By Paul Pickering
But despite matching it with the highly-rated Magpies for the best part of three quarters, a fatal second-quarter lapse denied the Demons a memorable Division One debut under lights at Newcomen Road.
Clayton, coached by former Carlton hard-nut Darren Hulme, established a 30-point lead – on the back of a five-goal-to-one second term – before holding strong against a Demon rally in the second half.
For Springvale Districts coach Steve Hughes, it was a valuable lesson in the consistency needed to win in the Southern Football League’s top competition.
“I thought we were probably on top early on, but we just didn’t capitalise on our opportunities in the first 15 minutes of the game,” Hughes lamented.
In the second term, it was Clayton’s midfielders – led by returning Noble Park gun Vic Currie – that surged forward to hurt the Demons on the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Springvale Districts could only register one goal from five shots on the counter-attack.
In the absence of 100-goal spearhead Mark Williams (broken finger), the Demons lacked a commanding target in the goal square, relying too often on the likes of Gavin Vassallo (three goals) and Waata Wells (1) drifting forward.
But as Hughes noted, the fitness and endeavour of the Demons – typified by gutsy young half-back Brendan Ashman – could not be questioned.
“I think we probably impressed a few people and gained a bit of respect,” Hughes said.
“But we didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve.”
The Demons will have no easy task this weekend either, travelling to Mordialloc to face a Bloods side that thrashed Highett by 97 points last Saturday.
IN Division Two, Dingley began their season according to script, pounding Ashwood by 92 points.
The Dingoes are expected to be a dominant force again this year, and the Magpies found out why on Saturday.
Playing-coach Adam Quinn – who booted 129 goals in 2007 – bagged 11 in a virtuoso performance up forward, while Jake Moore, Chris Morgan, Daniel Turcarelli and Justin English kicked two majors each.
Aside from Quinn, Moore and Turcarelli were the Dingoes most dominant players, while Morgan, Bret Lavars and Clinton Brooks were all prominent.
Elsewhere, Lyndale squandered a promising first half to go down by nine goals against Oakleigh District at Barry Powell Reserve.
The Pumas were within eight points of last year’s semi-finalists at the main break, but could only manage three goals in the second half.
Adrian McCracken (three goals) provided the most likely avenue forward for the Pumas, while Ed McLean and Dale Weston were among Lyndale’s best around the ground.
DOVETON’S promising start to the season continued on Saturday, as theEagles defeated Canterbury by 35 points in their Division Three clash at Power Reserve.
After starting their 2008 campaign with a victory over Cerberus the previous weekend, new coach Barry Giddens has his team sitting atop the Division Three ladder.
And having been bundled out of the finals by the Cobras last September, it must have been a satisfying win for the Eagles, as they turned the tables tooverrun the visitors after trailing by three points at quarter time.
Former Skye coach and spearhead Mark Mussared booted seven goals for the Eagles, while Todd Humphries and Stephen Wright chipped in with three apiece.
Travis Graeske and Brett Hidgcock were Doveton’s best for the afternoon.
Meanwhile, an inexperienced Sandown Cobras unit suffered a 143-point defeat at the hands of premiership fancy Mount Waverley, and the Dandy Demons were no match for South Yarra, losing by 43 points at Greaves Reserve.
Round Two match-ups: Division One: Springvale Districts at Mordialloc. Division Two: Murrumbeena at Dingley, Lyndale at Caulfield. Division Three: Dandy Demons at Canterbury, Skye at Sandown Cobras.
