Tasmania Devils news

Moles won't jeopardise draft

By Robbo August 08, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

PROMISING Tassie Devils forward Brodie Moles will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the VFL season so as not to jeopardise his chances in the AFL draft.

Moles, 21, has been one of the few shining lights this season playing across half-forward as the Devils head towards their first wooden spoon.

But Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said yesterday Moles would join Paul Koulouriotis (hamstring) and Cameron Thurley (hip) on the sidelines for the rest of the year.

Moles has kicked 20 goals from 13 games in his debut VFL season, but will have a cartilage clean-up on his knee as soon as possible.

Cresswell said he believed Moles would be invited to the October 2-5 AFL draft camp at the AIS in Canberra.

State of play

By Robbo August 04, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE AFL will underwrite a revived Tasmanian statewide league and may increase funding for the Devils to keep them in the VFL, says AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

He met AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker and general manager Scott Wade yesterday and left them with massive grins.

Neither party would reveal the funds required but it was believed the AFL's grant to Tasmania would increase from $1.38 million to $2.2 million to cover both the new statewide league and the Devils -- a 59 per cent increase.

Demetriou said he was a supporter of a properly run statewide league, with the proposed model being underpinned by the three regional competitions and only including seniors.

"If that was something that made sense, we wouldn't hesitate in underwriting something like that to help it get off the ground," he said.

"We are a strong believer in football in Tasmania. It has got a rich history in our game, it has provided great talent to the VFL/AFL and anything we can do to further that we will look at."

But it was believed the proposed statewide competition would not be brought in until 2009.

AFL Tasmania's decision for the Devils to join the SANFL next season because of financial reasons was almost assured but Demetriou said he was not of the same opinion.

Little respite for Devils

By Robbo July 31, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

AFTER the train wreck of this VFL season, the Devils will begin pre-season for 2008 barely a month after playing their final home-and-away game.


Following another dismal second-half fade out on Sunday, which saw the Devils go from a point up early in the third term to 109-point losers against North Ballarat, Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said talks had already started for next season's preparations.

To top off Sunday's horrendous performance, it seems Geelong recruit Paul Koulouriotis (hamstring) will join fellow former AFL player Cameron Thurley (hip) on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

And Kangaroos-listed Leigh Adams (shoulder) and possible AFL draftee Brodie Moles (knee) could spend close to, if not all, the remaining three games on the injured list, resulting in -- if it is possible -- an even bleaker finish to the season.

It appears the first casualties of the dismal season could be the Devils' fitness staff, with AFL Tasmania already looking at new personnel.

"Obviously it is an area that we need to look at in terms of we need someone who has got the knowledge and who's very much qualified in getting players fit so they can play at a higher level," Cresswell said.

Half-game horror show

By Robbo July 30, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

A 20-goal second half by North Ballarat sent the Tasmanian Devils crashing to their third triple-figure defeat of the VFL season in another Jekyll and Hyde performance at Aurora Stadium yesterday.

 The Devils were told to get uncomfortable and to come in at half-time feeling sick from an exhaustive workrate.

They achieved that, playing inspired football despite a four-point deficit at half-time.

And having led by one point two minutes into the third quarter, the Devils were outscored 20 goals to three by the boys from Ballarat.

That second-half effort also left the Devils feeling uncomfortable and sick as they trudged off 24.22 (166) to 8.9 (57) losers.

Disappointed Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said the willingness to run and put pressure on in the second half was poles apart from the first half.

Devils go from bad to worst - Close in third quarter, but blown away to 109-poin

By Robbo July 30, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Terry Morris

 THE Tasmanian Devils suffered one of their worst defeats of the season when beaten by 109 points at Aurora Stadium yesterday.

After a strong showing in the first half and leading by one point after an Adam Derbyshire goal early in the third term the Devils were then blown away by North Ballarat.

The news didn't get any better for the Devils after the game with former Geelong forward Paul Koulouriotis suffering a hamstring injury.

Kolouriotis aggravated his hamstring during the second quarter.

The Devils remain on the bottom of the VFL ladder and are yet to win on home soil this season. Yesterday was their second heaviest defeat of the year.

Blond ruckman Brad Moran tried hard to lift the Devils and kicked a valuable goal from the pocket in the third quarter when the team was still in contention.

Devils press-gang Salter

By Robbo July 26, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

THE Tasmanian Devils will drop a selection bombshell today by naming Brighton big-man Sean Salter for his VFL debut against North Ballarat at Aurora Stadium on Sunday.

Salter, who will become the 50th player used by the Devils this season, was as shocked as anyone when he got the call-up yesterday.

Salter, 25, trained with the Devils for the first time on Monday night.

Coach Daryn Cresswell gave him the nod yesterday, collected him from work and drove his latest recruit to Launceston for the full squad's training session at Aurora last night.

"I was pretty surprised," Salter said yesterday.

"I don't know a lot about the VFL -- I haven't watched much of it."

Until this season, Salter played for New Norfolk, a club known for not providing many VFL players.

"No one said 'you can't go play with the Devils'," Salter said. "I chose not to."

Dismal Devils display

By Robbo July 22, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Adam Smith

THE Devils produced one of their worst performances for the year at Bellerive Oval yesterday, ending up on the end of a 79-point hiding at the hands of Frankston.

It was a far cry from the performance last weekend, when the side battled hard to register just its second win of the season.

The Dolphins smashed the Devils in every aspect of the game to run out 24.7 (151) to 10.12 (72) victors.

It was the basics which hurt the home side the most yesterday, with simple skills errors proving costly.

Time after time in the first half players failed to hit targets, turned the ball over and the decision-making under pressure was poor.

Despite this, the Devils trailed by only 15 points at the main break, but a nine-goal-to-one third term killed off the game as a contest.

Coach Daryn Cresswell was fuming with his players after the match, keeping them behind closed doors for nearly 20 minutes and giving them a huge tongue-lashing.

And he admitted a few of the group may have got ahead of themselves after last week's win.

"It was very disappointing. All the things we did well last week weren't there today," Cresswell said.

"We have been making silly little errors all year and our turnovers cost us goals.

A defeat to be proud of

By Robbo July 08, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by James Bresnehan

A 42-POINT loss, their 11th in a row, and one player on a double report, but for the first time in a long time the Tasmanian Devils were smiling last night.

Triple reigning premier Sandringham stretched the Devils' club-record losing streak with a 19.20 (134) to 14.8 (92) win at Aurora Stadium, but the home side scored a moral victory.

The Devils fought like their namesakes against a Melbourne-laced Sandringham, and had Lady Luck smiled on the locals they would have given the Zebras the fright of their lives.

Besieged coach Daryn Cresswell mingled with his players post-game, smiling and even announcing a temporary lift on the players alcohol ban, such was his delight with his dog-tired 22.

The biggest bonus for Crezza came from one man, midfielder Scott Stephens.

"I copped a lot of flack about making this guy co-captain of Tasmania," Cresswell said.

"He had 39 possessions tonight. His last six weeks have been outstanding.

"He played on a class player in Peter Summers and kept him to 18 possessions and had a ton of it himself.

"He's one player who shows great character and I was really pleased with him and the way he led from the front.

"I feel I made the right decision -- I never doubted myself, but a few other guys did."

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