2:00 PM Saturday 10 of May at the AUSTAR Arena, Ballarat
Still over a week way due to the split round but i can't wait to see how the Devils stack up against there strongest opponent yet. North Ballarat are a well coach team with a strong VFL list and the better half of the Kangaroos alignment backing them up makes them a real premiership dark horse. The Devils a completely different team to the rabble last year are competitive all across the ground and are playing with more passion now that they have jettison there half of the Kangaroos alignment.
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Go Roosters!
DEVILS coach Daryn Cresswell is preparing to tackle a North Ballarat outfit which he thinks continueS to underestimate the talent of his side.
Tasmania heads to Austar Arena for tomorrow's important match against the VFL ladder leaders, who are now partially aligned with North Melbourne's AFL team.
The Roosters sit equal first with Williamstown (4-1), with the Devils (3-2) one of six teams just one win behind.
Tomorrow is shaping as a vital game for Cresswell's men, who are fighting to regain respectability after the horrors of last season.
And with two former North Ballarat players, Lachlan George and Justin Hardy, squaring off against former teammates for the first time there is sure to be added spice to the contest.
The Roosters were reluctant to let both players go at the end of last season.
Cresswell's information from Melbourne is the opposition still has no respect for the Devils.
"I don't think they rate us to be honest, our players are aware of that," Cresswell said yesterday.
"Just a few stories we have heard, obviously footy circles travel far and wide and we seem to think they don't rate us. They think we are playing above ourselves, they think if they apply a lot of pressure on us we will fold up like a pack of cards, like we did last year," Cresswell said.
"It's an eight-point game. We get the opportunity to play a top-of-the-ladder team and if we win we can get some more credibility back.
"We have taken a small step in the right direction but you can lose that pretty quickly."
Forced changes from the win over Casey two weeks ago have given Cresswell the chance to blood some new faces this weekend.
Midfielder Paul Koulouriotis is out for six to eight weeks with a cracked bone in his foot while Mitch Robinson and Aaron Cornelius have under-18 duties.
Glenorchy's Matthew Smith will make his Devils debut after impressing at SFL level, Tom Langford returns from injury while swingman Andrew Cox is back for his first game of the season due to work commitments.
A cloud still hangs over Tim Hazell, with the vice-captain named on an extended interchange bench.
Another player named for the bench is Clarence's Mitch Williamson, who kicked nine goals last weekend to also be in the mix for a VFL debut.
The Devils will train at Austar Arena today ahead of the 2pm bounce tomorrow.
Adam Smith
SOURCE: The Mercury 9th 2008
Cresswell is talking crap. Just spin.
No team coached by by Gerard Fitzgerald is ever going to underestimate its opposition and never shows disrespect towards its opponent.
Just trying to claim under dog status
North Ballarat18.7-115
Tasmania 9.12-66
North Ballarat
Goal Kickers: P. McMahon 5, J. Smith 3, M. Wundke 3, J. Spolding 2, T. Roach 2, R. McHugh, S. Clifton, M. Sewell
Best Players: O. Stephenson, B. Grima, B. Goodes, S. Clifton, T. Roach, A. Swallow
Tasmania
Goal Kickers: J. Charlesworth 2, T. Bongetti 2, L. Shackleton, T. Langford, T. Plummer, M. Creese, J. Vearing
Best Players: A. Gilmour, S. Plummer, L. George, B. Geappen, M. Smith, T. Bongetti
Congrats to Nth Ballart looks like you out classed us and you are finals bound. Also shows the Devils have a lot of work to do if they won't to play finals.
If Cresswell is so up to speed with the way footy gossip travels around the 'circles' he'd know he's been spouting bullshit. And Fitz knows it too.
Cresswell is a dickhead on a fast track to coaching in the minor country leagues.
Congrats to North Ballarat they are obviously travelling very well - good combination of VFL and AFL players blending well together. Well deserved win right from the start by the look of it
No need to get personal with Cressa - time will tell how he will go although he is not winning friends! He has taken the hard road with playing young players who are not always consistent but it is the right way for Tasmanian football
Always had a lot of time Fitzgerald always holds himself very well and is a great coach and I love a regional team going well which obviously has passionate supporters
Devils will regroup and i tip them to sneak in to the finals. Pleased to see the Under 18's going well will be good to get Cornelius and Robinson back
Well done the Roosters
Perhaps next time Daryn Cresswell decides to mouth off about the opposition he might at least have the decency to show up for the aftermatch when he been beaten fair and square! At least his players and staff did so.
Tassie my boy ? well said. Very sporting of you
It is a terrible shame that your coach does not concentrate on developing your list of very good young players. His snide cvomments of last week were unacceptable in bagging Gerard Fitzgerald's integrity, who is very well respected in football circles. Furthermore his non show at the aftermatch & failure to talk to local & ABC radio was nothing short of disgraceful. AFL Tasmania should kick his arse. Congratulations to Paul.....? and the rest of the tassie team for attending.
I believe that the scoreboard was a little flattering to the roosters who gained an excellent start but the devils got within 23 points into the third quarter and the game was still in the balance going into the last quarter.
Some really good players were Gilmour, Bongetti, Charlesworth, Setchell & Thurley dominated the first half.
Did not see much of George, & Hardy played reasonably well. I think Hardy will be drafted next year because of his size. The AFL scouts wet their pants when they see blokes that size.
hey,
was a great game wasnt impressed with the amount of injouris tho was pretty rought game. entertaining all the same however. :wink: