June 22, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards
TASSIE Devils coach Daryn Cresswell yesterday made seven changes for Sunday's VFL match against the Carlton-aligned Northern Bullants as poor form and injury forced an overhaul of the Devils line-up.
With the Devils sitting on the bottom of the VFL ladder with just one win and having lost eight games straight, Cresswell said the game against the Bullants was a mini-final for his team.
He urged his players to throw off the shackles and take the game on.
"We've started playing too safe and are not prepared to take risks as we did early in the season - which is basically our game plan," Cresswell said.
"We're kicking down the line and not coming back through the corridor so - these are the sort of things we want to improve on this week."
Ninth on the ladder with four wins, the Northern Bullants have also been injury-depleted ahead of Sunday's match.
"They only kicked one goal to half-time last week and have been decimated by injury and struggling for the past six weeks like us - so this is probably our best opportunity to win a game," Cresswell said.
The Devils have lost full- forward Adam Derbyshire for a week with a minor hamstring strain while co- captain Brett Geappen could miss two weeks with a shoulder injury.
Ben Careless is unavailable with general soreness, while Tom Collier and Aaron Joseph will represent the Tassie Mariners in the national under-18 championships.
Jared Ryan and Cameron Thurley were omitted.
Reported by Phil Edwards
TASSIE Devils coach Daryn Cresswell yesterday made seven changes for Sunday's VFL match against the Carlton-aligned Northern Bullants as poor form and injury forced an overhaul of the Devils line-up.
With the Devils sitting on the bottom of the VFL ladder with just one win and having lost eight games straight, Cresswell said the game against the Bullants was a mini-final for his team.
He urged his players to throw off the shackles and take the game on.
"We've started playing too safe and are not prepared to take risks as we did early in the season - which is basically our game plan," Cresswell said.
"We're kicking down the line and not coming back through the corridor so - these are the sort of things we want to improve on this week."
Ninth on the ladder with four wins, the Northern Bullants have also been injury-depleted ahead of Sunday's match.
"They only kicked one goal to half-time last week and have been decimated by injury and struggling for the past six weeks like us - so this is probably our best opportunity to win a game," Cresswell said.
The Devils have lost full- forward Adam Derbyshire for a week with a minor hamstring strain while co- captain Brett Geappen could miss two weeks with a shoulder injury.
Ben Careless is unavailable with general soreness, while Tom Collier and Aaron Joseph will represent the Tassie Mariners in the national under-18 championships.
Jared Ryan and Cameron Thurley were omitted.
Kingborough's Jason Howard comes in for his second game of the year along with Clarence's Ben Fagan, Brighton's Gareth Delaney and Burnie's Luke Shackleton and Jason Ling.
"We've been struggling to kick goals and with Derba out we thought Lingy would help us up forward as a renowned goalkicker and Benny Fagan gives us a bit of height and versatility," Cresswell said.
"With Brett Geappen out it was important to get Shack back in the side with his toughness and experience."
Cresswell said with the Devils now out of finals contention, most of his list would be given a chance to show they could play at VFL level as the Devils build for the future.
