By Roy Ward
SPRINGVALE Districts coach Clint Einsiedel believes the next month will decide his side’s Southern Football League division 2 premiership chances.
The Demons face Hampton, Oakleigh District, East Malvern and Southern Dragons and Einsiedel has challenged his side to win all four matches and stake their claim for a top-three position.
He said the Demons had to make their mark on the ladder or face an uphill battle to make the finals.
“The next month will decide where we go this year,” Einsiedel said. “We have some tough ones coming up; we will try to win all of them and get into reach of the top three. If you finish fourth or fifth, then it’s near on impossible to win it.”
The Demons will go into this challenge with confidence from their 116-point win over struggling South Yarra on Saturday.
The Demons kept the Lions goalless in the first half, taking a 12-goal advantage into the main break before the Lions found some form around the contested football in the second half, but not enough to trouble the visitors.
Einsiedel said his side had dropped a little in the second half but would take confidence, and more importantly, percentage from the win.
“Our contested footy was not great in the second half. We were good in that area in the first half and that was why South Yarra didn’t kick a goal.”
Demons wingman Damian Stoter-Rainer was named best player, turning on his best performance since joining the club this season.
“Damian started late due to cricket commitments and came through the twos into our side,” Einsiedel said. “He has got better and better each week and is starting to get comfortable and the group has a lot of confidence in him now.”
Defender Ben Williams was another impressive performer while Einsiedel kicked seven goals and Matt Campbell five.
The Demons are due to get back some important players for this round with Peter O’Brien leading several possible inclusions.
■ SFL division 3 club Lyndale pushed premiership aspirant Mount Waverley for a quarter on Saturday before falling to a 115-point loss.
The Pumas were right on the heels of the Mountain Lions at quarter time at Mayfield Reserve but by the half the home side was clearly ahead and continued on to victory. The Pumas’ best were Jayden Johnson and Steven Boardman
Sandown had a surprise four-point loss to Ashwood on Saturday, meaning the Cobras have handed a significant advantage to Doveton Eagles and Moorabbin in their three-way battle for top spot.
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