TSL: Tilbury backs Demons’ young crop to revive club

North Hobart stalwart Brad Tilbury is confident the club’s youngsters can drive the Demons forward after they secured their first win of the season. Read who got the player of the year votes for the round here.

Brad Tilbury. Picture: Mireille Merlet

North Hobart Development League coach Brad Tilbury is confident the young talent from last year’s premiership can revive the club’s on field fortunes after the Demons marked his 150th club game with a first TSL victory for the year.

Playing his first game in seniors for the season, the milestone game was the perfect time to break their duck in a 7.8 (50) to 6.7 (43) win over Launceston.

Tilbury led the Demons to last year’s Development League flag and believes the results will come if the young group learns the ropes in seniors together.

“I’ve got great relationships with all the boys so they might have put in a bit of effort (for me) but they’ve really been pushing week to week to get over the line,” he said.

“They certainly had it in them already and we finally put in four quarters and got the job done.

“It’s pleasing to see some of them get their first win as a senior footballer. You don’t forget those things and to see them all experience that on the weekend, I was proud and happy for them.”

Tilbury said a high turnover of players in recent years hasn’t helped the club’s desire to push up the ladder, but said green shoots are starting to show with the current crop.

“We haven’t had that continuity for a number of years now but we’re starting to get that, and hopefully we can push on,” he said.

“I look at the boys who stood up last year in senior footy for us and played in all those great wins we had the previous two years. They were playing D-League, and all of a sudden they’re big contributors in senior footy.

“Once the guys get 30-40 games at senior level they get comfortable playing at that level, and if they’re all playing together consistently it will hold us in good stead.”

Cripps Player of the Year votes - Round 13

North Launceston vs Kingborough

3: Michael Stingel, North Launceston

2: Oscar Van Dam, North Launceston

1: Blade Sulzberger, North Launceston

Glenorchy vs Clarence

3: Noah Holmes, Clarence

2: Harrison Gunther, Glenorchy

1: Liam Ling, Glenorchy

North Hobart vs Launceston

3: Brad Tilbury, North Hobart

2: Callum Kilpatrick, North Hobart

1: Conall McCormack, Launceston

LEADERBOARD

13: Noah Holmes (Clarence)

11: Fletcher Bennett (North Launceston)

10: Kieran Lovell (Kingborough), Michael Stingel (North Launceston), Oscar Van Dam (North Launceston)