Tasmania Devils face two games in three days to catch up on COVID-cancelled games

The Tasmania Devils have broken even on players, gaining some talent after an injury ahead of their NAB League Girls double-header in Victoria over the long weekend.

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THE Tasmania Devils have lost forward Shania Saward to concussion but regained potential future AFLW player Camilla Taylor for their NAB League Girls double-header in Victoria over the long weekend.

Placed seventh on the ladder, Tasmania’s finest teenage girls take on Bendigo Pioneers (10th) in Bendigo today and then the Western Jets (8th), who originally had the bye this round, in a “COVID catch-up” game in Melbourne on Monday.

The Devils will take 27 players when they fly out this morning.

“They will all get a game,” said Devils coach Cameron Joyce.

“We will focus on Bendigo first and then we will see how the girls are feeling and what we need to do leading into the Jets.

NAB League game between Tasmania Devils v Oakleigh Chargers from Kingston Twin Ovals. Devils’ Georgia Clarke. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“There will be a strong recovery focus on the next 48 hours after Bendigo but we are firmly focused on the Pioneers first.”

Saward is on a compulsory concussion break.

“In the last quarter against Oakleigh she did a really good chase-down tackle and either got a boot or stray arm to the head,” Joyce said.

“We are not taking any risks with her. We will go through the normal protocols with her.

“Hopefully, she will be available for our game the following week.”

Saward was replaced by Taylor, who lives in Melbourne to attend university and train with North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos.

The Devils almost caused the Oakleigh Chargers’ first loss in two years in a thriller at the Twin Ovals last Saturday.

“They were disappointed because we had enough opportunities to win,” Joyce said.

“At the same time, the girls know they did a lot right.

“They’ve had another really good week on the track and we are looking for continued improvement and to take that little bit of momentum into these next two games.”

The Pioneers, 10th on the ladder.

“It will be a tough game,” Joyce said.

“Bendigo have also won one game, just like we have, and they played really well last week against the Calder Cannons, who are one of the better teams.”