Tasmania Devils will blood fresh meat on Saturday when they step foot on Kingston's Twin Ovals as the futures rounds hit the NAB League competition.
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Taking place over the next two weeks, the futures rounds enable sides to pick a 24th player for their side, but a minimum of 11 16 or 17-year-olds must take a position within the side.
Going head-to-head with Northern Knights, who sit one spot below the 10th-placed Devils on the ladder, the futures rounds have enforced a raft of changes for the Devils with Sam Banks and Bailey Gordon unavailable with state under-16 duties and Ryan Banks-Smith, Lachlan Gadomski and Matt McGuinness all forced out due to age restrictions.
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Star duo Sam Collins and Oliver Davis return from Allies duties with Clarence pair Sam Green and Tyler Penwright named on the extended bench but four Devils will make their debuts with North Hobart trio Jacques Barwick, Axel Moore and Thomas Reeves, as well as Devonpor's Blair Ryan set to feature, a prospect which excites coach Adrian Fletcher.
"It's about the recruiters looking at next year's draft and if they are going to trade out picks, they are looking at what's available in two years time," Fletcher said.
"We give our 17-year-olds an opportunity to pull on our guernsey against a good outfit in the Knights. We play eight as it is but we give three more an opportunity and play 11 on Saturday."
Fletcher expects good speed from the debutants with Moore bringing a bigger body to the side.
Devils Squad
Liam Viney, Oscar Shaw, Patrick Walker, Ben Simpson, Joseph Chaplin, Sam Collins, Jacques Barwick, Sam Lewis-Johnson, Isaac Chugg, Jye Menzie, Jackson Callow, Lachlan Borsboom, Will Harper, Jordan Lane, Thomas Reeves, Jake Steele, Oliver Burrows-Cheng, Ethan Jackson, Oliver Davis, Will Peppin, Harry Ireland, Oliver Sanders, Sam Green, Axel Moore, Blair Ryan, Tyler Penwright, Zach Adams
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
