TSL: Debutant Payne headlines dangerous Devils in Bombers line-up

North Launceston will get a chance to see what a near full strength team for the back end of the TSL season might look at when most of their Devils, including a debutant, play against North Hobart.

Launceston, Tasmania. Tasmania Devils Talent Leagues Awards 2023. Under 18 Best and Fairest winner, Geordie Payne. Picture: Linda Higginson

North Launceston will get a chance to see what their most dangerous line-up for the back end of the year may look like on Saturday, with highly-rated draft prospect Geordie Payne headlining the Devils returning to their line-up.

The 2-0 Bombers will take to UTAS Stadium for the first time this season against North Hobart bolstered by Payne, mobile forward Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, Dom Pitt and Harry Elmer.

Another projected draft hopeful, Lenny Douglas, is unavailable, but the near full strength squad gives coach Adrian Smith a chance to assess how the puzzle pieces might fall into place come finals.

Pitt and Elmer were both named in the Devils’ best players after last week’s nine-point defeat to Oakleigh, while Payne booted three goals.

“It’s probably the last time we’ll get to see them (Devils) together for a long time,” Smith said.

“We get to see a few of them together in about five or six weeks’ time, but a lot of the top ones will be in Allies.

“It’s really exciting to see what a potential finals team might look like if they’re all available for us.”

Payne is regarded as a strong draft chance, or even mid season draft, this year after he attracted serious interest last season.

Archie Franklin of Northern Knights and Geordie Payne of Tasmania Devils. Picture: Linda Higginson

He was crowned the Devils’ best and fairest last year, and Collingwood officials travelled to his family’s Burnie home to learn more about him.

“We’ll have him up around the footy. He’s been playing forward as a Devil, but he’s got some real weapons with his speed and his ability to kick it,” Smith said.

“We’ll use him in that transition space. He gets the ball and drives his legs.

“Depaoli-Kubank (will play) through our front half and (Jack) Avent may play a bit more there, all of a sudden it’s a pretty potent front half.

“Depaoli-Kubank kicks the ball well, covers the ground and will get up and down the field for us.”

North Launceston is coming off a three-goal win at Lauderdale, but are aware their fellow Bombers were missing some key players and are keen to improve further against the winless Demons.

Devil Harry Elmber (left) is back in North Launeston’s line-up this week. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It was a good opportunity last week to test ourselves in a physical contest, and we learned a lot,” Smith said.

“We want to pride ourselves on our contested brand, and that doesn’t matter where we play. “Obviously with the wide expanses of UTAS we do have a bit more opportunity to move the ball, and use our weapons off halfback and midfield a bit more.

“To be 2-0 is a positive start, now we have to get better and use the platform we have to build upon.

Conversely North Hobart is 0-2 and desperate to kickstart their season after they were upset by Glenorchy in their first win since 2021 last week.

Demons coach Adam Bester said they didn’t come with the right mindset and are keen to atone against one of the league’s form sides.

“We let ourselves down last week and full credit to Glenorchy, they came with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” he said.

“We knew Glenorchy would challenge us, they’ve brought in some really good players. I don’t feel like our mindset was ready to go and it’s a huge lesson for us as a group that what’s happened in the past is irrelevant.

“We want to come back out and play with some real confidence with our ball use. We’ve worked hard to get that confidence back in with our foot skills.

“It’s an extremely important game for us this week. We would love nothing more than to give oursevles an opportunity to go into the bye 1-2, then we can reset and look to Anzac Day with some belief.

“We’re all going to go up on the bus together and bond, and hopefully get the points.”

Saturday’s match begins at the earlier time of 1pm.