CONTENDING with wind and muddy conditions underfoot, Gippsland’s more experienced side prevailed emphatically over Tasmania in a largely one-sided contest at Shepley Oval. Short of a number of their best players to the Allies trials, the Devils showed fight in a scrappy opening term, but were eventually overpowered by an offensively superior Power side who brought up their fifth win for the season.

GIPPSLAND POWER 1.2 | 6.3 | 11.7 | 17.12 (114)
TASMANIAN DEVILS 1.3 | 1.5 | 5.8 | 8.9 (57)

GOALS:
Gippsland Power: A. Mounsey 4, C. Templeton 3, A. Finsterer 2, C. Dent 2, J. Froud 2, K. Boi, L. Macumber, C. Fisher, J. Hilton
Tasmanian Devils: O. Freeland 3, C. Oliver 2, L. Heazlewood, I. Woodward, S. Husband

BEST:
Gippsland Power: C. Templeton, O. Henwood, A. Mounsey, J. Hilton, T. Macmillan
Tasmanian Devils: S. Husband, O. Freeland, M. Whitney, J. Morrison, T. Geappen

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GIPPSLAND POWER:

#10 Cody Templeton
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 01/01/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 3 goals

As a midfielder, Templeton was clean at stoppages and explosive at times. Early on, he fended off an opponent so forcefully that he dropped him to the turf. He was, of course, also able to hit the scoreboard. The Power pocket rocket found space inside 50 in the second half and converted from a variety of different positions in the arc, including a tidy finish on the left foot after an opportunistic crumb. 

#16 Oscar Henwood
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 11/06/2009

Stats: 23 disposals, 9 tackles, 13 clearances, 8 inside 50s

The resilient left-footer was Gippsland’s most consistent midfield contributor and their most effective ball-winner on the day. Henwood was a workhorse at the contest, regularly scrapping it out on hands and knees, and usually ending up with clean possession for his efforts. He navigated space in stoppages better than anyone and was also able to sneak forward. 

#19 Ash Mounsey
Tall Forward | 191cm | 22/10/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals

The 191cm forward had the cleanest hands in the air all day. He started his aerial exhibition early on with a leaping contested mark in front of his larger direct opponent. He kicked two goals in the second quarter and owned the right-hand side pocket. Then, in the third, he outmanoeuvred his defender and snapped accurately from the pocket for his third goal. For his fourth, Mounsey, took a hanger in the goal square and finished off comfortably to cap off his impressive performance. 

#40 Xavier Ladbrook
Key Defender/Ruck | 201cm | 16/10/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 17 hitouts

The rangy tall utility was utilised across multiple lines during the game. Ladbrook rucked in the second quarter for periods and won hitouts to advantage, easily leaping clear over his opposing ruck. He was also still effective in his usual key defensive role, where he outreached opponents in marking contests and avoided them at ground level with surprising agility.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#2 Mason Whitney
Defender/Midfielder | 177cm | 31/08/2009

Stats: 24 disposals, 11 marks, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Whitney demonstrated his competent ball use from the first few moments of the game with a lovely lace-out inside 50 pass. From that point on, he showed composure under pressure. As an on-baller, he scrounged for contested ball and comfortably mopped up loose possession outside of stoppage. 

#3 Jack Morrison
Defender | 172cm | 20/04/2009

Stats: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles

The second of the Devils’ diminutive ball winners, Morrison was trusted with taking kick-outs as well as appearing at stoppages. The nifty 17-year-old was able to consistently clear the ball from defensive 50 and routinely chopped off inbounding entries from half back. Opposition players struggled to lay a glove on him as he racked up a respectable amount of possessions. 

#9 Sam Husband
Midfielder | 178cm | 17/09/2009

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 7 clearances, 1 goal

The precocious bottom-ager marshalled his side’s on-ballers throughout the afternoon, provided run and gained plenty of meterage with ball in hand. He exhibited flashes of brilliance amid his solid showing, which included some aggressive lateral passing and acts of brute force. Husband also impressively kicked a goal off a step from 40 meters out, late in the third quarter. 

#11 Oliver Freeland
Utility | 187cm | 07/11/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 6 hitouts, 3 goals

The basketball convert had a busy day, taking on a range of roles across the ground. Freeland started as a defender and proved capable of intercepting aerially and spoiling forward forays. He then chopped out in the ruck and competed valiantly against taller opponents, occasionally opting to stay down at centre bounces to rove to the Power rucks. Late in the game, he was swung forward, where he took full advantage of his athletic superiority. Defenders struggled to rein him in as he ran rampant inside 50 and added some respectability to the Devils’ scoreline. 

#21 Tom Geappen
Wing/Defender | 182cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 31 disposals, 7 marks, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Geappen played with such composure that it made you forget that his defensive 50 was under constant attack. The efficient half-back led the game for disposals and was more than reliable with ball in hand. In the second half, he pressed up to the centre and helped generate repeat inside 50s through well-timed intercepts.