Live stream: Tasmania Devils face Northern Knights in girls/boys Coates Talent League double header

Tassie would have certainly enjoyed their Coates Talent League visit to Preston City Oval on Saturday as first the girls, then the boys pulled off tight wins over the hosts. Relive all the action.

Tassie Devils needed the reassurance of a late, late goal to see off the threat of Northern Knights and maintain their lofty position near the top of the Coates Talent League boys standings.

The second-place Devils looked to have done all the hard graft in the third quarter, turning a 20-20 halftime scoreline into a 23-point advantage on the back of five straight goals.

But the Knights weren’t finished and they kept the Devils to just one goal for much of the final quarter and closed to within eight points at one stage before the Devils found some much-needed composure at the death.

Tassie Devils girls bounced back from a couple of hefty defeats to stun high-flying Northern Knights in an exciting Coates Talent League clash that went right down to the wire.

Tassie had fallen to Dandenong and Eastern Ranges in recent weeks but held on to win this one 49-42 in the face of some late Knights pressure.

The Knights, who were fourth on the table entering the game, even had some late opportunities to at least force a draw, but some inaccurate kicking meant they fell to their third defeat of the season.

Northern Knights v Tasmania Devils - AFL Coates Talent League Round 8 - Girls

PREVIEW

Sitting second on the ladder, it might be weird to say the Tassie Devils have their backs against the walls this weekend.

But with the Devils looking set to enter Saturday’s Coates Talent League boys clash with the Northern Knights in Melbourne without several key players, it’s an apt description.

It’s due to three players being selected in the Allies team for the U18 national boys championships kicking off in Adelaide on Sunday.

Oliver Dean, Oliver Depoali-Kubank and Lenny Douglas (the competition’s leading goalkicker) have all been picked.

Meanwhile, AFL Mid-Season Draft prospect Geordie Payne won’t play either game.

But there will be opportunities for other players to make their mark, including a host of North Launceston-aligned players.

You’ll be able to see whether the Devils can still get the job done, with the game set to be LIVE STREAMED on KommunityTV as part of a big girls/boys double header.

Check out the full LIVE STREAM schedule below.

The Tasmanian State League club makes up a large part of the Devils list this season and have already seen players exposed to the Coates League.

North Launceston senior coach Adrian Smith said he and the club were always determined to push players to the highest level they can play.

“We’ve seen a lot of these guys hold their own at State League level,” he said.

Max Roney is in some great form at the moment.

“Our program has some younger guys from the northwest coast looking to further their footy and we’re happy to play a key role in their development.”

One North Launceston product who may thrive with greater opportunity is Max Roney.

He’s been named in the best five times out of seven Devils games this season.

“He’s had a ripper month,” Smith said of Roney’s form.

“There’s parts of his game which are still raw but he’s coming along really nicely. He uses the ball quite well across half back.”

Oscar Van Dam is another player enjoying a strong season for the Devils and North Launceston, spending his time between both clubs.

He spent the summer training with Casey in the VFL, who are coached by Taylor Whitford, a former star of Tassie footy.

Ava Read has been a standout for the girls.

“His season has been excellent,” Smith said.

“His IQ has significantly proved. He can play inside and outside, I think he’s elite in terms of using space.”

Meanwhile, the girl’s game will see the Devils looking to get back on the winners’ list after two straight losses to the Dandenong Stingrays and Eastern Ranges.

Ava Read as been one of the standouts with 10 goals for the season.