils back within four points at the main break and within striking distance.
It didn’t take long for them to hit the front after the restart, with a goal from debutant Bellah Parker inside 30 seconds giving the home side their first lead since the opening term. That would be the only major in the quarter, with the Devils backline holding firm and keeping Sandringham goalless. Chelsea Thomas led the defence well, locking down when needed and pushing the ball forward when able, with first-gamer Priya Bowering also providing plenty of drive out of the backline.
The Devils were well positioned with the lead in hand at the last break, but barely a minute had passed in the fourth quarter before the Dragons struck again to edge ahead. From that point on the Devils dominated possession and locked the ball inside their attacking half, racking up 12 inside 50s to Sandringham’s two across the fourth quarter. The midfield group continued to win the ball with ease, with debutants Madison Lamb, Mackenzie Williams and Jenna Griffiths all showing an impressive willingness to dig in at the contests.
Despite all of this, the Devils were unable to find the goal that they desperately needed, with the Dragons just barely hanging on for a three-point win. Tasmania will now look ahead to a clash with the Western Jets this Saturday January 29, with the action getting underway at 12:00 PM at Prospect Park.
BEST PLAYERS: Brooke Barwick, Claire Ransom, Meghan Gaffney, Bellah Parker, Chelsea Thomas, Ruby Pacey