Photo: Solstice Digital
The Tasmania Devils made a winning start to the 2023 Coates Talent League Girls season, beating the GWS Giants Academy by 14 points at UTAS Stadium. The Giants led at the first break, but from that point on it was all Tasmania as they piled on the pressure and pulled away to a decisive lead. With 15 debutants in their side, it was an impressive show of strength from the Devils.
TASMANIA DEVILS: 1.5 5.9 6.13 8.14 (62)
GWS GIANTS ACADEMY: 2.1 3.1 5.2 7.6 (48)
Goals: Maggie Chen 2, Georgia Clark 2, Ava Read 2, Tunisha Kikoak, Grace White
Best players: Grace White, Mackenzie Williams, Georgia Clark, Mackenzie Ford, Candice Belbin, Jaslyn Freestone
The first goal of the season came from one of those debutants, with Maggie Chen finishing well with the first kick of her Devils career. Some wayward finishing cost Tasmania in the first term, though, and two goals to the Giants saw the visitors take a lead into the first break. The Devils found their kicking boots in the second, piling on four goals to one to race ahead, and while the Giants kept things close they were never able to seriously challenge from that point on.
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Senior Devils step up
With a very inexperienced side on the field, it was important that Tasmania’s senior players led from the front. They were able to do so at both ends of the ground, with Georgia Clark instrumental in attack and Mackenzie Williams equally impressive in defence. Clark showed why she earned a place in the AFLW Academy with a powerful display, pulling down a game-high nine marks (three contested) and kicking two goals from her 19 disposals. At the other end of the ground, Williams provided plenty of run and carry off the half-back line, racking up a game-high 21 disposals with eight rebound 50s and laying five tackles. Both players impressed in 2022, and they have clearly gone to another level this year.
White impresses in attack
An ACL injury put a temporary stop on her career, but after returning to the field late last season, Grace White looks set to explode in 2023. The versatile talent was outstanding in the win over the Giants, named best afield with 16 disposals (11 contested), five marks, three clearances, five inside 50s and a goal. After playing in defence previously, a shift into attack looks to be a natural fit for the North Hobart product. Devils coach Jodie Clifford identified her post-game as a future AFLW Draft chance, but if Saturday’s performance was anything to go by she will have plenty of success for the Devils before then.
Tasmania wins the midfield battle
Even with AFLW Academy midfielder Brooke Barwick sidelined through injury, the Devils were able to win the midfield battle with a balanced performance around the stoppages. They won the clearance count 25-20, and young gun Priya Bowering leading the way with 18 disposals and a game-high four clearances of her own. She was well supported in the engine room by Mackenzie Ford (14 disposals, three clearances) and Lily Nast (14 disposals, two clearances), among others. Tasmania also led the Giants in hit outs, with Tunisha Kikoak (11 hit outs, 14 disposals), Jaslyn Freestone (seven hit outs, one clearance) and Clark all taking shifts in the ruck.