Williams a loss for Demons

By Paul Pickering
THE timing could not have been worse for Springvale Districts.
Century goalkicker Mark Williams – arguably the Demons’ most important player – has been struck down by injury in the lead-up to this week’s qualifying final against Dingley.
Springvale Districts coach Stephen Hughes said Williams would be sidelined indefinitely after damaging his shoulder during the Demons’ final-round clash with Hampton, in which he booted nine goals to crack the magical ton.
While Hughes has not ruled out a grand final return for Williams, he has begun to plan for life without his veteran spearhead.
“I don’t think we’ll bother talking about it any more. If he gets back well and good,” Hughes said.
Having accepted the loss of his focal point, Hughes has turned his attention to restricting Dingley goal-machine and coach Adam Quinn.
Dean Kovacic and Brad Heuvel have both had a crack at Quinn this season, but Hughes appears to be hatching a left-field plan to halt the seemingly unstoppable.
“We’re considering a couple of different options,” a coy Hughes said on Monday.
While the Demons and Dingoes have been undeniably potent up forward this year, both coaches agreed that Saturday’s game would be won and lost in the middle.
Quinn said the Dingoes’ on-ball division would be buoyed by the return of ruckman Chris Morgan from a back injury.
“We’ve been dominant in the ruck all year, so if our rovers can get the ball in the centre I think they’ll struggle to contain us down back,” Quinn said.
Hughes said he was reluctant to go head-to-head with the likes of Brett Gniel, Steve DeBolfo and the Lavars brothers, flagging the possibility of assigning run-with roles to his own midfielders.
“If you let blokes go I think it’s fraught with danger,” he said.
“There’s certain blokes that you have to look after and be a bit more accountable.”
While Quinn ruled out placing a tag on Demon ball magnet Gavin Vassallo, he will be looking for Darren Andrews to repeat his successful lock-down job on lively Demon forward Mark Charles last time the sides met.
Having split their regular season matches, the Dingoes and Demons seem destined to meet twice in the finals, with the loser of Saturday’s match heavily favoured to beat Caulfield in next week’s preliminary final.
With the mind games beginning already, Quinn was keen to stake an early claim on underdog status.
“I think you’ve always got to look at the minor premier, they didn’t finish on top for no reason,” he said.
Hughes on the other hand was eager to declare the match a 50-50 contest.
In reality, the omission of Williams probably gives the Dingoes the upper hand this week.
Game time is 2pm at Clayton Reserve.