IN footy, if you can possibly help it, don't send kids on a men's
job.
Because of a rash of injuries, the Devils had no choice in
yesterday's second-last-round VFL clash with Williamstown at Burbank Oval.
Given the brace of rookies aged from 17 to 19 the Devils fielded,
the 84-point belting they got from the Collingwood-aligned Seagulls -- 21.13
(139) to 7.13 (55) -- wasn't unexpected.
It was a dramatic contrast to last season's final-round clash with
them on the same bayside when the Devils got home by five points in a
thriller and went on to make the second elimination final.
This time the Devils' finish to the season was disappointing if not
unexpected for Brendon Bolton, who replaced disenchanted Mathew Armstrong as
coach in mid-July.
With a brace of rookies as young as 17, 18 and 19, it was hardly
surprising that the Devils found themselves 37 points down at quarter-time
in a 8.4 to 2.3 ambush which set the tone for the rest of the match.
Even though the VFL Record still lists Armstrong
as the Devils' coach, Bolton refused to buckle after the Seagulls'
avalanche.
``It's not been easy coming in as coach midway through the season,
but I'm excited at having the chance to play up-and-coming talent like Jack
Riewoldt, Mitch Thorp, Colin Garland, Gareth Delaney, James Armstrong and
Aaron Joseph,'' Bolton said.
``We've got a lot of work to do, but at the same time I'm sure we
can get a lot more out of those players given time and hard work.''
What didn't please Bolton was his players' reluctance to back their
skills by too often zoning off.
Rival coach Brad Gotch couldn't have been happier about his build-up
to the finals.
``Our intensity is a barometer of how well we play and when our hard
work in the first quarter was rewarded with 8.4 to 2.3 I knew we were in for
a good day,'' Gotch said.
``And when we held them against the wind I felt pretty confident we
could go on with the job which we did.''
Adam Iacobucci did more than he was asked, shutting down Devils
skipper Ben Beams as well as racking up 24 possessions himself.
Heath Lawry was a winning forward, leading and marking strongly to
finish with six goals.
Williamstown also ruled the midfield, thanks to the busy trio of
Steven Greene, Scott Pendlebury and Brett Johnson, who racked up 29, 27 and
26 possessions respectively.
By: DAVID STOCKDALE
Last Modified on 25/08/2006 09:21