From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by James Besnehan
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THE gap between the State League and VFL is now a yawning chasm after the Victorians dished out a 108-point thumping to Tasmania in their interstate clash at Blundstone Arena yesterday.
The Big V was too big, too fast and too polished for the locals, running away with a soul-destroying 20.17 (137) to 3.11 (29) win witnessed by a crowd of 1236.
The Tasmanians fought hard and, keeping with tradition, won the hard-ball-gets and tackle count.
But the Big V thrashed Tasmania just about everywhere else, with almost twice as many kicks, twice the inside 50s, and almost three times as many marks and centre breaks.
Victoria's brand of switch-and-spread footy made the VFL a cut above.
Tasmanian coach Adam Sanders was not concerned what the outside world would make of the loss.
"I don't really care," he said.
"We certainly think we're on track and if people want to be critical they probably should have been here watching the game to see the effort the boys put in."
Sanders, himself a former Tasmanian representative, was not surprised by Victoria's power, and said the match was only the first step in a six-year program of interstate contests.
"No one likes to get beaten, but realistically going into the game we were long, long shots to actually win it," Sanders said.
"People can look at the end result and think it wasn't great, but to me it wasn't a 100-point defeat from the way the boys went about it, because their endeavour was great.
"We've got to be positive but realistic about where we are at.
"Let's hope this is the starting point for us getting better.
"I want to see the State League get better as a competition and a better standard, so hopefully this helps."
Early in the match it looked like Tasmania might pull off Mission Impossible when AFL draft hope Michael Musicka kicked the opening goal and the hard-working backs restricted Victoria to two goals in the first quarter.
After Tasmanian skipper Andy Lee kicked the first goal of the second, Tasmania was within four points of the Vics, but the boys in green would kick only one more goal for the game while Victoria set course on an 18-goal rampage.
Victorian coach Gary Ayres admitted he was concerned at quarter-time.
"We always knew we would have a game on our hands," Ayres said.
"It was going to come down to how long that pressure could be sustained by either us or Tasmania, and once we broke down their pressure half-way through the second quarter we assumed control."
Victorian captain John Baird was named best afield for the Big V, and Tasmanian wicketkeeper-turned-centreman Brady Jones won the Lefroy Medal as Tassie's best.
Victoria's marquee midfielder Shane Valenti was out-classed by his Tassie tagger Kaine Waller, who barely allowed him space to breathe, while Musicka, who is already in the sights of Fremantle, boosted his draft chances.
Also among Tassie's best were defenders Ben Reynolds and Josh Woolley, midfielders Scott Stephens, Aaron French and Jaye Bowden, and utilities Tom Allwright and Brody Mihocek.
