TASMANIA proved too strong for the Northern Territory in an impressive 56-point win to open the Devils’ account at the 2022 AFL Under 16 Championships. The boys from the Apple Isle had 26 scoring shots to 10 in a wet and windy day at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

The Devils raced out of the blocks early to slot the first three goals of the game, including a goal in the opening 30 seconds to Blake Harper. With the combination of Oliver DePaoli Kubank and Lenny Douglas taking control in the midfield, Tasmania was on top from the get-go. NT talent Waylon Davey got his side on the board late in the first term, then converted an important set shot in the second, but a seven goals to two first half told a story.

DePaoli Kubank slotted two of the four second quarter goals as he went forward, while Jaxon Thorpe was providing a balance of offensive and defensive traits with a couple of first half goals as well. As the teams headed back out for the second half, the rain decided to come down, which evened the contest. Both sides booted three goals in the second half, with David Bromot, Hamish Collins and Taj Stanley all converting majors for the Thunder.

It was a comprehensive win to Tasmania in the end, and though the rain slowed them – and the NT seemed to lift – the 13.13 (91) to 5.5 (35) result was credit to the dominance through midfield of DePaoli Kubank, Douglas and Tommy Bennett, as well as Thorpe and Reiley Banks up forward. Davey was the shining light for the NT, as Edwin Nyembo stepped up at half-back, Brodie Grace impressed in midfield and Antwan Huddleston and Phoenix Joe Pool both had some highlights to remember.

TASMANIA 3.1 | 7.4 | 10.7 | 13.13 (91)
NORTHERN TERRITORY 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:

Tasmania: J. Thorpe 3, O. DePaoli Kubank 2, R. Banks 2, B. Harper, M. Mapley, L. Douglas, B. Woodcock, C. Ling, A. O’Connor
NT: W. Davey 2, B. Grace D. Bromot, H. Collins, T. Stanley

RMC BEST:

Tasmania: O. DePaoli Kubank, L. Douglas, R. Banks, J. Thorpe, J. Butler
NT: W. Davey, E. Nyembo, B. Grace, P. Joe Pool, A. Huddleston

SCOUTING NOTES:

TASMANIA:

#5 Jaxon Thorpe (Kingborough Tigers)
25/08/2006 | Small Forward | 176cm

The leading goalkicker on the day was lively for the Devils, standing out with his helmet, but also his attack on the ball and leading patterns. For a smaller player, he provided plenty of leads and was not just purely a crumber, with two of his goals coming from a set shot. His first was one in the opening term after getting on the end of a chain of handballs, then his next two came in the second and third term from long-range set shots, showing he can penetrate by foot. Thorpe applied good pressure inside 50, winning a holding the ball free kick in the final term, but missed the subsequent set shot. With a bit more composure – such as a kick heading into goal 30m that he sprayed – he has some nice traits for the future.

#7 Lenny Douglas (Devonport)
03/07/2006 | Midfielder | 176cm

The balanced midfielder just had those eye-catching traits, particularly with his kicking going forward and ability to evade. He was busy from the get-go, winning a number of touches out of the middle going inside 50, and though they were not all pinpoint, it was clear he has that low bullet ability by foot, and lowers his eyes going inside 50. He produced a lovely spin in the second term to evade an opponent then set up a goal to DePaoli Kubank, with a flying snap of his own missing for one behind. He soon got on the board in the third term with a nice mark on the lead and the wind carried his set shot through the big sticks, with his composure and footy IQ high. Douglas has the tools to work with going forward.

#9 Oliver DePaoli Kubank (Ulverstone)
24/07/2006 | Midfielder/Forward | 172cm

Might be on the shorter side, but just a natural footballer with a real all-round game. He could have easily have kicked an early one in the first term, but gave it off with a handball to the square to Banks, then did his best work through the middle. He kept getting involved and won touches in all thirds of the ground, showing a high work rate. He missed a set shot in the first term, but then converted two more, with a couple of impressive set shots. His hands in midfield were clean and quick, and he kept working hard around the ground. He has the smarts to work back defensively and drop into the hole, and competes strongly against bigger opponents. Given he could have had three or four goals on the day, DePaoli Kubank was the clear best on ground and one to keep an eye on for the rest of the championships.

