By David Stockdale - Mercury
A FOREST of Geelong talls for Sunday's VFL game against the Devils at Skilled Stadium has convinced coach Mathew Armstrong he needs a change of game plan.
``The game has changed to a free-running style with a high possession rate,'' Armstrong said last night as his depleted Devils prepared to try to break their five-game losing streak.
``We need to find more taller running types and while that's not something we can develop overnight, the new process will start from Monday.
``Geelong have gone quite a lot taller than we expected and with five of their forwards 193cm or more, we're going to be stretched in defence.''
They include Henry Playfair (198cm) Troy West (198cm), Tom Lonergan (197cm), Kent Kingsley (193cm) and Mark Blake (200cm).
Back into the Devils' side to add some experience after injury and suspension comes Ian Callinan, Justin Plapp, Nathan Grima and Nathan Street.
Also in Geelong's line-up is Grima's 192cm brother Todd, who has been named at fullback.
The Devils' Kangaroos' contingent is headed by fellow Tasmanian Cameron Thurley, Troy Makepeace, Chad Jones and Michael Firrito.
Out of the side trounced by Werribee by 49 points at Bellerive Oval last weekend go big Kangaroo Jonathon Hay (suspended for drinking), Ben Careless, Nick Paine, Andrew Triffett and Ben Fagan.
Unavailable because of national under-18 carnival duties are Tom Hislop, Jack Riewoldt, Mitch Thorp and Sam Fielding.
It speaks volumes of these youngsters they will be missed every bit as much as the more senior players.
Last Modified on 16/06/2006 13:11