Coastal pair to debut on home soil as Tasmania aims to blunt Dandenong Stingrays
Tasmania’s best junior female footballers will be lining up for their third match in eight days on Saturday but fatigue will not be a factor for the high flying group
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THE Devils will blood two coastal juniors in their own backyard Saturday as they look to continue their sizzling start to the NAB League women’s competition.
Burnie’s Emilie Saward will join town local Joherty Revell in making their debuts at Penguin against the Dandenong Stingrays.
A total of 10 North-West players will feature in the clash — just reward for the effort the youngsters from the region make, according to coach Cameron Joyce.
“They are the ones who always have to travel no matter what they do so it’s great all the girls can be part of it this week,” Joyce said.
“We have 10 North West girls who are playing in the team on the weekend and two debutants, they get to play in front of their home crowd and get some of their family and friends to watch.
“Joherty and Emilie have earned their spots, and part of the Devils is also developing as many players as we can.
“They’ve been outside the squad but they have been around the mark definitely. It means we would have played 32 players in our first five rounds, which is really healthy for women’s football in Tasmania.”
Essentially in their first full season in the competition after playing just two matches in 2020, the Devils have taken the league by storm, winning three of their first four matches to even surprise Joyce.
The clash against the Stingrays will be the side’s third in eight days after an interstate double header, but the coach said the playing group is fit and firing.
“The girls have had a great start to the season and it’s just really good reward for effort for the work they have put in over the pre-season.
“They’ve pulled up really well which is great, with the three games in eight days, we are just rapt to be playing to be honest.
“With the way of the world at the minute and the missed opportunities last year, we are rapt we can catch up on some games we have missed.”
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