The Tasmania Devils will look to consolidate their place in the NAB League Boys top four when they take on the Murray Bushrangers in round nine.
Date: Saturday 4 June
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn
Broadcast: via NAB League app
A thrilling one-point win last round earned the Devils an important four points, lifting them to fourth on the ladder and placing them squarely in the finals mix at the halfway point of the season. That game arguably should have been much more comfortable, as they dominated the inside 50s (58-29) and scoring shots (27-16) but could manage just 8.19 on the scoreboard. While that was enough to get over the line last start, they would be hoping for some tidier conversion moving forward.
That huge discrepancy in attacking play was set up by Tasmania’s midfield, which has been dominant in recent weeks. Led by Liam Jones (24.1 disposals, 5.4 inside 50s per game) and Colby McKercher (22.3 disposals, 4.1 tackles), they were +17 in clearances last game and +9 the week prior.
The Bushrangers could leapfrog the Devils into the top four with a win here, as they sit just one win behind with a 4-2 record. While they suffered a loss last round to the ladder-leading Gippsland Power, they enjoyed wins in all of their previous four games prior. Their high-possession style can be difficult to defend, as they maintain possession for long periods with short and precise kicking. As a result, they currently rank second in the NAB League Boys for short kicks, effective kicks and uncontested marks.
Last time they met
These two sides faced off in round 12 of the 2021 season, and it was the Devils that prevailed by a single point. Tasmania held a comfortable lead for the majority of the match, and while the Bushrangers kicked the last three goals of the game they couldn’t quite overcome that deficit. Will Splann led the Devils with three goals, while Brayden George kicked four majors for Murray.
Team news
ROUND 9 TEAM 🔒
North Launceston product, Oscar Harper will make his @NABLeague Boys debut this weekend as our boys will look to take back-to-back wins into next weeks bye.
🗓 4 June 2022
⏰ 2:00pm
📍 Highgate Recreation Reserve, Victoria
📱Live stream via the NAB League App pic.twitter.com/7cvytSmd8N— Tasmania Devils (@TasmaniaDevils_) June 2, 2022
There will be two changes to Tasmania’s side from last round, with ruck Cam Owen ruled out with concussion and Luke Nicholson also making way. Oscar Harper comes in for his NAB League debut, with the tall forward set to play an important role in Owen’s absence, with Dillon Goss also returning to the side.
Key players
Tasmania Devils
Will Clifford
Clifford was a standout in Tasmania’s win over the Eastern Ranges, locking down the opposition’s small forward brigade. On a day where the Devils were wayward in attack, his efforts helped to keep the Ranges to a manageable score at the other end. While his numbers don’t jump off the page (10.2 disposals, 2.5 tackles per game), Clifford does all of the little things right and is a key member of Tasmania’s backline.
Heath Ollington
After collecting 17 disposals and hitting the scoreboard with one goal last week, Ollington continues to cement himself as an important member of Tasmania’s first-choice lineup. Most importantly, he is the team’s leading tackler averaging 5.1 per game, and he laid a game-high seven tackles against the Ranges. If the Devils want to disrupt the slow-and-steady style of the Bushrangers, then Ollington will need to continue to apply that pressure and lead from the front.
Murray Bushrangers
Joeve Cooper
After kicking just three goals in his first three games, Cooper was deployed in a deeper role against Gippsland with immediate effect. The bottom-aged forward booted a game-high three goals and showed off his versatility, competing in the air and following up well at ground level. With leading goalkicker Brayden George absent, he will need to be kicking goals once again if the Bushrangers are to win.
Caleb Mitchell
Up against the ladder leaders, Mitchell produced a career-best performance last round. Playing mostly on the wing, he ran hard forward and back and found plenty of the ball, racking up 31 disposals and kicking two goals in an impressive all-around display. With Murray’s tendency to play slow, Mitchell’s quick and decisive disposal could catch the Devils off guard.