A RENEWED Timboon Demons side has every chance to string back-to-back wins together when it plays Deakin University today.
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Demons coach Brendan Hickey said enthusiasm was high within the playing group after a convincing win against Russells Creek last round. The 47-point triumph, the Demons’ second for the season, has buoyed hopes of victory against the Sharks at the wide D. C. Farran Oval.
Hickey said his players were “running on empty” in the weeks leading up to the break for interleague but had returned refreshed.
“Nothing much changes from last week because we know it won’t be easy,” he said.
“If we work hard we’re a chance. If we rock up and think it’s going to be easy, we’ll get beaten.”
Hickey said the Demons controlled all of the game — bar the second quarter against the Kangaroos — but acknowledged a sterner test awaited today.
He said memories of last season, when they beat Nirranda before copping a 40-point hiding against Deakin University, remained fresh.
“We’d come off a win and thought we were a little bit better than we were,” he said. “We went over to Deakin thinking it’s just going to happen. Every other time we’d played Deakin in most blokes’ memories we got a win.
“We got caught out. You don’t have to wind the memory back too far to remember.”
Timboon Demons welcomed back emerging forward Alex Lees at the selection table, but will be without Tom Westmore and Seb Hill.
Deakin University is also strengthened by the inclusions of Lachlan Hulands, Andrew Wallis and Aiden Bourke, among three changes.
Sharks assistant coach Matt Lenehan said his side had produced its best efforts — against Russells Creek and Dennington — at the Mortlake ground.
“I reckon the side we’ve picked, the forward six is the best we’ve had all year. If we get enough ball inside 50, I reckon we’ll kick a winning score,” he said.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au