IF you are missing footy like we are, then let us somewhat salvage that with a look back in a new series of Classic Contests. In today’s contest we look at one of the would-have-been Round 3 clashes in the NAB League this year between Northern Territory and Tasmania. In this edition, we wind back the clock to 2019 in the only other previous clash between the sides in the competition having just been included last season.

NORTHERN TERRITORY 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 6.8 (44)
TASMANIA DEVILS 1.4 | 5.7 | 9.11 | 13.14 (92)

Round 3 | Sunday, April 7 2019
Olympic Park Oval, 1pm

Two new sides to the NAB League competition – one joining full-time – faced off in the heart of Melbourne when Northern Territory Thunder clashed with Tasmania Devils at Olympic Park Oval. These sides had a handful of top age draft prospects, but it was the bottom age talent on show plenty of recruiters would have come to watch, with both teams were coming off losses the week before in the Academy Series and searching for their first win of the season.

Northern Territory broke the ice through swingman Joel Jeffrey who snagged a major in the fourth minute to put his side in front. Tasmania’s Rhyan Mansell countered that shortly after. Powerful small midfielder/forward Beau O’Connell kicked back-to-back goals for the Thunder to hand them a 10-point lead which would prove to be the largest of the match for the “home” side. Both teams were missing their chances late in the term, with the Devils booting four consecutive behinds between their first two goals, as Tyler McGinniss got on the board six minutes into the second term. Bottom-age key forward Jackson Callow got his first midway through the quarter to send his team in front by five points, and within five minutes, the Devils had added two more and headed into half-time with a 17-point advantage, not allowing the Thunder to score in the quarter.

With the Thunder needing an early goal it was Tasmania’s Joel Hennessy who added more pain to the opposition with an early second half major, and soon McGinniss and Callow had their second majors with the lead getting out to as much as 35 points midway through the quarter. Wade Derksen broke the 45-minute odd drought for the Thunder to try and salvage the game, but a goal in the dying minutes to Jye Menzie saw the visitors take a six-goal lead into the final break. Callow was quick to add his third major, as the Tasmanians stretched their lead to 47 before O’Connell snagged a third of his own midway through the quarter, and then Dominic Forbes made it two in a row to drag the deficit back to 35 points with 10 minutes to play. Callow was not done with just yet though, keen to kick a bag the tall forward kicked a couple of majors in the dying minutes to finish the game with an impressive five goals for his troubles, while the Devils headed home 48-point winners.

Callow was the star up forward with 5.2 from 19 disposals, eight marks and three inside 50s, while McGinniss (20 disposals, three marks, three hitouts, three tackles and three inside 50s) and Patrick Walker (10 disposals, three marks and two tackles) both chipped in with a couple each. Top draft prospect for 2019, Mitch O’Neill was the star of the show however, racking up 35 touches, three marks, four clearances, nine inside 50s and three rebounds in the win. Mansell had a handy 23 disposals, four marks, four tackles, two clearances seven inside 50s and a goal, while bottom-age talent Oliver Davis showed off his contested ball-winning ability thanks to 22 disposals, six marks, three tackles, four clearances and six inside 50s. In defence, future Roo Matt McGuinness had 18 disposals, three marks and five rebounds, while Jake Steele worked hard against much bigger opposition through the ruck for 14 touches, four marks, five tackles, six hitouts and five clearances.

That ruck was Stephen Cumming who used his strong frame to take control around the stoppages on his way to 22 disposals, 40 hitouts and nine clearances. He gave first hands to the likes of Ben Jungfer (17 disposals, five tackles, three clearances, four inside 50s and three rebounds, O’Connell (16 disposals, four marks, two clearances, four inside 50s and three goals) and slick bottom-age talent and potential Richmond father-son prospect, Maurice Rioli Jnr (13 disposals, six tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s). Among the other bottom-age players to stand out, Jeffrey had seven rebounds from 20 touches and seven marks, while Isaac Seden-Kurnoth (18 disposals, nine tackles and five rebounds) and Brodie Lake (15 disposals, six marks and six rebounds) also caught the eye despite the loss.

Northern Territory played out the Academy Series without getting a win, while the Devils went on to avoid the wooden spoon and push fifth placed Calder Cannons all the way in the Wildcard Round, just falling short of a shock finals appearance.