‘Just makes sense’: Why Tassie is desperate to join SSN reserves
Netball Tasmania wants to be included in the Super Netball reserves competition full time, the Devils boys secured a victory and Launceston United produced an upset. Get the latest from around the traps this weekend.
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Tasmania Wild coach Jon Fletcher is adamant joining the Super Netball reserves competition full time “just makes sense” as the answer to a development pathway the state desperately needs.
The Wild played in a ‘play in’ tournament this week where they beat the Territory Storm (NT) and lost to the Capital Darters (ACT), before taking on the Melbourne Vixens, GWS Giants and Adelaide Thunderbirds’ reserves teams.
Tasmania has long dealt with the challenge of playing week-long national age tournaments, then being starved of high level opportunities for the rest of the year.
Outgoing Netball Tasmania boss Mitch Coulson believes an official spot in the SSN reserves competition is the answer, with the hope a Tasmania Super Netball team would eventually follow.
Fletcher agrees it’s the best option to give the state’s best player a regular chance to test themselves, and be noticed by Super Netball clubs.
“We need to find that regular competition, and the best way to do that is to be part of the competition,” Fletcher said.
“To me it makes sense, and we’ll be pushing that barrow as hard as we can. Hopefully at the national level they’ll see it makes sense.
“We’ve got a lot of good netballers down here and some national standards players, why wouldn’t you want them playing in a national standard competition?
“Certainly if we can get to SSN that would be the absolute desire long term. The first step would be the reserves program, establish yourself in that, and go to SSN from there.”
Against the Thunderbirds on Sunday morning, the Wild clashed with Tasmanian products Ellie Marshall and Charlotte Walker, who are enjoying opportunities with the defending Super Netball champions.
Fletcher believes some Tasmanian players would have attracted some interest from clubs during the tournament, which included a narrow loss to the Giants.
“It’s a great learning experience for us, we’re playing against Super Netball players and national squad members,” Fletcher said.
“We had a very young and developing program, with an average age of about 17. We had the intent of learning a lot, but also getting exposure to the next level.
“Certainly one of our main aims is to give girls chances to be identified to go to the next level. We’re very realistic we can’t necessarily provide all those opportunities in Tassie, so if they can get one on the mainland we think we’ve done a good job.
”They (SSN clubs) are pretty aware the last few years that Tassie have been competitive, and we’ve taken some scalps at underage nationals. They’re starting to have a look at our players, and there’ll be one or two there from this week I’d imagine will be on some of the teams’ radar, for sure.
“A team in the SSN reserves will give the best players a carrot to aspire to, a bit like the Devils or the JackJumpers. That would be the icing on our pathway, hopefully sooner rather than later.
“Our biggest challenge is getting a regular standard of competition to prepare with. You want them to play then train, play then train, it’s better development and players are fast-tracked. “After this tournament, we won’t have any real competition for probably another 12 months.”
Replays of the SSN reserves tournament games can be watched HERE, and replays of the play-in tournament HERE.
- Jon Tuxworth
Launceston United deliver upset of season
Launceston United produced the upset of the Women’s Super League season by coming from two goals down to beat high-flying South Hobart 3-2.
With just one loss to their name, a perfect home record and only seven goals conceded, South leaked three more in under 20 minutes as Al Ollington’s United produced a stunning display at D’Arcy Street.
Buoyed by three consecutive wins, the 2022 league and cup double winners hit back after Kate Ollerhead and Laura Davis had put South into a comfortable lead.
Goals either side of half-time from the in-form Dani Gunton restored parity before player-of-the-match Montana Leonard hit the winner and keeper Jaz Venn ensured victory with a series of miraculous late goal-line saves.
United will take momentum into their next game against leaders Devonport who were given a mighty scare before extending their unbeaten campaign with a 3-2 win over bottom-placed Taroona.
Yet to register a point this season, the visitors even took the lead as the newly-crowned statewide cup winners were brought back down to earth.
