A FREEZING night in Launceston and just a four-day break could not
stop the Tasmanian Devils warming up for the VFL finals with a 28-point win
over Coburg Tigers at Aurora Stadium last night.
The Devils played with finals-like intensity in the first half when they raced to a 55-point lead.
But the short turnaround from last Sunday's stunning victory on the big Bendigo ground brought the Devils to a crawl in the second half.
That didn't stop the passionate crowd of 4094 cheering the Tasmanians all the way to their 18.4 (112) to 13.6 (84) win.
Despite being out-scored five goals to three in the fourth quarter, coach Mathew Armstrong said his side had earned the right to play finals football after their eighth win on the trot.
"There's no doubt about it, it's a pretty special effort to come from where we've come from, my word they deserve to be there,'' Armstrong said.
"It's a bloody sensational effort.''
As the Devils' focus shifts to the final roster match against Williamstown in Melbourne next weekend, there is concern for midfielder Luke Shackleton.
"Shack'' was rushed to hospital for x-rays after injuring his ankle in the opening term, and may miss the first final.
His ankle will be fully assessed today once the swelling begins to subside.
His teammates did him proud.
Their efforts in the first half embarrassed Coburg, and with names like Raines, Roach, Monteath and Bourke in their line-up, it was easy to tell the Tigers were aligned to AFL club Richmond.
"The boys did a great job in the first half, but in the second half they looked tired, they looked flat,'' Armstrong said.
"We're still not getting four quarters of football, so I think they need a really good hit-out on the track this week before we play Williamstown. "I've got to try and keep them going.
"We'll make sure we have a good rehab session in the morning and do all the right things next week.''
Vice-captain Matthew Geappen led a devastating midfield in the first half when he racked up 19 possessions, but his legs only got him to another
six in the second half. Skipper Ben Beams was on fire up forward in the
first half when he bagged four goals, but that was it for the night.
Tasmania held on to sixth position on the ladder, and is now guaranteed a home final at Bellerive on two weeks.
Final Scores
TASMANIA 5.0 13.2 15.4 18.4 (112)
COBURG TIGERS 2.1 5.1 8.3 13.6 (84)
Goals: Tasmania: Beams 4 Plapp 3 Callinan 3 Hall 2 Atkin Ronaldson Robinson Heazlewood Lonergan M Geappen. Coburg: Randello 3 Houlihan 2 Polo 2 Rix 2 Morrison 2 Jorgensen Gilmour.
Best: Tasmania: Jovanovic Setchell Street Callinan Plapp Iles. Coburg: Roach Rix Morrison Houlihan Randello McKinnon.
Reports: Nil. At Aurora Stadium.
Last Modified on 15/08/2005 12:18