Tasmania looking to open NAB League account against Eastern Ranges before month-long break
A one-point defeat was not the way the Devils boys wanted to start their campaign and they are out to atone against the Eastern Ranges at the Twin Ovals.
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THE Devils will be desperate to put a heartbreaking one point NAB League season opening defeat behind them on Saturday and ensure they avoid going 0-2 into a month-long break.
Playing their first game in 18 months, Tasmania’s under-18 side frittered away chances in the last quarter against Calder Cannons at Windsor Park, booting 1.6 to go down by a solitary behind.
They return to the field at the Twin Ovals against the Eastern Ranges looking to atone before the competition heads into a four-week recess.
“Because it has been an 18-month build up, sure we were all disappointed we lost the game but at the same time there’s so much improvement that I think we will be able to show as the year goes on,” coach Cameron Joyce said.
“Certainly in our review we had opportunities to win the game, which is always good, but we take a couple of things out that we would like to improve on and look to put that into place on Saturday against the Ranges.
“Handling conditions a little bit, it was all four seasons in one day, so it was certainly just being able to capitalise a bit more when we went forward.”
The uniqueness of the slightly disjointed season will see Joyce back in the majority of the side, with only one forced change to take place.
“It’s giving opportunities for most of our guys to have another crack at the level, knowing we had 18 debutants last week from a NAB League perspective.
“We want to back the boys in and look to improve again.
“We try and set ourselves for these games and then we have a chance to review them pretty strongly and set ourselves up for a 10, 11-week block of consistent footy.”