Tasmania Devils news

Headache for Devils coach

By Robbo May 14, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE unique vagaries faced in leading the Devils are having a detrimental effect on coach Daryn Cresswell's game plan.

In the wake of the Devils' horrible 114-point thrashing at the hands of Werribee on Saturday, Cresswell said the "whole state" approach was causing headaches with his run-at-all-costs blueprint.

While Cresswell's predecessor Mathew Armstrong believed in the centralised system -- getting the majority of his team based in Hobart so the players could constantly train together -- Cresswell wanted to open the Devils up to the entire state by having regional training squads in the South, North and North-West.

This brought in an influx of players from northern Tasmania, but it has not brought results, with the Devils losing their past five games and sitting above last place by percentage only.

"It is pretty hard because obviously with the three regions I am finding it pretty difficult to deal with and it makes it very hard," Cresswell said.

Bedevilled by a thrashing

By Robbo May 13, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE Devils wore their white away jumper for the first time yesterday, and then flew the white flag.

A pathetic, uncompetitive Devils were belted and humiliated to the tune of 114 points by Werribee, 31.14 (200) to 12.14 (86).

Werribee had never been defeated by the Devils and kicked their highest score against Tasmania -- and only 33 points less than its highest VFL score -- as it inflicted their third heaviest defeat in the Devils' history.

After winning their opening game, the Devils have now lost their past five. But yesterday's performance was clearly the worst and left new coach Daryn Cresswell struggling to find answers for the lack of fight in his listless side.

Passion and pride was for so long the trademark of this team, and factors which kept fans coming back even in defeat. But yesterday those factors were decidely absent.

When asked if the players were hurting after the game, Cresswell said: "No, I don't believe they are.

Last chance to hit form

By Robbo May 12, 2007
From Hobart Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

PLAYING Werribee at Bartercard Oval today represents the "Last Chance Saloon" for a number of experienced Devils and their finals chances.

Devils' coach Daryn Cresswell said yesterday if his side loses today, slipping to a 1-5 win-loss record for the season, it is time to put a line through the season and rebuild for the future.

"The guys realise how important the game is," Cresswell said.

"If we can't win this week we will just have to play more young kids and probably the older guys will get overlooked because we just have to start developing.

"If we don't win this week, our chances of making the finals are pretty slim so we will have to start looking to the future. Blokes like (Ben) Fagan, (Sam) Fielding and (James) Charlesworth will get more opportunities to play at this level."

Hawks too steady for fighting Devils

By Robbo May 06, 2007
From Sunday Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards

THE Tassie Devils fought valiantly but suffered their fourth straight loss of the season going down to the Box Hill Hawks by 13 points in their VFL clash at Bellerive Oval yesterday.

The Devils played with plenty of commitment and desire and refused to give up in a frenetic last quarter in which they kicked four goals against the wind to twice get within six points of the Hawks.

But a Jarryd Morton goal at the 24-minute mark steadied the Hawks as Tasmania pressed the advantage before Beau Dowler's after-the-siren shot gave Box Hill a 13.17 (95) to 12.10 (82) victory.

Devils' coach Daryn Cresswell would have been heartened by his side's work rate and effort but frustrated still by skill errors and poor decision-making in disposal which proved costly throughout the game.

The bottom of the ladder Hawks were winless before yesterday's game but fielded their best side so far this season against the Devils with 10 AFL-listed players including the senior experience of Joel Smith, Beau Muston, Josh Thurgood and Zac Dawson.

Tassie left in limbo

By Robbo May 05, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

AFL Tasmania will not enter a new three-year agreement with AFL Victoria while the future of the VFL remains unknown.

The Devils three-year VFL license expires at the end of this season.

AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker and general manager Scott Wade discussed the situation with AFL Victoria chairman Bob Tregear and chief executive Peter Schwab late yesterday.

The AFL is currently reviewing the second-tier competition. A report is to be handed down later this year.

The review is believed to focus on the competitions or teams where AFL-listed players will play when not selected in their senior teams.

Schwab, a former Hawthorn player and coach, said the review has made it hard for VFL clubs to plan for the future.

"Until they complete that review we are all sort of guessing really," Schwab said yesterday.

Devils plot to end losing streak

By Robbo May 01, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

DEVILS co-captains Brett Geappen and Scott Stephens held player-only meetings in their respective regions last night to address the team's three-game losing streak and try to come up with a plan to form closer bonds with the Kangaroos players.

After starting the season with an away win, the Devils have dropped their past three games, including a home 52-point loss to Frankston on Saturday that prompted Geappen (South) and Stephens (North) to address their squads.

Geappen said high on the agenda would be the relationship with the Kangaroos players ahead of Saturday's Bellerive game against winless Box Hill.

"It is about making that work. We are going to put some steps in place to get the group gelling more," Geappen said yesterday.

"That is one area we are going to talk about."

Hard days ahead for soft Devils

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

IN a scathing assessment of the Tasmanian Devils, coach Daryn Cresswell has described his players as too pampered and not fit enough after their 52-point VFL mauling by Frankston in Launceston on Saturday night.

The stand-alone Dolphins gave Tasmania a lesson in pride in their jumper and commitment to their teammates.

Cresswell said the Devils should follow working-class Frankston's formula as they prepare to meet Box Hill at Bellerive on Saturday.

"Pampered, that's an understatement with our boys, pampered," Cresswell said. "They've got the best facilities going round and we could learn something from Frankston."

The Tasmanians were warned about Frankston's fight.

Dolphins swamp the Devils

By Robbo April 29, 2007
From Sunday Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards

THE Tassie Devils must have felt like the Anzacs under fire on the beaches of Gallipoli as they succumbed to superior enemy fire- power in their Anzac Day commemoration match against Frankston at Aurora Stadium yesterday.

The Devils were never in the hunt for the Alec Campbell Cup as a fitter, stronger and more skilful Dolphins outfit gave the home side a football lesson which left Devils coach Daryn Cresswell seething after the game - Tasmania meekly surrendering 15.12 (102) to 7.8 (50).

Frankston led at every change extending their nine-point quarter time lead to 21 points at half-time, 34 at three-quarter time before finally forcing Tasmania to capitulate by 52 points, in a disappointing display.

The Devils showed plenty of endeavour and a willingness to run and carry the ball but were plagued by skill errors, fumbles and costly turn-overs.

They also struggled to kick goals all night with full-forward Adam Derbyshire held goalless and Brodie Moles the only multiple goal-kicker with two.

The non-aligned Dolphins on the other hand were more systematic in their movement of the ball.

They rebounded skilfully from a rock-solid defence and were far more accurate in disposal by foot and hand going forward.

Small forward Justin Berry was a stand-out booting five goals for the Dolphins in best-on-ground performance as he continually found space, winning the Frank McDonald medal for Frankston's best.

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