NAB League: Tasmania Devils under-18s match against Northern Knights at Twin Ovals

Tasmania’s elite Tassie Devils teenagers staged an 11th-hour fightback against the Northen Knights at Kingston’s Twin Ovals.

Joseph Chaplin (9) in the Tasmania Devils under-18 team in NAB League game against the Northern Knights at Twin Ovals, Kingston. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

THE Tasmania Devils have some kinks to iron out during their NAB League bye after a failure to launch against the Northern Knights at the Twin Ovals on Saturday.

Tasmania’s elite teenagers staged an 11th hour fightback but went down by nine points in a heartbreaker for the youngest Devils side ever put on the park.

It was the competition’s Futures Round, which meant each team had to field 11 17-year-olds — half the team.

It was no problem for Tasmania, which had regularly played about eight “bottom end” players in their debut season in the Victorian league.

Tasmania Devils Under-18s in action

VIEW GALLERY

After trailing by five goals at three-quarter-time, the Devils came back hard but fell short.

“We kept coming at them,” said Devils coach Adrian Fletcher.

“If there was another five minutes we could have gotten them.

“But there’s no time-on so once they slowed the game down — they stopped with marks, they played possession footy, they went one-on-one — there was not enough time for us.”

Fletcher said it was the third quarter that cost dearly.

“They kicked three goals in the third quarter from our mistakes,” he said.

“It was only little things but they are the things we’ve got to clean up.”

MORE SPORT:

LYON CUP FATE SEALED BY ZAMPA RESURGENCE

GLENORCHY FACING TRIPLE TSL THREAT

RELENTLESS BARTY ON BRINK OF MAKING TENNIS HISTORY

The Devils had their share of the ball but could not capitalise.

“We had 40 inside 50s but we had little efficiency going forward,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher believes his under-17s will grow from their experience and was pleased with the performance of his best two 17-year-olds Ollie Davis and Jackson Callow.

“They’ve been in our best players every game,” he said.

“They are 17-year-olds who they keep bringing intensity and leadership and contested footy.

“They are standing up for us I really have to give them a pat on the back.”

The Devils have a week off and then must [prepare to meet ladder leader Eastern Ranges at UTas Stadium on July 13.

[e-mail]