August 12, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Brett Stubbs
In what has become an audition for the Devils' "generation next", the likes of Aaron Joseph, Alex Grima, Tom Bellchambers, Jaye Bowden, Tim Mohr and Kieran McShane gave glimpses of promise before eventually being swamped by their bigger, stronger, more experienced Casey Scorpion opponents at Bellerive yesterday.
Halfway through the final quarter the sixth-placed Scorpions led by just 26 points -- almost a "victory" for the bottom-dwelling Devils, with a side made up of 68 per cent of players under 20 years of age.
Reported by Brett Stubbs
IN a VFL season as bleak as this one for Tasmania, even the slightest hint of light warms the Devils' hearts.
In what has become an audition for the Devils' "generation next", the likes of Aaron Joseph, Alex Grima, Tom Bellchambers, Jaye Bowden, Tim Mohr and Kieran McShane gave glimpses of promise before eventually being swamped by their bigger, stronger, more experienced Casey Scorpion opponents at Bellerive yesterday.
Halfway through the final quarter the sixth-placed Scorpions led by just 26 points -- almost a "victory" for the bottom-dwelling Devils, with a side made up of 68 per cent of players under 20 years of age.
Eventually, like so many matches before, the longer the game went the worse the Devils became, with Casey kicking the final six goals of the match to win comfortably by 61 points, 16.18 (114) to 8.5 (53).
It was the Devils' 14th loss in 16 games this season.
The home side actually won the first and third quarters, but in between were kept goalless when kicking towards the Church St or members' end, and were even scoreless at that end in the second term.
Grima was assured and creative in the backline, Joseph competitive around the ball, while big Bellchambers took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal with his first VFL kick.
Repeatedly the younger Devils were caught holding the ball, but it did not stop them trying to take on their bigger opponents and trying to run and break the lines.
"They did put themselves into the contest and that is all you want," Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said.
"Some decision-making stuff in terms of when to get rid of it, that comes back to training together more often and knowing what your teammates are going to do.
"We are working towards that next year."
Compared with the youthful Devils, Casey had the likes of AFL-experienced players Brett Voss (24 touches, two goals) and Andrew Thompson (28 possessions).
Added to this, Saints-listed forward Fergus Watts kicked seven goals against undersized defenders, while another fellow Saint, former King Islander Barry Brooks, starred and will be one of the first names on the Devils' recruiting hit-list should he be chopped at the end of the season from the AFL.
