Tasmania Devils news

Saultry said in Saturday's Mercury Port was like a new club after cutting its ties with the Kangaroos at the end of 2005.

"I think he (Saultry) should stick to running his own footy club and not worry about ours," Cresswell said.

"I thought the Kangaroos players were terrific (against Port Melbourne) and I have got nothing but praise for our involvement with the Kangaroos and the way they have gone about things in the way they have structured things with players coming down.

"I challenged the players coming down and today they stood up, every one of them."

Cresswell had the Mercury article pinned up on the white board in the changerooms prior to Saturday's 26-point loss to Port Melbourne in front of 1825 fans at Bellerive, with Saultry's comments highlighted and under a headline of "Everybody Read!"

Cresswell has had a tough initiation to VFL coaching with the side languishing on the bottom of the ladder with one win from seven games.

"Although we are 1-6, at three-quarter time in three of those six losses we have been in front," Cresswell said.

"That's because we are so young, a new team. A lot of these guys haven't played much footy together."

Cresswell is among many Tasmanians angered at the state being overlooked in favour of a New South Wales-Queensland team in tentative plans for an AFL State-of-Origin series next season.

"It is pretty ridiculous. We are a traditional footy state down here," Cresswell said of the snub.

"Queensland and New South Wales get it served up to them on a silver platter, the money . . .

"We would beat Queensland (State-of-Origin team). They are a bit fragile.

After a successful alignment with Sydney ended for financial reasons after the 2002 season, Port entered a deal with the Kangaroos, before opting to be a stand-alone club after three unsuccessful years.

"It's a good feeling, there is a brightness about the club," Saultry said ahead of today's Devils-Port Melbourne game at Bellerive.

"There is just a feeling about the boys when they play. We are happy as a club. The decisions are made by our club, we have full control of what goes on.

"We have nobody interfering with anything we do. We give an opportunity to 22 players to play at this level."

AFL Tasmania is considering its future, which could include cutting the Devils' partial alignment with the Kangaroos after 1½ unsuccessful years both on and off the field.

"Tasmanian crowds have dropped off," Saultry said. "They are passionate about their sport and they don't see that passion with bringing these (Kangaroos) players in."

"He is just a very smart player and he knows where the drop of the ball is," Cresswell said.

"It is good he has got an opportunity at this level and I am sure he will be able to cope more than adequately."

Apart from playing for Glenorchy, Cornelius has already experienced playing senior-elite level, lining up on Fremantle's Michael Johnson while representing the AIS team.

"He gave Johnston a bit of a touch up, took 10 or 12 marks in the first half on him," Cresswell said. "He is very mature for his age and I spoke to his dad (former New Norfolk rover David) and he's really keen to have a crack at it and I'm sure he will handle himself very well."

But the pressure is on some of the Kangaroos players to help lift the last-placed Devils.

But all that will be forgotten on Saturday when Thurley joins a select group of Tasmanians to play 100 VFL matches when the Devils clash with Port Melbourne.

Only three Devils before him -- Ian Callinan, Ben Atkin and current captain Brett Geappen -- have reached the magic three figures.

"Once you get over there (Melbourne) it's all exciting and it is great to play one game," Thurley said of his AFL experience.