THE Devils have spent the week hitting the books as they prepare for what coach Mathew Armstrong believes is a season-defining game away against Geelong on Sunday.
After three wins in a row, the Devils are preparing to face a Geelong team hit by injuries and languishing in last place on the VFL ladder.
In an attempt to keep their feet on the ground, Armstrong has got each Devil to do a detailed report on every VFL Cat who played for Geelong last week.
"It is about respecting their opposition," Armstrong said yesterday.
"When they go out on the ground, they don't have to wait to see what happens. They actually know a little bit about the person and the individual they are playing on."
Devils and VFL full-back Mathew Jovanovic (calf) and utility Tim Geappen (suspension) have come straight back in for Tasmania, and Armstrong has promoted Todd Grima (Mariners), Nick Paine (Clarence), Markham Johnson
(Hobart) and Leigh Walker (North Hobart), with four of the squad to be cut today.
Armstrong said that, despite kicking 14 goals in the national under-18 championships, including a bag of 10, Grima would play only in an emergency, even with full-forward Daniel Archer sidelined with a knee injury.
He said if the Devils (10th) were to be any chance of making the finals, they had to win on Sunday, especially with the bye to follow.
"We have got four away games and two at home to finish with, and they [the Cats] are below us on the ladder," Armstrong said.
"They are an AFL-aligned club, but it is an opportunity for us to win a game away and that is very important."
The Cats have named two Tasmanians, former Devil Cameron Thurley and full-forward Jarrod Garth.
They are also waiting on the availability of centre half-forward Tom Lonergan, who was suspended for a week. The Cats' appeal against the decision will be heard today.
Teams for Sunday
Tasmania
B Shackleton Jovanovic N.Grima
HB Stephens Savage Street
C Atkin Setchell Wager
HF Hall Britton Plapp
F Beams Richter Callinan
R Ronaldson M Geappen Robinson
Int Paine Henley Brown T Geappen Walker Johnson B Geappen T Grima
Geelong
B Buckland N Ablett Sheringham
HB Callan Spencer D Byrne
C Prismall J Byrne Batchelor
HF Trenfield Lonergan Mackie
F Cook Garth Cheep
R Blake Thurley Rahilly
IntRyan Lovick Graham Bolton Torney Braddock Condy
Last Modified on 08/07/2005 12:15