The Tassie Devils have moved into the top four on the VFL ladder with a 63-point win over an undermanned Richmond on a saturated UTas Stadium in Launceston. The Devils handled the slippery conditions far better and held the Tigers to just three goals for the match. Inaccuracy costing the Tasmanians a greater margin at the final siren winning 11.19.85 to 3.4.22.
Jed Hagan and Sam Siggins each kicked two goals for the victors while Jye Menzies gathered 36 possessions and Bailey Boag pressured the Tigers with nine tackles. Hugh Dixon got the Devils going with the first goal inside five minutes and he had other chances in the quarter however persistent rain made life difficult for shots on goal. The Tigers got on the board through Joshua Pollock 23 minutes in but then a late goal to Kai Cameron saw the home side lead by twelve points at quarter-time.
The Devils continued to find avenues to goal in the second term adding four majors while holding Richmond scoreless. Nineteen shots to just two told the story at half-time with the Devils leading by 42-points. An early goal to Jack Callinan stretched the Devil’s lead in the third term and it wasn’t until the eighteen-minute-mark when Richmond scored their next goal thanks to a long bomb from outside fifty at the Invermay Road end to South Australian Zane Peucker.
Liam George scored another for the visitors in time-on and they went into the huddle winning the third quarter 2.2 to 1.3 but still trailed by 37-points at the final change. Nelson Beikoff-Smart kicked his first goal for the Devils six minutes into the final quarter and then Menzie finally kicked truly after missing three prior. Siggins scored his second before Caleb Mitchell goaled after the siren to end the Tigers misery in Launceston.
The Devils dominance was clear for the fans who braved the conditions especially there inside fifty count at 63 compared to their opponents 37. A disposal count of 393 for the Devils and 292 for the Tigers underlining the home side’s work rate. Major ball winners for the Devils apart from Menzie was Mitchell with 31 disposals and Zac Adams with 25. For Richmond Lachlan Street had 25, Leo Connolly 18, Kaleb Smith 17 and Sampson Ryan (16) who won the ruck duels with 39 hit outs.
Next round sees the Devils head over Bass Strait to play lowly Sandringham in a game they should win while Richmond could get back on the winners list against North Melbourne at ETU Stadium in Melbourne.
