The McDonald's Women's Super League title could be wrapped up this weekend just as the men’s statewide competition heads into its eagerly-anticipated finals series.
Devonport stand on the brink of an unprecedented third consecutive league-and-cup WSL double.
With four fixtures remaining and a 10-point lead over nearest challengers Glenorchy, Strikers know victory over bottom-placed Riverside Olympic on Saturday will deliver even more silverware to Valley Road’s overflowing trophy cabinet.
Coach Tom Ballantyne said the scale of the team’s achievements is not lost on the players.
“It means the world to the girls, they work really hard,” he said.
“The club has worked really hard in supporting the project, putting the players on the field and helping them achieve what they've achieved so far. So the plan is to try and finish it off and do something incredible.
“When I arrived, the girls that we brought into the senior space were all 16. They've gone on to do really well. We've got a couple that A-League clubs are looking at and offering them to go out and have trials, so it’s massively pleasing to show how far we've taken this young group.”
Strikers have scored 28 more goals than any other team this season but perhaps even more impressive is a defence which has conceded just seven - twice as good as any of their rivals.
“The defence has been incredible this year,” added Ballantyne, who is contracted for another season.
“We've had to adjust a few other players' positions, and they've all taken to it really well. They went, I think it was seven games without conceding a goal at all. That’s just under 700 minutes straight. So what they've ended up achieving and how we've done it this season has been remarkable.”
Riverside’s import goalkeeper Monica Hernandez knows she is in for a busy afternoon but said her team is ready for the challenge.
“Obviously we know how strong a competitor Devonport is, and I feel like being so close to the end of the season, we're just really focused on what we can improve on as a team,” she said. “But we definitely respect Devonport as a club.”
Hernandez, who hails from Chicago and played in a semi-pro league in the US, took plenty of positives from her season in Tasmania.
“Coming here and seeing what the competition is like in Tasmania has been really interesting. Definitely different than what I'm used to, but getting to know a good group of girls and a lot of great people around the club has just been great.
“I've really loved this experience. It's my first time really away from home for so long. I found everything to be great. I love that I was able to take this opportunity and come and see what it was like over here and who knows for next season.”
Week one of the McDonald's NPL Tasmania finals sees Devonport hosting Kingborough in the Qualifying Final before a do-or-die Elimination Final between Launceston City and Clarence decides who gets to prolong their campaign.
City and Zebras both built their sides around youth this season and their coaches were equally delighted with the results.
“Extremely proud,” said City’s Daniel Syson. “For the age of the group, they've done exceptionally well.”
Despite losing all six games against the top three of South Hobart, Devonport and Kingborough, City have enjoyed doubles over five of the other six sides.
“I'd say we're best of the rest, is the best way to describe it,” Syson added. “And six of our starting players this year were eligible for under-18s. So that probably tells you how young we are this year. So I’m really proud of them.”
Clarence coach Brian Murphy is midway through a two-year contract and has a clear vision of what he wants his young side to achieve.
“We wanted to embed a lot of the youth,” he said. “We had three or four players that could play under-18 this year, especially Elliot Legosz, Bailey Johnson, Viktor Gordon coming back to the club. So I wanted to bring back a lot of the youth that left the club and we've done that and given them an opportunity.
“My long-term vision, eventually, is to bring Clarence a league title. I’m one year into a two-year plan. We're halfway there. I'm happy with that.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania, finals week 1
Saturday, August 15
Qualifying Final: 2.30pm Devonport Strikers v Kingborough Lions, Valley Road
Elimination Final: 4.45pm Launceston City v Clarence Zebras, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park
Bye: South Hobart
McDonald's Women's Super League, Round 18
Saturday, August 15
12.15pm Devonport v Riverside Olympic, Valley Road
2.30pm Taroona v Kingborough, Kelvedon Park
2.30pm Launceston City v Launceston United, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park
Sunday, August 16
2pm South Hobart v Glenorchy, D’Arcy Street