Demons deliver in tense final quarter to secure first win of combined season

Chris Fallas Goal In A Grade Debut Dsc 3966  TBW Newsgroup
BLISS: South Gambier's Chris Fallas celebrates a goal in his first A Grade outing for the Demons on Saturday. Picture: THOMAS MILES

Chris Fallas Goal In A Grade Debut Dsc 3966 TBW Newsgroup
BLISS: South Gambier’s Chris Fallas celebrates a goal in his first A Grade outing for the Demons on Saturday. Picture: THOMAS MILES

SOUTH GAMBIER 12.7 (79) d KALANGADOO 8.7 (55)

SOUTH Gambier notched up its first win of the Limestone Coast Football League season after a three-quarter arm wrestle at Kalangadoo in Saturday’s round two clash.

Both teams entered the match coming off losses in round one and knew the importance of a win in the short format of the competition.

Only a handful of points separated the teams for the majority of the game, with the hosts up by a straight kick at quarter time, before South wrestled back to lead by a point at the main break.

Another even term followed as both sides stacked on three goals each, with the Demons holding a slender two-point advantage at the final change.

The visitors found another gear in the final stanza and South bombarded scorekeepers with five straight goals before the Magpies could reply.

Kalangadoo chipped back with two goals, but the damage had already been done and when a sixth goal came from the Demons it was all over.

South coach Bronson Saffin said he was pleased with the result and after a three-quarter grind, gave credit to the impressive lift of finesse in the fourth term.

“We were a bit patchy throughout the game, but it was a good contest really,” he said.

“Both sides have got some really good young fellas playing for them, so it was a really even contest for the majority of the game.

“Once we started playing a bit more consistent footy, that was probably what got us across the line in the end.

“Everything we had been talking about throughout the game we managed to put it together a bit better in the last quarter which was good.”

Brayden Kain and Brodie Foster were a dangerous duo in front of goal and the pair contributed four goals each to the Demons’ cause.

“I think Kainy kicked four straight and Brodie would not have been too far off that either – he might have kicked one point I think,” Saffin said.

Saffin said Foster had added some diversity to the Demons’ forward line and along with young talent Todd Reid, South has both height and athleticism in front of goal.

Reid popped up with a single goal for the day and his performance earned him a mention among the best players.

Saffin said he continues to impress, while Colby Munro and Brock Keding were two youngsters who also stood out on the weekend.

“Toddy is just a great young kid and he works his butt off every week,” Saffin said.

“We moved Colby up the ground a bit into a different position this week and he finished the game off really strongly and young Brock Keding too – he played a different position this week in defence – I thought he played really fantastic.

“It was good to see some of the young fellas really finding their groove.”

Also among the Demons’ best was Chris Fallas, who made his A Grade debut in style with a goal in the final quarter to add something special to the match.

“I imagine he was probably pretty nervous being his first official A Grade game,” Saffin said.

“He played his part in the team and did his role and managed to snag a goal which was good for him.”

However, the best-on-ground honours were given to Kym Eagleson on the day, who has proved to be a valuable pick up for South.

“He was playing over in south Warrnambool – he was living over there and moved to the Mount a couple of years ago,” Saffin said.

“He was originally training with South and playing over in Warrnambool.

“We already had ties with him and they (Warrnambool) called their season.”

As a result the Demons picked up a quality player and another experienced leader for the young brigade.

For Kalangadoo Ben Mules was once again prominent up forward with a pair of goals, while Andrew Stone also popped up with two majors.

In a game which could well make or break their season, the Magpies would have been disappointed to miss out on the points at home, as they face another tough test against East Gambier this week.

For the Demons the win puts them in good stead and with a winable match against Kybybolite this week, Saffin will hope for back-to-back victories.

“It is a short season so you basically just have to be winning games – you cannot afford to have too many days where you have too many blokes off the boil,” he said.

“Every game counts so you just have to be switched on and everybody has to be ready to go every week.”