HELL OF A LOT OF TALENT IN DEVILS YOUNGSTERS

SOME of the state’s best young footy talents were on display at North Hobart Oval on Tuesday as part of the Tasmania Devils Development Series program.

The program features the best young players from around the state playing off in special North v South matches to allow Devils selectors the opportunity to analyse the best talent in the state and assist them in their decisions for next season’s Devils squads.

On Tuesday it was the state’s best under-15 and under-17 girls, as well as the best under-15 boys, battling it out in the series to state their claim for a position in the Devils program.

In the under-17 girls, South claimed state bragging rights with a 9.6.60 to 2.5.17 win over the North. South’s Bridie Horne was awarded the Player of the Match medal.

In the following contest, the under16 North boys got revenge on behalf of the girls with a 13.13.91 to 7.9.51 win over the South.

For the winners, Geordie Payne, Sam Cowley and Deagan Madden shone, while for the southerners, Flynn Marshall, Oliver Kelly and Jude Butler were named their side’s best.

In the final match of the day, North took out the three-game series 2-1 when the under-15 North girls handed out a 64-point drubbing to the South, winning 12.10.82 to 2.6.18.

Interim Tasmania Devils program coach Mathew Armstrong said it was a successful day for the program.

“It’s about finding some talent and we believed we’ve found some talent, especially out of the North of the state,” he said. “In particular, I think the under-16 northern group were really good and had some great talls.”

The development series is one of the last duties for Armstrong as head of the Devils program. He will hand over the reins to Jeromey Webberley.