The Tasmania Devils claimed one of the biggest wins in program history on Sunday, beating the undefeated Gippsland Power by 11 points to confirm their premiership credentials. The Power entered the clash two games clear of their nearest rival on the NAB League Boys ladder, but the Devils stormed ahead late to win and lift themselves into second place.
TASMANIA DEVILS: 0.7 3.9 5.13 8.16 (64)
GIPPSLAND POWER: 0.3 3.7 6.8 7.11 (53)
Goals: S. Banks-Smith 2, B. Leary, W. Splann, S. Campbell, T. Beaumont, L. Jones, W. Clifford
Best players: W. Clifford, J. Gillow, T. Beaumont, L. Cowan, J. Callinan, S. Banks-Smith
Both Devils co-captains stepped up in the win, with Lachlan Cowan racking up 31 disposals on his return from Allies duties and Sam Banks-Smith booting a team-high two goals. Josh Gillow locked down Gipplsland’s tall forward brigade and didn’t lose a contest, while fellow defender Will Clifford was named as Tasmania’s best and provided plenty of run and carry out of the backline.
It was a slow start for both sides in the first term, with turnovers both ways robbing any momentum. The Devils were able to make their way forward on occasion, but a combination of poor entry inside 50 and some sloppy finishing saw them kick seven behinds and no goals in the quarter. It was a similar story at the other end of the ground, and with much of the game played between the two arcs both sides remained goalless at the first break.
The game started to open up in the second quarter, with Liam Jones booting the first goal of the game from a tidy crumb and snap on his left foot. The Power responded strongly to kick the next three majors and threatened to run away with the game, but the Devils hung tough and were rewarded before half-time. Clifford kicked his first career goal for the Devils with a classy finish on the run, and Seth Campbell added his first of the day to edge the Devils ahead and give them a two-point lead at the main break.
Tasmania shuffled the magnets early in the second half, with Jack Callinan spending more time stationed in the midfield. That proved to be a decisive move as his speed around the contest gave the Devils a big advantage, and he would end the game with a team-high five clearances. Banks-Smith snagged his first goal of the day early in the term, and Tom Beaumont pulled in a strong contested mark and converted late, but the Devils struggled to convert otherwise with four behinds in the quarter. That left the door open for the Power, who kicked three goals in the term to sneak ahead and take a one-point lead into the last change.
That left the game well and truly up for grabs in the final term, and the Devils stepped up under pressure to surge ahead. A chain of possession starting in the defensive 50 ended with a Banks-Smith goal to put the Devils ahead, before Will Splann marked and goaled to push the lead out to ten points. Gippsland responded to pull within four points once again, but NAB League leading goalkicker Brandon Leary booted his first goal of the game at the perfect time to restore the lead. That proved to be the last goal of the game as Tasmania controlled the play late and sealed one of the biggest wins in their history.
The result moved the Devils into second place on the NAB League Boys ladder, and they now sit just one win behind the Power at the top. Tasmania will next host the Calder Cannons at Kingston’s Twin Ovals this Sunday, with the game to be streamed live via the Herald Sun and Mercury websites.