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Preseason Cup - April 13th
A great weekend of footy, even though we didn't get the result we wanted. We finished very strongly and we should take all positive things from the games we had. The potential we have is amazing, and we should still be aiming to take all three grades to the finals. Lets get back on the common for training this week for a hard session as Easter is on the weekend we all have some time off before we start the season Saturday 26 April. Thats right we get a chance to get back at those cats in round 1 and lets hit them where is hurts, taking the points. Here is a recap of what happened and some words from coach Conor.
Game 1: Demons 4.8.32 def. Swans 1.3.9
Game 2: Wildcats def. 5.5.35 Demons 3.2.20
3 v 4 Final: Demons 8.1.49 Def. Putney 0.0.0
We received a bit of a lesson about being mentally prepared from the first bounce in our second game, giving a four goal break which proved too much to overcome in the remaining time. This effectively ended our shot at silverware however there were many positives to come from the day.
After also slowly working ourselves into the first game against the Swans we dispatched with them quite easily with our improvement being our delivery to the forward line whom were working well if not kicking super straight with a return of 4.8. Its evident we need to work on our skills under pressure to ensure we keep our composure but when we hit targets around the ground we moved the ball very well.
West steeped up the intensity and although we struggled to match it early on we did have periods of dominance and even managed to kick three on the trot in the second half to make a game of it. This was pleasing to see and should give us confidence that even against the top sides we will never be out of the contest. It was also good to see that when we were on, the goals flowed quickly and that fast moving footy is how we want to be playing this season.
The third game play-off for third place against Putney saw some sweeping changes but that didn't stop the momentum we had built in the second half against Wests as we powered ahead and never looked back. We dominated all over the ground and with the forward line converting everything that came near, the goals rained.
So whilst winning 5 of our 6 halves for the day was a very good effort it also showed we need to be switched on and ready at all times against the top sides. We do that and we will go all the way this season.
By Coach Conor.
CAMBRIDGE FRIENDLY
Setting off bright and early on a weekend morning is perhaps not the easiest task for a Demons team in pre-season but miraculously everyone made the 9:50am train from Liverpool to the picturesque Cambridge for our first hit out of the 2014 season.
With the weather much improved on last year’s snow storm the sun was (mostly) out but with a fair, old gale blowing across the ground it was clear the skills were going to be tested.
Fielding 15-a-side on a rugby ground with some added width, the game begun a bit slowly with neither team really able to get any clear possessions or space to attack the goals. That is until the gates were blown open in remarkable fashion. About 10 minutes gone, in his first ever game of AFL footy, after only a couple of training sessions, The Pasta Rasta, big Luca “Spider” Rossi, was thrown into the forward line. Leading out strong he hung onto a good mark on the half forward line with his first touch only to be dumped to the ground afterwards and awarded a 50m (30m) penalty. This saw him lining up from about 10m out and with his first kick in football, he duly slotted home the first goal of the 2014 season. It was the stuff of fairy tales which he rightly celebrated with a quick on-field limoncello.
This was the beginning of the end for Cambridge whom, whilst fought hard all day, found themselves outclassed by a fairly slick Demons outfit. As we gradually wrestled control across the ground our forward line proved ruthless in converting the chances created by the good work up the ground. Especially impressive was the contribution of all the new players to the team whom not only featured heavily on the ground but also took out the boat race against a highly fancied, Irish-laden line-up. Another special mention to Crossy who put in a Ryan Crowley-esque tagging effort all day on their best player, and that after working a night shift the night before!
The final margin was somewhere in the region of 70 odd but as we all know the real winner was the Regal Weatherspoons which took about the same amount from each of our wallets after the game. Big thank you to Cambridge for the game and the hospitality they showed us - even organising a hearty meal at their pub… once the potatoes finished growing. Other stories of the trip will no doubt be shared in what will be an entertaining fines session. Finally thanks to all who came along and to Vulture and Eoin for organising the trip. Demons are on their way to 2014 Premiership Glory!
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