A CARLTON-packed Northern Bullants have two chinks in their armour going into their VFL clash with the Tasmanian Devils at Devonport Oval today
- the big ground and a bad away record.
The third-placed Bullants have an impressive 5-3 win-loss ratio going into the round nine match compared to Tasmania's lowly 1-6.
But the Bullants have won only once on the road this season and have yet to win on a big ground.
Bullants coach Barry Mitchell, the former Sydney Swans rover, said yesterday his side was probably suited to a tighter contest.
"We're undefeated at home so far, and it's [Preston City Oval] not a big ground,'' Mitchell said. "We beat Coburg at Punt Rd, which is not a big ground, and that's our only win away from home.
"We certainly need to start winning games away from home if we want to be considered a finals contender.''
The Bullants have a change of personnel for the Tasmanian match.
They lost two midfielders, Justin Davies and Heath Scotland, and ruckman Chris Bryan.
They gained two midfielders, Tasmanian Simon Wiggins and Kade Simpson, and 202cm ruckman Adrian Deluca.
The Devils were forced to shuffle the deck chairs yesterday when forward Justin Plapp failed a fitness test on a calf strain.
He was replaced in the 22 by run-with specialist Kane Richter.
Two players will make their VFL debut today -- Mariners forward-midfielder Sam Lonergan and Clarence full-forward Daniel Archer.
Archer's strong overhead marking and decisive leading should straighten-up the Devils in that they can now head directly for the big sticks.
Goals have been coming from opportunists such as Ian Callinan and Ben Beams, while last week bigman Brendan Savage topped the goalkicking with three.
The midfield needs to be at the top of its game to combat the Bullants' Carlton-listed midfielders like Glen Bowyer, Jordan Bannister, Troy Longmuir, Brett Johnson, Jordan Russell and Anthony Raso.
Over the years, the Devils have held the ascendancy over the Bullants, boasting a 3-1 win-loss ratio.
Mitchell believes the Devils are a better side than their record shows.
The match starts at 2pm.
By: JAMES BRESNEHAN
Last Modified on 04/06/2005 09:55