Photo: Solstice Digital
The Tasmania Devils will return from a month-long hiatus and step straight into the fire of finals football, with a do-or-die clash against the Bendigo Pioneers the program’s first NAB League Boys final. The winner will advance to next week’s semi-final, while the loser will have their season cut short.
Date: Saturday 3 September, 2022
Time: 11:30 AM
Venue: Ikon Park, Melbourne
Broadcast: via the NAB League app
It has already been a historic season for the Devils, with ten wins from 13 games securing the program’s best record and a top-three finish on the ladder. That saw them avoid the madness of the Wildcard Round, which saw several big upsets last weekend, and advance straight to the quarter-final stage.
While the Devils have already beaten the Pioneers once this season, both sides will look very different this time around. Bendigo will regain a handful of players, while Tasmania’s Allies representatives all returned late in the season and continued to excel.
Tasmania has been able to lock teams down defensively throughout the year, averaging just 62.5 points against per game to sit among the league’s leaders. While Bendigo have not been a particularly high-scoring team, they will welcome back plenty of attacking talent for this clash, meaning the Devils backline will need to be back to their best immediately after a month out of action.
The Pioneers reached the quarter-finals with a monumental upset in last week’s Wildcard Round, beating premiership fancy Oakleigh by 12 points. They did so on the back of a strong performance in the midfield, winning the centre clearances 14-6 and winning the ball with ease. That was a continuation of their late-season form, as they rank first in the NAB League for hard ball gets and second in loose ball gets over the last three weeks.
That sets up a fascinating battle in the middle of the ground, with the Devils possessing plenty of talent around the ball. With a hard edge at the contest and plenty of run and carry on the outside, Tasmania’s midfield depth will be crucial if they hope to win here and advance.
Last time they met
Two vastly different sides met back in round 11, with the Devils claiming a comfortable 69-point win on the road. After an even first quarter, Tasmania held the Pioneers to just one goal through the remainder of the contest to pull away.
Heath Ollington was a standout in the midfield with 34 disposals, seven tackles and a goal, while Brandon Leary booted three majors. For Bendigo, Corbin Anderson won plenty of the ball in the backline to finish with 20 disposals and eight rebound 50s, while Archer Day-Wicks was their only multiple goalkicker with three majors.
Team news
ELIMINATION FINAL TEAM 🔒
An unchanged team for our @NABLeague Boys, as they’ll look to book themselves into a preliminary final this weekend.
Look out for our match preview tomorrow!
🗓 3 September 2022
⏰ 11:30am
📍 Ikon Park, Melbourne
📱Live stream via the NAB League app pic.twitter.com/C5Qiwf3TXO— Tasmania Devils (@TasmaniaDevils_) September 1, 2022
It’s business as usual for the Devils, with an unchanged side from their last game against the Northern Knights. That full-strength lineup won by 34 points in round 13 to seal a top-three finish, and they will look to do the same again in the finals.
Key players
Tasmania Devils
Lachie Cowan
An undisputed star of the competition, Cowan is an elite playmaker from the half-back line. Averaging 27.4 disposals, 5 marks and 8.1 rebound 50s per game, his clean disposal and run give the Devils plenty of drive out of defence. There is a reason Tasmania look to get the ball in his hands at every opportunity, and he will be crucial as they try to navigate past Bendigo’s physical midfield.
Brandon Leary
Tasmania’s leading goalkicker this season, Leary has been a revelation in attack. He has booted 29 goals from 12 games, with nine multiple-goal outings and zero goalless games. He has enjoyed success against Bendigo already this year with three goals in round 11, and he has shown an ability to tear games apart with moments of brilliance in front of goal. Those moments can be doubly important in finals football.
Bendigo Pioneers
Harley Reid
Reid has been a prolific ball-winner for the Pioneers this season, averaging 22.2 disposals, 4.9 marks and 4.3 tackles per game. The explosive midfielder has been outstanding in recent weeks, racking up 28 disposals and two goals against Murray and finishing with 23 disposals and a goal in last week’s win over Oakleigh. His strong marking overhead makes him a threat at either end of the ground, something the Devils will need to be wary of.
Harvey Gallagher
After a slow start to the season, Gallagher has built throughout the year and dominated over the past fortnight. Playing predominantly off the half-back line, he had 37 disposals and two goals against the Bushrangers before exploding in last week’s wildcard round, collecting a ridiculous 42 disposals and 13 rebound 50s. With a willingness to run and a booming kick, he is always a threat to impact the play further up the field.