The Tasmania Devils will look to make it three wins from three games in the NAB League Boys when they take on the Sandringham Dragons this weekend. The round four clash will take place at RSEA Park on Saturday April 23, with the first bounce at 12:00 PM.
The game will be live streamed live via the NAB League App, with the full replay also available. Stats and quarter-by-quarter scores will generally be updated within 24 hours of the game’s completion.
The Devils are flying high after last week’s comprehensive win over the Northern Knights, with that 41-point win coming in especially trying conditions at Dial Park. After a hard slog in the first half, they piled on 11 goals to four after the main break to run away with the game. Tasmania’s balanced attack has impressed early in the season, with five multiple goalkickers in last week’s win and nine different goalkickers across their two games. That has them sitting among the league leaders in points scored per game, a record they will need to maintain if they want to claim a third straight win here.
After losing their season opener to the Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham have bounced back well with back-to-back wins. They comfortably accounted for the Calder Cannons in round two, before claiming a tight seven-point win over the Giants Academy last week.
Last time they met
The Dragons prevailed in round 11 last season, travelling to Tasmania and beating the Devils by 38 points. Former Dragons, and now AFL players, Finn Callaghan (28 disposals) and Mitch Owens (24 disposals) were among the best on the day. For the Devils, current captain Lachie Cowan was industrious in the midfield, finishing with 19 disposals and five tackles.
Team news
There are three changes to last week’s winning side, with the return of captain Sam Banks-Smith the biggest of them. Fellow leadership group member Tom Beaumont has recovered from injury and comes in for his NAB League debut, as does small defender Josh Rickard. They replace Will Clifford, Fletcher Hooker and Oscar Van Dam in the Devils lineup.
Key players
Tasmania Devils
Liam Jones
He played three NAB League games last season, but Jones has emerged as one of Tasmania’s most prolific players in 2022. He has topped 20 disposals in both games this year, averaging 23 per game and giving the Devils plenty of drive out of the midfield. The Dragons have plenty of ball-winning talent on their list, meaning the likes of Jones will need to continue to give the Devils first use.
Seth Campbell
After showing flashes of his potential in 2021, Campbell looks set to take his game to another level this season. Playing through the midfield and the forward line, he is averaging 20 disposals per game and has kicked two goals in each of Tasmania’s first two fixtures. With quick feet in traffic and tidy skills by foot, he has become one of Tasmania’s prime movers and biggest goalscoring threats.
Sandringham Dragons
Will Ashcroft
He has long been in the frame as a potential number one AFL Draft selection, and Ashcroft has shown his class early in the NAB League season. The son of Brisbane premiership player Marcus is averaging 30.7 disposals per game over the first three rounds, with tallies of 38 against Calder and 36 along with two goals against the Giants Academy. Able to play as an inside or outside midfielder and with the skills to dominate in both roles, he will require plenty of defensive attention from the Devils’ onballers.
Harry Sheezel
One of the best small forwards in the country, Sheezel’s goal sense and finishing ability is almost unmatched. He has already surpassed his goal tally from last NAB League season, booting seven majors in the first three rounds of 2022, and he kicked four goals from seven scoring shots against the Giants Academy last round. Another top AFL Draft prospect, he is Sandringham’s prime threat inside 50.