TASMANIA Devils and Murray Bushrangers return to knockout football after finishing second and third respectively in the Country/Tasmania conference. Both sides enter the quarter-final looking to rebound from Round 21 defeats, with the Devils returning home after a 37-point loss to Geelong Falcons and Murray travelling across Bass Strait following a 35-point defeat to Calder Cannons.

The Bushrangers carry confidence from a convincing win in the teams’ only meeting this season, but the personnel has changed significantly. Tasmania regains two of its most important midfielders after facing Geelong without them, while the player responsible for five of Murray’s eight goals in the previous encounter is not part of the selected quarter-final side.

DETAILS

Tasmania Devils (#2 Country) vs. Murray Bushrangers (#3 Country)

Venue: KGV Oval
Date: Sunday, August 30
Time: 11:00am

LAST TIME THEY MET

Murray recovered from an entertaining opening quarter to defeat Tasmania 8.10 (58) to 4.4 (28) at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Round 18. The Devils led by seven points after a seven-goal first term, but managed only two behinds thereafter as the Bushrangers kicked 5.9 across the final three quarters.

Skylah McPherson produced the defining performance with five goals from 16 disposals, three marks and four tackles. The State Draft Combine invitee was highly efficient whenever the ball entered her area and accounted for all but three of Murray’s goals, but she has not been named in the selected side for Sunday’s rematch.

Eliza Roche was also influential despite missing her opportunities in front of goal, finishing with 20 disposals, five tackles, three clearances and seven inside 50s. Carmela Perri added 28 disposals and nine tackles, while Rose Bell controlled the back half with 17 disposals, five marks, eight tackles and five rebound 50s.

Bottom-ager Evie Henley provided another strong midfield presence for Murray, collecting 22 disposals, four marks, six tackles and five clearances. Her ability to work back and assist Bell helped the Bushrangers withstand Tasmania’s early momentum before taking control.

Evie Ward led Tasmania with 26 disposals, five marks, five clearances and six inside 50s, while Evie Bingham produced an extraordinary defensive performance with 18 tackles from 19 disposals. Olivia Lyons had 19 disposals and nine rebound 50s and Luca Murgatroyd added 16 disposals, five tackles and four clearances.

Crucially, Matilda Lange did not play in that defeat. The star bottom-ager also joined Bingham on the sidelines against Geelong last weekend, leaving Ward to carry a larger midfield workload. Tasmania therefore brings a considerably stronger on-ball combination into the rematch, while Murray must find a new route to goal without McPherson.

TOP-AGERS TO WATCH

Ward is the player around whom Tasmania’s midfield is built. The Devils captain averages 25.7 disposals, 6.2 clearances, 4.1 inside 50s and 3.8 tackles, using her strength, work rate and ability to release the ball under pressure to influence all areas of the ground. She was outstanding despite Tasmania’s Round 21 loss, amassing 34 disposals, 10 clearances and five tackles without her two regular midfield partners.

Bingham returns after missing that match and gives Tasmania another important layer of power and pressure. The National Draft Combine invitee averages 18.1 disposals, 7.4 tackles and 3.3 clearances and can be deployed through the midfield, across half-forward or behind the ball. Her clean hands and ability to step through congestion complement Ward’s ball-winning, while the 18 tackles she laid against Murray illustrated the defensive intensity she can bring to a final.

Annabella Burt is another productive top-ager capable of rotating between defence and midfield. She averages 19.5 disposals and 6.5 tackles and gives the Devils a reliable presence at ground level, while Lelanni Kikoak offers a different point of difference. Kikoak averages 13.5 disposals, 9.1 hitouts, 5.8 tackles and 0.8 goals and can influence the game around stoppage or when resting forward.

Roche is Murray’s sole National Draft Combine invitee in the selected side and shapes as its most dangerous forward-half player. The dynamic left-footer averages 16.3 disposals, 5.7 tackles, 3.8 inside 50s and almost a goal per game, with her speed and aggressive movement capable of opening up Tasmania’s defence. With McPherson absent, the Bushrangers will need Roche to convert her own chances as well as create them for teammates.

Perri gives Murray the midfield output to challenge Tasmania’s returning stars. The State Combine invitee averages 27.2 disposals, 9.8 tackles, 3.4 clearances and 3.8 inside 50s and brings a relentless appetite for the contest. Her work rate allows her to impact on the outside after winning the ball at the source, and she can also shift into defence when Murray requires extra resistance behind the ball.

