With no NAB League this season Ollie Davis to prove his AFL potential for Clarence in TSL

Tasmania’s finest teenage football players must prove themselves to AFL scouts in the TSL this season and Ollie Davis plans a game-changing move for Clarence.

Clarence TSL player, Oliver Davis is unable to play for the Devils under 18's so will be making his mark for Clarence on Saturday against Lauderdale. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

TEENAGE gun Ollie Davis plans to turn his game “inside out” in the TSL this season in a bid to prove his value to any AFL recruiter who sees him play for Clarence, starting with Lauderdale at Lauderdale Oval.

Instead of plying his trade for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League, where the talent scouts focus their attention, the 17-year-old schoolboy plans to step it up for the Roos.

“I’d like to be able to play for the Devils in terms of AFL Draft purposes and getting the exposure,” Davis said.

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Clarence TSL player, Oliver Davis is unable to play for the Devils under 18's so will be making his mark for Clarence on Saturday against Lauderdale. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“There’s no NAB league this year so playing in the TSL will be good for me going up against the men and matching it with the bigger bodies.

“It’s another opportunity to grow my game and add some more strings to my bow and get that exposure playing against the men.”

Davis played only once for Clarence last year against Launceston at Windsor Park.

He is what they call a contested ball “animal” at the Devils.

“My roll will be similar for Clarence, playing inside, but I want to expand my outside ability as well and adapt my game to best play my role for the team,” he said.

The NAB League is a football “college” for players aspiring to a higher calling.

Davis said watching players like Gold Coast’s new sensation Matt Rowell was a prime example.

“The biggest thing is learning off other players and seeing what you’re up against,” he said.

“Watching how they go about it and taking a few things from what you see, and trying ingrain it into your own game.

“The likes of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson going one-two in the Draft to the Gold Coast Suns are good examples, and looking up to players like that, and especially the way Matt Rowell has gone about it in the AFL is huge.”