TASMANIA opened the 2024 AFL Under 16 National Championships with a 15-point win over the Northern Territory at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday. The Devils booted four unanswered goals in term three to set up the 9.6 (60) to 7.3 (45) victory after falling behind at half time.

A gallant Northern Territory outfit snatched the lead just before the main break thanks to a goal from Juraiya Calma-Long. Tasmania recovered with purpose, shuffling their magnets and making use of the scoring end to run out the stronger side and momentarily hold top spot in Pool B.

NORTHERN TERRITORY 1.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 7.3 (45)
TASMANIA 3.3 | 3.4 | 7.6 | 9.6 (60)

GOALS:
Northern Territory: N. Bourke-Miler, J. Hewett, T. Forbes, J. Munnich, J. Calma-Long, A. McWilliams, K. Raggett
Tasmania: R. Bugg 2, A. Devine 2, B. Barwick. C. Bovill, M. Flanagan, J. Hingston, H. McCallum

RMC BEST:
Northern Territory: J. Boulton, K. Russell, C. Peris-Chong, N. Bourke-Miler, J. Hewett
Tasmania: R. Bugg, A. Devine, S. Husband, C. Bovill, J. Stretton, S. McNamara

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

#3 Nathias Bourke-Miler
Midfielder | 162cm | 31/05/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 goal

A pint-sized prospect at 162cm, Bourke-Miler packed a punch with his energetic play out of the middle. He had a knack for breaking out the front of stoppages, using his pace to launch forward 50 forays and spreading into attack when his teammates won clearance. His pressure at ground level held up, and earned him a free kick which led to his set shot goal to finish off the fourth quarter.

#8 Ethan Bush
Defender | 178cm | 20/01/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 9 marks, 4 tackles

Bush accumulated plenty of possessions in the first half, registering 18 of his 26 disposals before the main break. He certainly had his hands full down back as Tasmania owned the early stages, but helped calmly move the ball across the defensive half. Most of Bush’s work was done by foot as he flicked out short passes at a high rate of efficiency.

#12 Jack Hewett
Defender/Ruck | 185cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

Forced to play above his 185cm listing as a defender and secondary ruck, Hewett battled hard in both roles. He bookended his game strongly; starting out with a handy snap goal from five touches in the first term, and finishing with four marks in the final quarter as a resolute one-on-one defender. Hewett’s competitiveness made him an aerial asset as he consistently split or won contests.

#15 Calvin Peris-Chong
Midfielder | 176cm | 20/06/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 11 tackles, 8 clearances

A player who got better as the game wore on, Peris-Chong’s defensive acumen got him firing on all cylinders. The hard-nosed midfielder had a few poor moments with his ball use but could not be questioned for effort, laying punishing tackles to win the ball back for his side. He lifted in the second half and began to be more dynamic with ball in hand to compliment his grunt work.

#16 Jaxon Boulton
Ruck | 193cm | 13/05/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 28 hitouts, 10 clearances

The Northern Territory’s MVP was a ruckman last year and Boulton could yield similar feats if Saturday’s game is anything to go by. He won the lion’s share of hitouts but wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty on the follow-up with hard tackles and clearance wins. Boulton’s ability to impose himself at stoppages went a long way to his side handily winning the clearance battle (38-25).

#25 Kalen Russell
Defender | 178cm | 15/04/2007

Stats: 30 disposals, 9 marks, 2 tackles

Russell led all-comers for the day with 30 disposals, racking up 23 uncontested possessions among them. He was productive on the rebound, distributing the ball with 22 kicks both on the last line of defence and high up the ground. He was constantly fed on the overlap and looked classy with ball in hand, shifting past opponents with smooth side-steps and eventually moving up to the wing.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#1 Riley Walters
Wing | 175cm | 04/07/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 tackles, 8 inside 50s

Making himself at home on the wing, Walters was prominent in Tasmania’s attacking phases with eight forward 50 entries. He showed good instincts to break into space when his side won first possession at stoppages and did the majority of his best work in the first half. Atypical of most outside types, he had a higher contested possession count and laid a solid four tackles.

#3 Hugh McCallum
Wing | 174cm | 10/08/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal

Almost the inverse to Walters on the opposite wing, McCallum ran out the game with a more prolific second half. His strong running capacity not only helped in that regard, but also when jetting off into space as a viable outlet in transition. McCallum’s foot skills were quite sharp too, hitting passes at unusual angles and slotting a checkside goal in the third quarter to get Tasmania going.

#8 Samuel McNamara
Defender | 185cm | 29/07/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 5 rebound 50s

It was no coincidence that as Tasmania began to get back on top in the third quarter, McNamara came into his own. The running defender had a happy knack for mopping up loose balls across the back half, putting himself in good spots to intercept and showing a bit of flair on the rebound. He wasn’t afraid to take the game on and carried strong momentum into each transition.

#12 Benjamin Barwick
Forward | 185cm | 13/04/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

While not quite as prolific as others, Barwick brought bursts of energy and power to each passage. He moved the ball forward with purpose and worked high up the ground before attempting to hurt the opposition with surge footy on the way back. Although a chain of handballs through the corridor came undone in term four, he navigated a goalsquare scramble to score in the third quarter.

#14 Archie Devine
Forward/Defender | 180cm | 13/02/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 4 clearances, 2 goals

Devine booted the first two goals of the game and both were superb finishes with the inside and outside of his foot. The co-captain displayed high amounts of class and helped lock the ball in Tasmania’s half before being switched to defence. There, he took on the kick-in duties and distributed the ball effectively, making poised decisions at either end of the ground.

#17 Ryder Bugg
Midfielder | 174cm | 22/05/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals

Bugg had claims for being best afield on Saturday in what was a balanced and consistent four-quarter performance. The midfielder refused to be tackled at stoppages around the ground, taking on tacklers and looking to bustle his way out. He complimented that work with hard running in transition and two quality goals; the first being a snap which he crumbed off the pack, and the second via a free kick. A player who showcased a bit of everything.

#18 Jacob Stretton
Defender | 182cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Stretton was a strong starter on Saturday, notching 11 of his 15 disposals in the first half. He always seemed to be in the right spot behind the play, winning possession back with his work at ground level and repeat efforts over the ball. Stretton was clean and quick by hand – sometimes too quick – and hardly beaten when it came to prising the ball in dispute, posting nine contested possessions.

#21 Samuel Husband
Midfielder | 178cm | 17/09/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s

One of the rare bottom-agers in this category, Husband was certainly up to the task of playing up an age level. He ended as Tasmania’s top clearance winner and held up well physically as, ironically, one of the sturdier midfielders at 178cm. His ability to get good penetration on his kicks from only a step or two served him well when he was unable to find space or drive his legs from the contest.

#25 Charlie Bovill
Key Defender/Forward | 192cm | 30/03/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 marks, 1 goal

A player who has already made his Under 18 debut for Tasmania, Bovill started like a house on fire on Saturday. He clunked five intercept marks in the first quarter and looked unbeatable down back, reading the play superbly and moving well to get to each contest. He flew for marks with confidence and stuck them, but found that more difficult as the game wore on. Bovill was swung forward in the second half where he had a size advantage, though only added two marks and a goal to his tally.

#27 Blake Philpott
Forward | 183cm | 02/01/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles

Philpott’s stats may not jump off the screen but he was certainly a presence in the forward half. He presented with authority up the field and was difficult to manoeuvre off the line of the ball, owning front position and displaying a strong set of hands. He competed hard and threw his frame around, but also read the ball well in flight and made good leads at the kicker.