Tasmania’s pre-eminent women’s teams go head-to-head for the first time this season when Devonport host South Hobart in the McDonald’s Women’s Super League on Saturday.
The only two perfect teams head into round three on identical goal difference, with South enjoying top spot by virtue of scoring one more goal.
Since Launceston United forced them down to second and third in 2022, these teams have monopolised the competition's top two spots.
In 2023, Devonport finished runners-up behind an unbeaten South who won 17 and drew three of their 20 fixtures.
And for the past two seasons those roles have been reversed as Strikers put together back-to-back unbeaten championship campaigns. In both seasons, Tom Ballantyne’s juggernaut has only dropped points once - a 2-2 draw with Glenorchy in 2024 and a 3-3 with South in round 13 last year.
Although his side are on a run of 50-plus undefeated games and yet to lose a league game under his charge, Ballantyne warned: “South were on the same run when I first came in and we knocked them off their perch so at some point in time it’s going to happen the other way around.
“South have constantly been there or thereabouts. They won it two seasons ago and challenged us in every State cup final so far and league campaign, so they are the big challenge. They’ve got the next lot of best players outside of us I guess. They’re a hard prospect to face.”
The traditional rivals ultimately finished 14 points clear of the chasing pack last season and have resumed in similar vein, making Saturday’s showdown a pivotal pointer to the potential champions.
South Hobart will be on the road for the first time this season and co-coach James Symmons admitted: “It is the toughest road trip in the WSL for us. It’s a good test early, but we’ve been looking forward to this one. We put a line under the game when we first saw the fixtures.
“Devonport have been the benchmark for the last two seasons so it is a really great opportunity to test ourselves. I think any team is beatable on any given day.
“It’s very hard to find a definitive chink in their armour because they’re littered with talent across the park, which is a testament to Tom and what they’re doing up there. And from last year they look even stronger (but) there’s some things that we’ve noticed that could work to our advantage.”
South dispatched Launceston United (4-1) and Taroona (5-0) in the opening two rounds, with Sam Watkins claiming a brace in each, but know they will need a higher gear as they square up to their former goal machine Jaz White back on her home patch.
Devonport also put a 100 per cent record on the line in the McDonald’s NPL Tasmania, as the ladder-leading Strikers host a fifth-placed Kingborough side coming off their first loss of the season.
Enjoying his role in charge of both Devonport teams, Ballantyne said: “It’s been a really good start (although) we’ve been fortunate that we haven’t played any of the so-called big four in the men and big three in the women.”
The Englishman is among the coaches who believe any more than two losses would spell an end to a side’s championship aspirations in the shortened NPL campaign.
“Since 2016-ish, to win a 21-round competition, you don't lose more than three games,” he said.
“So by making it an 18-round competition, you're probably looking at two. Unless everyone beats everyone (but) that's a possibility this year. It's going to be a tight competition.”
Strikers’ three wins have enabled them to amass a healthy +12 goal difference, with youth team product Josh Tollervey (five), returning NPL Golden Boot winner Brody Denehey (four) and dual English/New Zealand citizen Lachlan Vanneutegem (three) leading their goal-scoring.
Having seen off Riverside and South East United in the opening rounds, Kingborough were given a 5-1 wake-up call by South Hobart last weekend, as Noah Mies continued his habit of scoring in each round.
“We're going into this week with a completely clear mind,” Lions coach Jon Fenech said. “We know what we're facing up in Devonport, we know how good they are, we know what they've done in the off-season as well.
“Everyone's been strengthening their teams over the course of the off-season, and it's made the whole league a lot more competitive, so anyone who thinks there's any easy games in the league is going to find it difficult.
“I think you've seen the difference between Ulverstone in round one (2-10 loss) to round three (1-1) picking up their first point.
“The level of competition's high, the relegation conundrum has made every game competitive.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania, Round 4
Friday, March 27
8.15pm Glenorchy v South Hobart, KGV
Saturday, March 28
2.30pm South East United v Launceston City, South East Complex
2.30pm Devonport v Kingborough, Tassie Care Valley Road
4.45pm Launceston United v Clarence, Birch Avenue Kemlec Park
Sunday, March 29
2.30pm Ulverstone v Riverside, Westside Park
McDonald's Women's Super League
Saturday, March 28
12.15pm Launceston United v Glenorchy, Birch Avenue Kemlec Park
12.15pm Devonport v South Hobart, Tassie Care Valley Road
2.30pm Taroona v Launceston City, Kelvedon Park
Sunday, March 29
2.30pm Kingborough v Riverside, Kitchen Centre Park