Bell is just as important to Murray’s structure. The 170cm utility reads the play exceptionally well, competes strongly in the air and uses a penetrating kick to turn defence into attack. She averages 17.3 disposals, 3.9 marks, 3.9 tackles and 5.7 rebound 50s and was one of the Bushrangers’ best in the previous win over Tasmania. Bell’s capacity to intercept and then use the ball cleanly will be vital against a Devils side likely to generate more forward entries with Lange back in the midfield.

Constance Dodd adds another experienced defensive presence for the Bushrangers, while Nikkita Nixon provides a scoring option after kicking eight goals from 10 matches. Murray’s top-age group does not contain the same forward firepower as it did in Round 18, but its pressure, versatility and experience across the ground remain significant strengths.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Lange is the headline future prospect in this contest and one of the leading players in the entire 2027 AFLW Draft pool. The 2009-born midfielder averages 29.9 disposals, 7.2 tackles, 8.3 clearances, 5.3 inside 50s and 1.1 goals in the Talent League, combining a powerful contested game with clean disposal on either side and a booming kick. She also won the Allies’ MVP and earned All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager at the national championships.

Her return changes the complexion of Tasmania’s midfield. Lange gives Ward and Bingham another high-volume ball-winner, can push forward to hit the scoreboard and has the size and strength to match Murray’s physicality around stoppage. Having missed the earlier meeting, she is the clearest reason to expect a different contest at KGV Oval.

Fellow National Futures selection Imogen Verdouw provides Tasmania with an emerging 180cm ruck. Verdouw averages 19 hitouts, 8.9 disposals and 6.4 tackles and stands out for her leap, follow-up work and willingness to remain involved once the ball reaches ground level.

Lyons and Murgatroyd give the Devils two more highly promising 2009-born talents with the versatility to affect the game at either end. Lyons is a strong-kicking defender who averages four rebound 50s and can be moved forward if Tasmania needs a scoring spark, while the athletic 177cm Murgatroyd can play through the midfield or fill a marking role across all three lines. Georgia McIntee adds forward pressure and scoreboard impact, and Amelia Carter is the selected 2010-born prospect with the most exposure, averaging 10.4 disposals across eight matches.

Henley headlines Murray’s 2009-born group and has been selected for the Marsh AFL National Futures program. The 173cm midfielder-utility averages 23.8 disposals, 7.0 tackles, 5.4 clearances and 0.8 goals, with the strength overhead and versatility to influence all three lines. She had 23 disposals, five clearances and two goals against Calder last weekend and will be central to Murray’s attempt to match Tasmania around the ball.

Charlie Gibson has also enjoyed a prolific season, averaging 22.3 disposals, 4.2 marks and 3.2 clearances. Gibson’s clean accumulation and ability to play multiple roles provides balance around Perri and Henley, while Crystal Holdsworth offers run and reliable possession across the wing and defence.

Ebony Chapman is Murray’s leading selected 2009-born small forward, bringing pressure, movement up the ground and an ability to finish. She kicked two fourth-quarter goals against Calder and will need to take on greater scoreboard responsibility without McPherson.

The Bushrangers also carry a developing 2010-born group. Ruby Newton has kicked nine goals from seven matches at an average of 1.3 and looms as an important alternative target in attack. Abbie Spokes averages nine disposals and 0.6 goals, while Natalie Spokes has shown an ability to find space and mark around the ground. Their composure in a knockout match will be tested, but each has the opportunity to fill part of the scoring void.

PREDICTION

Murray’s Round 18 victory provides a clear blueprint. The Bushrangers applied sustained pressure after quarter time, restricted Tasmania to two behinds across the final three terms and received strong performances from Perri, Bell, Roche and Henley. If that group can again win territory and prevent the Devils from using the ball cleanly, Murray has the midfield depth and defensive organisation to secure another win.

The differences in selection, however, are difficult to ignore. Tasmania regains Lange and Bingham, transforming an on-ball unit that relied heavily on Ward last weekend, while Murray will be without the five-goal match-winner from the previous meeting. Add the Devils’ home-ground advantage at KGV Oval and the balance shifts toward the second seed. Murray should make it a physical and competitive contest, but Tasmania’s strengthened midfield and greater access to goal should be enough to reverse the earlier result and book a preliminary final berth.