Deadly Demons side honoured

A TEAM that dominated the Statewide League on its way to the 1987 TFL premiership and sparked the AFL careers of four players will be inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame at Wrest Point on June 23.

North Hobart will be welcomed as a Legendary Team and Demons president Craig Martin could not be happier, given the club has gone back to its traditional name this season after five years as Hobart City Demons.

“It’s a great honour for the North Hobart footy club for this magnificent era in the club’s history to be recognised in this way,” he said.

A crowd of 17,094 people watched North Hobart beat Glenorchy by 52 points in 1987 and Demons Bradley Plain, Simon Minton-Connell, Darren Davies and David Noble went on to have AFL careers.

Darryn Perry, who dominated that day as the Dees’ gun onballer, said it was the best team he had played in.

“We had a fantastic year. We only lost two games all year and we won most games convincingly,” Perry said.

“It was an extremely talented side. We won the second semi easily against Glenorchy, so we went into the grand final very confident and turned it on on the day and won easily.

“It was such a good team that we knew we only had to bring commitment and desire and no one would get near us.”

Terry Moore dominated across half-back that day, Danny Keegan was the league’s best tagger and Neil Noye joined the goalfest with three from his wing.

That grand final sparked a run of success for the club, which won four premierships over the next six seasons.