Demons ready for division one

By Paul Pickering
SPRINGVALE Districts will enter uncharted waters on Friday night as the Demons embark on their first foray into the Southern Football League’s Division One.
The reigning Division Two premiers will host Clayton under lights at Springvale Reserve from 7.45pm tomorrow.
Having forged an instant rivalry with Division Two runners-up Dingley last year, the club is promoting the much-anticipated season-opener against Clayton as its newest local derby.
While the Demons and Dingoes were undoubtedly a class above their competitors last season, the departure of several key players – and the nerves of a divisional debut – have made the club guarded about its ambitions for 2008.
Returning coach Steve Hughes, who brought the Demons their first premiership in 18 years in his first season at the helm, has challenged his charges to prove they belong among the elite company.
It is a mantra that will be carried on-field by co-captains Waata Wells and Gavin Vassallo.
“All we want to do, particularly early, is earn some respect,” Wells said on the eve of round one. “It’s been hard to set any goals, because we don’t really know what to expect from the other teams.”
Wells expects Friday night’s clash with the Magpies to provide the Demons with an early indication of their standing within the division.
“They’re a well-respected club and they’re always up around the top four, so they’ve already got respect from us. But we have to earn it from them.”
The leadership of Wells and Vassallo will be particularly important given the departure of co-skipper Michael Odachowski, who has moved to Canberra.
Meanwhile, Demons veteran Glenn Kemp has left Newcomen Road to pursue a position as assistant coach with the Dandy Demons, taking teammates Darin ‘Big Show’ Joyce and Shane Paul with him.
Joyce’s departure will be offset by the arrival of towering Ty Esler from Cora Lynn.
Esler, a footballing journeyman who played 12 games for Richmond in the early nineties, will be joined by Cora Lynn teammate Jason Hall, a former captain of the Demons who will be welcomed back to Springvale Reserve.
Another handy off-season acquisition will be accomplished defender John McMurray, who played finals footy with Keysborough in the Casey-Cardinia League last year.
While the Demons have earned the right to bask in their premiership glory over the summer, several of those who missed selection in the seniors grand final have used the disappointment as motivation for a big pre-season. Wells reported that Damian Stark, who played three games in the ones last year, has attended every session since late November in a bid to push for selection in the season-opener. Accordingly, the 28-year-old will be given every opportunity to lock down a key-position post in the early rounds.
For Wells at least, tomorrow night’s game will end an anxious wait to see where the Demons might sit in the Division One pecking order.
“We’ve been counting down the days since November,” he said. “And we’ll know at about 10pm on Friday night where we’re at.”