Exiting Tasmania Devils coach Cameron Joyce will be a huge loss to the program, says Launceston coach Mitch Thorp.
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A former general manager of football at North Melbourne, Joyce was announced as the new head coach of AFLW side Gold Coast earlier this week, with Suns boss Mark Evans labelling him the "standout candidate" for the role.
Joyce will spend another month in Tasmania, where he led the NAB League Girls side to a finals campaign and the boys' outfit to a 2-1 start to the season, before departing for the new role.
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Thorp, who has eight players in the Devils program, said he was hoping for better continuity for the state's best teens after another ex-coach, Adrian Fletcher, departed in 2019 after just one year at the helm.
"I think we've seen it before unfortunately that coaches have come and gone and full credit to Cam for getting that job - obviously it was a great opportunity for him and his family," Thorp said.
"I've spoken to our Devils boys and they've got some real mixed emotions around it - they'd obviously like to see the year out with their coach.
"They've put together a strong game plan and they've won some games and are feeling quite positive about Tassie footy.
"So there is a silver lining to it, but it just unsettles our Devils boys.
"I'm pretty confident with the staff we do have they can manage it through for the rest of the year but it is a little bit unsettling."
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