Lucy Foote put Strikers ahead before Phoebe O’Brien and Mollie Stubbs doubled Taroona’s goal tally for the season. The lead lasted just three minutes before Madeline Payne levelled and, after Taroona sub Tayla Thomas was sent off, Tom Ballantyne’s all-conquering outfit needed an 86th-minute headed winner from Grace Sims to confirm their 13th straight win.
The reliable Kingborough Korean contingent struck again as a second-half brace from Soyoung Lee was enough to defeat Glenorchy 2-0.
NPL Tasmania leaders South Hobart extended their unbeaten campaign with a ruthless 7-0 demolition of Launceston United.
Six goals in 15 minutes either side of the break confirmed their dominance with Patrick Ayoul claiming a quickfire hat-trick. Nick Morton’s brace took him to 14 for the season, Kobe Kemp scored for the sixth game in a row and Eli Wright completed the rout.
Second-placed Launceston City suffered back-to-back losses after being edged out in a five-goal thriller at Devonport.
Thierry Swaby’s early lead was wiped out by Strikers’ Colin Innes and Baxter Tu before Angus Taylor’s 12th goal of the season levelled proceedings.
Dylan D’Agostino’s fourth goal in five games secured Devonport’s second 3-2 win of the day 15 minutes from time.
Kingborough leapfrogged Glenorchy into third place with a 3-0 win. Separated by just a point before play, Lions triumphed thanks to goals from captain Eli Luttmer, Emanuel Ponce and Noah Mies.
Riverside distanced themselves from the bottom two with a 4-0 win at cellar dwellers Clarence.
Two goals from Toby Harrop plus James Pelletier and Joel Hawkins earned a third win of the season for Helder Dos Santos Silva’s side.
- Rob Shaw, on behalf of Football Tasmania
Big first half sets up Devils win
The Tasmania Devils boys’ Coates Talent League season remains alive after a first half surge set up a vital 12.7 (79) to 6.15 (51) win over Sandringham at Devonport on Sunday.
The hosts (4-5) kicked nine goals to one before the major break to set up a matchwinning lead against the Dragons (4-5), who have won the past three boys titles.
Goalkicking was a major factor, with the Devils booting at efficient 9.3 in the first half.
The Dragons kicked the only four goals of the third term to get back into the contest, but their comeback wasn’t help by an errant 5.12 in front of goal in the second half.
The victory was crucial to get back on track for the Devils after back-to-back narrow defeats to Murray Bushrangers and Dandenong.
Anthony Volta kicked three goals for the Devils, while draft hope Lucas Wootton did his hopes no harm with another standout display in the midfield.
In the girls Sandringham proved far too strong in a 7.4 (46) to 2.1 (13) win.
Stream replays of both games can be found HERE.
- Jon Tuxworth
BOYS
TASMANIA 5.1 9.3 9.4 12.7 (79) def SANDRINGHAM 1.2 1.3 4.11 6.15 (51)
Tassie’s best: Lucas Wootton, Toby Callow, Jasper Hay, Avery Thomas, Anthony Volta, Jarvis Breen
Tassie goalkickers: Anthony Volta 3, Jack Miller 2, Charlie Bovill 2, Karmichael Peters-Chapman, Lachlan Davey, Mason Brown, Bowen Clemons, Ewan Dillon
GIRLS
SANDRINGHAM 0.1 2.1 4.3 7.4 (46) def TASMANIA 1.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 (13)
Tassie’s best: Eliza Wylie, Jorja Haberle, Lucah Conkie, Evie Ward, Amarli Johnson, Grace Weldon
Tassie goalkickers: Matilda Lange, Georgia McIntee
- Jon Tuxworth
NTFA: Coach backs tri series, Premier League selection mandate
NTFA coach Adrian Smith says the regional tri series has merit on the calendar, and has backed the mandate only Premier League players be picked after Saturday’s loss to SFL. Get your NTFA news here.
Replays: Tasmania Devils v Sandringham Dragons
Sandringham’s interstate trek has returned mixed dividends in the boys and girls when up against the Tasmania Devils in the Coates Talent League. Watch how it panned out in full REPLAYS.