Dandy Demons forward Adam Silver chases the loose ball against Doveton Eagle Paul Davis.
By Paul Pickering
LOCKED together in the battle for a finals berth, the Dandy Demons and Doveton Eagles renewed acquaintances on Saturday with a top-four position on the line.
Having suffered an embarrassing 45-point defeat at home in round four, the Demons had a score to settle at Power Reserve this time around.
It soon became evident that freeway-view venue held no demons for the away team, as it was all one-way traffic for Dandy.
In a total reversal of fortunes, the Demons exacted revenge on the Eagles with a 47-point victory that stunned the Doveton faithful.
Dandy signalled its intentions in booting the first four goals of the match, before Eagle forward Mark Gorman slotted a steadier for Doveton minutes before the first break.
Despite the Demons’ ominous opening, Doveton coach Jason Salerno didn’t panic at quarter-time, telling his troops to “wipe that quarter” and reload in the second.
Brett Hidgcock fired the first shot at the two-minute mark, providing a classy left-foot finish to Doveton’s most promising passage of play for the match.
The Eagles’ revival was short-lived, however, as Dandy responded almost immediately through Josh Conder.
The talking point at half-time was the mileage covered by Demon midfielder Ben O’Connell – who touched the ball on the ground no fewer than 10 times in the first half.
“He was certainly given some latitude,” Dandy coach Mick Hawken said after the game.
“I had a bit of a laugh with him at half-time saying he must have had a bit of a smell about him.”
O’Connell followed his coach to Dandy from Emerald this year, forming a new-look engine room with fellow defector David Black.
Black has been unstoppable all season and Saturday was no exception.
His aerial work was again a highlight, including two legitimate hangers in the second half to put the exclamation point on a three-goal outing.
Even a seven-goal three-quarter time lead could not subdue the Demons’ ferocity.
“We knew they’d come strong in the last quarter because they’re pretty tough in close,” Hawken said.
“We set a couple of guys the task of taking out their playmakers and they did a great job.”
In just his fifth game of senior footy, Dandy’s Visal Walallawita showed plenty in shutting down influential Doveton midfielder Darryl Thomas.
In an uncharacteristic finish, the Eagles remained grounded throughout an uneventful final term.
The significance of a 92-point turnaround from the last meeting between the sides was not lost on Hawken.
“We’ve been pretty up and down, but this gives us a bit of belief coming home that we’re good enough to compete in the finals,” he said.
“It’s taken a long time for us to gel together and I think we’re starting to realise our capabilities.”
The Demons will host Canterbury this week with second place on the table for the winner.
Doveton will be looking to bounce back against Sandown at Edinburgh Reserve.
