It was a successful Sunday of football for the Tasmania Devils, with a double-header at the Highgate Recreation Reserve ending with two wins. The Devils Under-16 Boys opened their campaign in the NAB AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys with a 56-point win over the Northern Territory, while the NAB League Boys side claimed a big 69-point win against the Bendigo Pioneers.
NAB AFL National Development Championships
TASMANIA DEVILS: 3.1 7.4 10.7 13.13 (91)
NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1.2 2.4 3.4 5.5 (35)
Goals: J. Thorpe 3, R. Banks 2, O. Kubank 2, M. Mapley, B. Woodcock, A. O’Connor, C. Ling, B. Harper, L. Douglas
Best players: O. Kubank, C. Atkins, A. O’Connor, F. Richards, M. Brereton, M. Elphinstone
The Devils Under-16 Boys jumped out to an early lead against the NT and never looked back, extending their advantage at every break to claim a comprehensive win. It was an impressive performance across the board and sets the platform for the side to push on in their remaining championship games.
The Devils kicked three goals in the first term and four in the second to build an early buffer, with Oliver Kubank leading the way. He racked up 11 disposals in the opening quarter and matched that tally in the second, with two goals before half-time the icing on the cake. He and his fellow midfielders were well serviced by rucks Mason Elphinstone (22 hit outs) and Max Mapley (eight hit outs, seven contested possessions), with Tasmania’s strong efforts at the stoppages leading them to a 30-point half-time lead.
That lead continued to balloon thanks in large part to the performance of the Devils defenders. They held the NT to just one goal apiece in each of the first three quarters, with captain Marty Brereton leading the way and Campbell Atkins (18 disposals, four rebound 50s) and Aidan O’Connor (20 disposals, seven rebound 50s) providing plenty of drive out of the backline. In the forward half, Jaxon Thorpe booted a game-high three goals and impressed in the air and at ground level, with fellow forward Fletcher Richards also providing a good target. When all was said and done, the Devils had pulled away to a 56-point lead at the final siren.
The Under-16 Boys will now look ahead to their second game of the championships next Monday, where they will take on the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium.
NAB League Boys
TASMANIA DEVILS: 3.4 7.6 11.9 14.16 (100)
BENDIGO PIONEERS: 3.2 3.4 4.6 4.7 (35)
Goals: B. Leary 3, F. Hooker 2, B. Nash 2, H. Ollington, W. Splann, O. Harper, J. Callinan, L. Elphinstone, S. Banks-Smith, B. Alomes
Best players: A. Schoenmaker, H. Ollington, J. Callinan, B. Leary, T. Beaumont, E. Hubbard
Tasmania’s NAB League Boys side bounced back in the best possible fashion, moving back into the top four with a comprehensive win over Bendigo. While the Pioneers battled hard early they couldn’t slow the Devils at any stage, with Tasmania surging to a big lead and keeping their foot down to the final siren.
Arie Schoenmaker continued his hot run of form and was named Tasmania’s best in the win, as he collected 24 disposals and 11 marks and distributed the ball well from the back half. Heath Ollington (34 disposals, 22 contested possessions, nine clearances), Liam Jones (24 disposals, seven inside 50s) and Jack Callinan (23 disposals, one goal) were prolific through the midfield, while Brandon Leary returned from injury to kick a game-high three goals.
It looked like the game could be a battle after a tough first quarter, with the Devils kicking the first two goals through Bryce Alomes and Ollington before Bendigo fired with the next three in a row. Leary struck late in the term to give Tasmania a narrow two-point lead at the first change, and that was as close as the Pioneers would get for the remainder of the game.
Fletcher Hooker gave the Devils a perfect start to the second term, kicking back-to-back goals in the space of two minutes to break the game wide open. A classy finish from co-captain Sam Banks-Smith extended the lead further, and when Leary again goaled late in the quarter the lead had ballooned to 26 points. That was where it would remain at the main break, with the Pioneers held goalless in the quarter by Tasmania’s well-oiled defensive unit led by a stellar performance from Ethan Hubbard (13 disposals, six marks).
Bendigo were able to stem the tide somewhat after the break and kicked the first goal of the third quarter, but that was only a momentary respite as the Devils quickly kicked back into gear. Will Splann hit the scoreboard in his return game from injury, and a late flurry of goals saw Leary nab his third of the day and both Logan Elphinstone and Beau Nash kick their first. That push continued into the third when Callinan goaled after less than a minute, with Oscar Harper and Nash piling on the pain for Bendigo and extending the final margin.
The Devils will now enjoy a well-earned rest, with their next game coming against the Gippsland Power on Sunday July 24.