THE first goal was to get in a winning position.
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That soon achieved, Timboon Demons then looked to “try a few different things” against Allansford as they prepare for a tilt at the Warrnambool and District finals.
The Demons jumped out of the blocks with six goals to one against the Cats at Allansford Recreation Reserve on Saturday, setting the foundations for a 20.17 (137) to 6.7 (43) win.
Demons coach Mick Hunt said with the lead stretching out to 33 points at quarter-time, 55 at half-time and 94 at the final change, he was in a position to ease the load on some of the team’s workhorses.
Tireless contributors Ben Newey, Macus Hickey and Ash Hunt were given time off the ground, while others stepped up to fill the void.
Grant Mitchell, a six-foot-seven ruckman, impressed, with the club eager to give him game time.
“We tried a few different things once I felt we were in the position (to win the game),” Hunt said.
“The pleasing aspect about a game like that is sometimes they can be very dangerous games.
“We started pretty brightly and once we started well, in that situation we’re OK.”
The home team struggled to keep pace with the roaring Demons, who produced 37 scoring shots for the game to just 13.
Simon Harkness and Andrew Clements were strong off the half-back line, while Leigh McKenzie (six goals) and Dale Hood (five) got the job done at the other end of the ground.
Allansford co-coach Brett Membrey was less than impressed with his side’s output over the first three quarters, where they conceded 16 goals while kicking just two.
“We struggled, to be honest,” he said. “We didn’t play the way we wanted to play.
“Just our effort and our skill level (were down). We know our skill level is not brilliant, but our effort – you don’t need great players to have good effort.”
Membrey said the Cats started to take the game on and lift their output in the last quarter, which they drew with Timboon 4.3 apiece.
“It just happened too late for us,” he said. “Timboon are a good side, they’re in the top five for a reason. They were just too good for us.”
The game was also costly for Allansford on the injury front, with Brad Williams going down with a knee injury in the first half, while Justin Coates also injured his knee.
Membrey said the club would have to wait to learn the extent of both injuries.