Devils brave but go down to the Sydney Swans

THE Tasmania Devils let their debut game in the NAB League slip and slide away in Sydney yesterday when the Swans Academy pipped them by 14 points in wet conditions.

THE Tasmania Devils let their debut game in the NAB League slip and slide away in Sydney yesterday when the Swans Academy pipped them by 14 points in wet conditions.

The Tasmanians failed to score in the opening term when the Devils defence was under siege but held the Swans to 2.2, which turned out to be the final margin – Sydney taking it 7.14 (56) to 6.6 (42).

Devils coach Adrian Fletcher was disappointed his side did not win on debut but said the lessons learned would be carried into next week’s match against Northern Territory in Melbourne.

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“We didn’t adjust to the conditions early enough,” Fletcher said.

“It was wet and slippery and Sydney had the biggest bodies, which gave them an advantage in the conditions.”

Fletcher commended the Devils defense for conceding only seven goals under enormous pressure.

“The backline went well – Sammy Collins, Oscar Shaw and Liam Viney stood up back there,” he said.

“Our backline was under siege in the first quarter. Sydney had 15 inside 50s, maybe more, and they only gave up two goals so they have got to be commended for that effort.”

Will Harper and Jye Menzie kicked two goals and stand-in ruckman Joseph Chaplin was the Devils’ best player.

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Earlier: THE Tassie Devils have narrowly lost their inaugural under-18 NAB League match against the Sydney Swans Academy.

In a low-scoring affair at Blacktown Olympic Park, the Devils got within nine points of the Swans midway through the final term before eventually going down by 14.

Tasmania didn’t trouble the scorers in the opening quarter before skipper Nic Baker bagged the teams first ever goal 15 minutes into the second term.

Sydney missed a golden opportunity to put the Devils away by half time, but inaccurate kicking saw them only score one second quarter goal to six behinds.

Joseph Chaplin was named best on for ground the Devils with Oliver Davis also turning in a solid game.

Will Harper and Jye Menzie booted two goals each for Tasmania with Jackson Callow kicking the last of the side’s six majors.

The final score was 7.14 (56) to 6.6 (42).

MORE TO COME

Tasmania Devils: L. Viney, J. Steele, P. Walker, S. Collins, O. Shaw, M. McGuinness, L. Gadomski, M. O’Neill, C. Stephenson, J. Clifford, T. McGinniss, J. Menzie, W. Harper, J. Callow, S. Lewis-Johnson, J. Chaplin, N. Baker, O. Davis. Inter: R. Ashlin, R. Banks-Smith, O. Burrows-Cheng, S. Green, J. Hennessy, H. Ireland, W. Peppin, C. Riethoff.