Coates Talent League Live Stream: Tasmania Devils v Gippsland Power, boys semifinals

A big finish has sealed Tassie Devils’ passage into week two of the Coates Talent League boys finals series as Gippsland Power paid a hefty price for some wayward kicking. Re-live all the action.

Tasmania Devils are through to the final four in the Coates Talent League boys competition after making Gippsland Power pay a heavy price for some wayward kicking.

The Devils trailed by four points at quarter time and seven points at the main break, but came alive after halftime, kicking six goals to two, to beat the Power by 17 points.

Gippsland were their own worst enemy in front of goal, landing 15 behinds, including six in a second quarter when a much bigger advantage was at their mercy.

James Leake kicked three goals as the Devils chaged through to week two of the finals.

Their lead had shrunk to just two points at three quarter time - 37-35 - as Tassie picked up serious momentum by kicking the last two goals of the term.

The Power posted the first point of the final term but three consecutive goals from the Devils put the game out of reach.

James Leake and Lenny Douglas were the stars of the show with three goals each, while Jack Callinan kicked two goals.

PREVIEW

He’s arguably the Tasmania Devils’ most in-form player, and while they may be heading into the Coates Talent League finals fresh off wildcard bye, James Leake doesn’t feel any extra pressure heading into Saturday’s game.

The Devils sat back and watched on as the rest of the competition played off in the wildcard round of the Talent League finals and will now face the Gippsland Power in an elimination clash at Highgate Recreation Reserve for a spot in the preliminary final.

Tasmania Devils star James Leake.

The finals clash will be live streamed exclusively on KommunityTV at 10.30am on Saturday.

Leake, whose draft stocks have quickly risen throughout the season thanks to an outstanding Allies campaign, said the overriding feeling within the group was more excitement than pressure heading into the game.

“The general feeling among the group is just excitement,” Leake said.

“Personally for me, I didn’t play Devils last year so it’s a new experience for me. Finishing first hasn’t bought on any added pressure on the group because we know any team we come up against is going to be a good team so we just have to continue to play good footy.”

The Devils didn’t face the Power during the regular season but Leake said they were fully aware of the dangers they present.

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“Obviously not playing them throughout the season brings a little bit of uncertainty but looking at their side, like most teams, they have a few top-end talents like Zane Duursma and Archer Reid,” he said.

Archer Reid has been in great form.

“Jez (coach Jeromey Webberley) has also identified that they are really strong offensively.

“So for us it’s just about bringing out a strong defensive side of our game and seeing how that matches up I guess.”

But despite Gippsland presenting many challenges forward of the ball, Leake wasn’t expecting to return to his regular spot in defence with the talented tall hitting blistering form up forward in the final two games of the home and away season.

The 18 year-old booted nine goals to finish the season and was enjoying a change in role that should only enhance his AFL Draft chances later this season.

“I don’t think I’ll go back (this week),” he laughed.

“I’ve been enjoying it down forward the last few weeks and managed to get on the end of a few. We have some outstanding defenders in Oscar Van Dam, Geordie Payne and Arie Schoenmaker who all do a really solid job every week.

“I think the switch has purely been around playing a lot of defence in the early stages of the year and (AFL) clubs and recruiters know what I can do in that role so it’s been just about exploring how I play as a forward.

“It’s worked well and it really balances out the team quite well I think so I’ve loved it.

“I probably wasn’t expecting to kick as many goals but through juniors I played as sort of that midfielder and forward and it’s only been the last few years I’ve switched to defence so it’s something that comes quite naturally to me. I’m just glad I’ve been able to perform well for the team.”