Gympie Devils women on fire despite last minute coaching shake-up

The squad has managed to stabilise and string together some solid performances after former Gympie mayor Mick Curran stepped down as head coach two games into the season.

The Gympie Devils women’s side, Caitlin Sing among them, have found some good form so far this season.

Co-coaches Troy Carlson and Darren Burns, and the firing Gympie Devils women’s squad, were not overlooking the last-placed Kawana Dolphins heading into Saturday afternoon’s clash away from home.

Former Gympie mayor steps down as Devils coach after two games

That attitude proved crucial, as the Devils ran over the top of the Dolphins 50-14 to square the win-loss register for the 2021 season so far – and leave them circling among the Sunshine Coast competition’s contenders heading into their bye next week.

Amber Saltner (pictured playing for Isis) is proving a central figure to the Devils’ success this year.

The Devils women have managed to stabilise their squad and string together some solid performances after former Gympie mayor Mick Curran stepped down as head coach two games into the season.

Speaking ahead of the Kawana game, Carlson said the side was starting to find some momentum as the season progressed.

“We’re gradually improving, we have a new bunch of girls compared to a couple of seasons ago. The senior girls are stepping up and taking ownership of the team, teaching the new girls the right structure to play,” Carlson said.

Devils women's co-coach Troy Carlson.

“We had a good win over Caloundra (last week), who were top of the table, so that gave the girls a fair bit of confidence.

“We played well in the first half, and they came up back with a fury but we were able to hold them off.”

Carlson said it was the leadership coming from some of the Devs’ senior players that had helped the team regain their strong standing in the competition.

Elisha Young (being tackled) is one of the Devils’ leading forces so far in 2021.

“Elisha Young is doing a great job for us in the forwards, and Amber Saltner has come back into the halves and she’s done really well for us so far,” he said.

The Devils next play on June 19, when they face off with the Nambour Crushers away from home.