The Tasmanian Devils did coach Cameron Joyce proud in his last match as coach, beating the Dandenong Stingrays 11.17 (83) to 9.2 (56) on Sunday.
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A week after Essendon and Hawthorn butted heads in Launceston, the Devils and Stingrays made use of a primed UTAS Stadium with the former showing pressure across all four quarters.
"I'm really pleased that the boys could get a win," Joyce said.
"To be 4-2 after six rounds, we've had a couple of close ones but I think the boys have done a great job. I'm just happy for them off the back of the win."
The Devils were able to build a reasonable lead thanks to the pressure in the midfield, which kept Stingrays entries limited.
But after a strong start, the Devils' forward line waned on their aggressiveness, allowing Dandenong to up the clearances with ease and build pressure in the centre.
In the third quarter, the Devils pieced together decent running lanes thanks to an athletic effort by the midfielders, including Sams Tilley and Foley, of Launceston.
Captain and North Launceston mid Baynen Lowe also proved to be a difference-maker, particularly in the latter terms.
This was despite an apparent shoulder injury that nagged him the entire game. In spite of this, the 18-year-old darted around the contests in the fourth quarter in a clutch outing.
"He's [Lowe] been super ... he's led from the front," Joyce said.
"He just works, and works, and works, and is now starting to put some people on notice that he can seriously play the game and mix it with some of the best of the NAB League midfielders I reckon."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT:
But the forward-line continued to struggle in converting entries, with a number of wayward kicks rolling in for behinds.
"It was one of those things where it was just about being able to create those shots," Joyce said.
"Sometimes, that's the hard bit. Yes, of course you want to kick them but just being able to create the scoring shots is a big part of it.
"What I said to the team was if they keep creating the shots, we will get reward for effort.
"It had a little bit to do with composure at times too, just going through some routines whether it's from a set-shot or taking that little bit of extra time over the ball."
The day wasn't without its standouts, however, with Devils half-forward Tom McCallum proving to be particularly aggressive across the forward flanks and in front of goal. The 17-year-old tallied two goals across the afternoon.
He was joined by smaller forwards Bailey Gillow of Launceston (two goals) and North Hobart's Jye Menzie (three) who, as the game went on, composed their form in front of goal to get their side on a hot streak.
Launceston's Tony Aganas, who continued to be bullish in the centre and inside 50, also nabbed a goal.
"It was one of those games where we just had to keep persisting and grinding," Joyce said.
"Even though our scoring shots were a lot more than Dandenong's, the margin was still close enough for them.
"We just had to keep persisting and persisting to give ourselves opportunities and, to the boys' credit, they did that."
On the back-end, another Blues talent Zach Morris as well as Clarence's Baker Smith attacked entries well throughout, ensuring they stood between the Stingrays' forwards and any incoming balls.
Reef Bourn, Braidy Simpson and Launceston's Alex Davies also stood out in their Devils debuts. After beating the sixth-placed Stingrays, the seventh-placed Devils will move up the board with a record of 4-2.
Post-game, Joyce told the team how proud he was of their efforts during his tenure, praising their unity as a strength that will hold them in good stead entering the latter portion of the NAB League season.
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