A dominant forward performance from Western Australian duo Jedd Busslinger (three goals) and Kane Bevan (two) ended Tasmania's under-15 group stages with a 10.8 (58) to 5.2 (32) loss at Invermay Park.
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Held scoreless in the first quarter as their opponents piled on four goals, it wasn't until a Dillon Goss set-shot from the boundary moments before the half-time siren that the home side got a major on the board.
As Braidy Simpson kicked the first after the break, a glimmer of hope shone across the Devils unit as rumblings reminiscent of the girls' comeback against the WA unit began taking place but Bevan and Busslinger showed their class and put them to rest.
Liam Howard and Lachie Cowan goaled late in the last as the Devils ran home strong, with coach Adrian Goodwin impressed with their performance.
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"WA's early intensity didn't take us by surprise but their cleanness early was very good," he said.
"We made some adjustments at quarter-time, they structured up a bit differently to when I first watched them and then we started to win our own footy and get some shots at goal."
Northern prospect Ryley Sanders led the procession for the Devils with Goodwin full of praise for the young livewire's performance.
"Riley was outstanding. His poise and decision-making set us up coming off half-back."
Kalon Nicholls' defensive work, Cowan and Goss' presentation and class, Isaac Hyatt's showing on Western Australian small forwards and Tom McCulloch's marking ability on the wing all impressed the coach.
Rounding out the group stage with a win and two losses, the Devils are set to face ACT with the winner to play off for fifth and sixth.
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