#14 Reiley Banks (Lauderdale)
03/02/2006 | Tall Forward | 193cm

A project player with good size and some eye-catching attributes. Banks kicked both his goals from about a metre out in the first and third terms in general play which might seem odd for a tall, but he showed good footy IQ to get into the right spots and get on the end of it, with quick decision making and reactions. He had a dribbling attempt on goal in the third term, but it was his ability to link-up in transition and set up goals to teammates that stood out. He hit-up Max Mapley for a goal with a spearing kick inside 50 in the second term, and did just that with Douglas in the third. He had a couple of chances himself, and though his execution could still sharpen up at times, he also laid a nice bump on an opponent inside 50.

#17 Jude Butler (North Hobart)
11/01/2006 | Midfielder | 180cm

Another impressive midfielder from the Tasmanian side, Butler might not have been as prolific as some others, but it was his kicking that really stood out. He was clean in midfield at ground level and when he pushed forward, but his ability to lower the eyes and pinpoint passes really stood out. On a number of occasions he would be streaming forward and then nail that short hit-up pass to half-forward or inside 50. With the traits he possessed, he could play inside or outside in the future, though should be a second possession winner with his combination of skill and decision making.

#19 Campbell Atkins (Launceston)
20/04/2006 | Medium Defender | 185cm

Whilst the Tasmanian midfield really caught the eye, it was definitely worth mentioning Atkins who was a lynchpin in the Devils’ defence. Atkins provided great run from the back 50, often intercepting the ball well. He had a lovely weighted pass off his left in the second term, and was dropping back into the hole to either mark, or receive the ball and drive it forward. He was composed with ball-in-hand and skilful by hand or foot, and though he did play a friendly ball-winning role, he did it well and was able to read the ball in flight impressively.

#21 Tommy Bennett (Kingborough Tigers)
29/06/2006 | Midfielder | 186cm

Another Tasmanian midfielder who stood out, and not just for his headband. Bennett opened the game with a nice kick to set up a goal inside 50 as he rode a bump from an opponent as he went to dispose of it. He used the ball well with a pinpoint pass off his left shortly after, then had good hands through the middle to open the game up for a running teammate in Douglas to set up a goal. He showed a long kick of the ball and often won it at the coalface and extracted it by hand or foot, setting up another goal in that second quarter with his work in transition.

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

#10 Brodie Grace (Southern Districts)
20/09/2005 | Midfielder | 173cm

The overage midfielder attacked the ball hard, applying strong tackles and pressured opponents around the ground. He got involved in the first half by winning the ball in close and then often looking to sidestep opponents and kick well inside 50. Generally his kicking proved effective, and he was a hard runner across the four quarters. Though his side was ultimately overwhelmed, Grace’s work through the midfield was definitely noticeable, especially critical in the conditions.

#26 Waylon Davey (Palmerston)
26/06/2006 | Forward/Midfielder

The spark who go the Northern Territory going, Davey predominantly played forward but pushed into the midfield. He slotted the first Thunder goal of the game in the opening term with a clever set shot from 40m, both technique and range looked good. Then he converted am outstanding set shot from the third row tight on the boundary, splitting the eye of the needle, made all the more remarkable when factoring in the wet conditions. He kept getting involved up the ground, and had a nice kick on the outside of his boot, but suggested work on his left side could be an improvement for the future. In the second term, Davey also won the ball at half-back and took the game on, taking a bounce and kicking to the wing.

#33 Edwin Nyembo (St Mary’s)
31/12/2005 | Defender/Midfielder

Though technically an overager, Nyembo only qualifies for the 2023 AFL Draft by one day. He provided great defensive pressure and did well to read the ball behind play, winning a fair of the ball from the back half of the ground and driving it forward. His execution is an area to work on, with Nyembo often under pressure or rushed, but his hands in the air and defensive intent were clear. Nyembo set the tone early with a great run-down tackle at half-back in the opening quarter, and took a good intercept mark in the third term to save the day and kick long down the wing.