Demons to go for jugular
No playing safe in finals bid
NORTH Hobart coach Richard Robinson has promised to unleash a “high octane” brand against Clarence as the Demons chase an unlikely TSL finals berth.
The Dees snapped a sevenmatch losing skid against Glen orchy on Sunday, spoiling the State League farewell of Jaye Bowden in the process, to move off the bottom of the ladder.
The thrilling three-point victory has also given the side a mathematical chance of snatching fourth spot from the Roos and featuring in the finals for the first time since 2011.
North heads to Richmond Oval needing to makeup more than 22 per cent on Clarence — most likely in the ballpark of an 80-point victory.
The Tigers would also need to lose to Lauderdale for the Demons to leapfrog into the topfour.
While a highly unlikely scenario, Robinson will roll the dice and not die wondering.
“Next week we will just take the game on, move the footy as quickly as we can,” Robinson said.
“There is no point resting on our hands and just playing safe. We will really take it up to Clarence.
“They obviously need to win. They potentially might play a bit safer, we will meet them front on.
“We will just play highoctane-tempo footy. Hawthorn smacked Gold Coast last week playing that way. You never know.
“Jezza [Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley] has openly spoken that they want to play finals and we are going to go down there and give ourselves a chance to win a game of footy.”
The Demons’ best is capable of piling on scoreboard pressure. The young group swarmed over Glenorchy after conceding a 25-point deficit at quarter-time.
However, Robinson is aware it is a fine line between aggressiveness and recklessness.
“We know we are heading in the right direction. The boys are starting to understand the behaviours and habits of TSL footballers.
“It’s not so much [playing with] no fear, just having some composure. Even in the first quarter[ against the Pies] when they had a run on, two or three goals we gave them with lack of composure.
“That’ s a learning thing .”