The Tasmania Devils saw their season end in heartbreaking fashion, falling to the Dandenong Stingrays by just one point in the NAB League Boys preliminary final. The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than a goal at any break, and it was the Stingrays that had their nose in front at the final siren.
TASMANIA DEVILS: 2.3 5.6 7.7 9.8 (62)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS: 2.1 6.4 8.6 9.9 (63)
Goals: W. Splann 2, F. Hooker 2, S. Campbell, J. Callinan, C. Owen, J. Curtis, S. Banks-Smith
Best players: C. Owen, J. Callinan, T. Beaumont, H. Ollington, S. Campbell, L. Jones
Cameron Owen stepped up under the pressure of a do-or-die final and enjoyed his best game of the season, dominating at the stoppages and finishing with 23 hit outs, 15 contested possessions and five clearances. He was well supported in the middle of the ground by Tasmania’s midfield group, with the likes of Thomas Beaumont (23 disposals, eight clearances), Heath Ollington (21 disposals, four tackles) and Colby McKercher (23 disposals, eight clearances) all finding plenty of the football.
Both sides burst out of the gate and had their first goal of the day in the early minutes, with the ever-dangerous Jack Callinan kicking the opener before the Stingrays responded quickly. The Devils had more of the play, with Owen dominating the early proceedings to have nine disposals and three clearances in the quarter and McKercher racking up 13 disposals. They struggled to convert that midfield work into scoring shots, though, with Fletcher Hooker’s first goal of the day their only other before the break. That left them with a narrow two-point lead at the first change, with both sides yet to really find their groove.
The game opened up in the second quarter, and with that came more scoreboard pressure from both sides. Dandenong kicked the first of the quarter to re-take the lead, but the Devils responded with back-to-back goals through Josh Curtis and Owen. Tasmania built a ten-point buffer when Hooker snagged his second major, but just as they looked set to take that lead into half-time the Stingrays hit back. They added two late goals, with a set shot after the siren helping them to sneak ahead to a four-point lead at the main break.
The two teams traded goals in a tight and tense third quarter, with neither able to break the game open. Seth Campbell was excellent throughout the game, and he kicked a goal in the opening minutes of the quarter to move the Devils back into the lead, but Dandenong struck back shortly after. It was the same story late in the term, as Will Splann fired Tasmania into the lead only for the Stingrays to steal it back in the dying seconds. That set the stage for a grandstand finish, with the Devils trailing by just five points at three-quarter time.
The fourth quarter was a true arm wrestle, with goals at a premium as both sides slugged it out in the middle of the ground. That made it all the more concerning when Dandenong kicked the first goal after five minutes of play, pushing their lead to ten points. They had the next two scores but could only manage behinds, and with time running down Tasmania mounted one last assault. Co-captain Sam Banks-Smith kicked truly to pull the margin back, before Splann drew a high tackle and booted his second at the 22-minute mark to bring the Devils within one point.
Tasmania surged forward out of the middle once again, and with one minute remaining a flying shot on goal from McKercher fell to Splann who had a good piece of the ball but was not awarded a mark. Another quick shot from the resultant stoppage fell short and into the arms of the Stingrays defence, and that proved to be Tasmania’s last chance as the clock wound down on a devastating loss.
Despite falling short of the grand final, the Devils produced the best season in program history, finishing third on the ladder and enjoying their first ever finals win. Attention will now turn to the AFL Futures game at the MCG, as well as the handful of Devils attending state and national combines ahead of the NAB AFL Draft. The season will then be celebrated at the Devils Best and Fairest night on Saturday October 1.