After two nail-biting matches in consecutive weeks providing contrasting results, Tasmania Devils coach Adrian Fletcher has praised the composure, resilience and belief of his young group.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With a match-up against perennial junior powerhouses Dandenong Stingrays looming, the Devils come in off the back of an after the siren win against the Bendigo Pioneers, featuring a clutch goal from Jye Menzie to secure the victory.
"When you look back to the Oakleigh Chargers game, we didn't have that composure in the last minute and a half," Fletcher said.
"On the weekend in Bendigo, we showed composure, resilience, belief and that was probably the pleasing factor for the team."
Actions in tight situations were then analysed at training following the one-point Oakleigh Chargers loss in round six and the side were able to learn from their previous mistake and flip the result on Sunday.
"Jye Menzie took his chance, Oli Davis kicked it lace out with ten seconds to go and Menzie marks it then [Jackson] Callow said 'you've gotta kick this to win the game' and he did, which is exciting. To win on the road is fantastic for the group."
Following the win, the Devils are set to face the Stingrays, who currently sit atop the leaderboard unbeaten with five wins and a draw in a curtain-raiser to North Melbourne and Sydney's clash at Bellerive Oval.
With the likes of Adam Treloar, Luke Parker and Lachie Whitfield products of the Stingrays' success in the past, the Devils face a major test in their team's growth on Saturday afternoon as Fletcher complimented the side's over-age players and their potential to get drafted after putting the onus on them last week.
"We challenged them and so we should. I don't speak about age anymore at the moment because I've realised it's about the team. It doesn't matter how old you are, it's about your performance on game day.
"Rhyan Mansell is starting to step up, [Lachlan] Gadomski is starting to step up. We'll probably play Hamish Allan this week who is a 19-year-old, 205cm ruckman. It's exciting.
"We all think they are going to be drafted because that's why we've got them in our program.
"We aren't going to let an over-age player come into our program if we don't think they have the attributes of playing at the top level."
The Devils sit in seventh spot on the NAB League ladder, with three wins and losses.