Tara Murray
Mernda will get an early taste of finals football the next three weeks in the Northern Football League division 3 competition.
One of the bigger improvers this season, the Demons sit second with a 7-1 mark at the halfway mark of the season.
Coach Robert Fletcher said they were happy to this point of the season.
“We’re going okay half way through the season, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.
“To be where we are, we’re pretty happy. We’ve had one loss which was disappointing, but we have bounced back and haven’t lost since then.”
Fletcher said the biggest improvement in the group had gone from the younger guys, who were really starting to find their feet at this level.
He said they are only going to continue to get better.
“The development has been the most pleasing thing,” he said. “We were getting a lot of games into the kids the last couple of years.
“These kids now have 25-30 games under their belts and we’re reaping the rewards from that.
“The likes of Dayne Kellett and Riley Vincent, there’s heaps of them. They are playing awesome football.”
On Saturday, the Demons overcame the conditions and the Fitzroy Stars.
The Demons led all day on the way to a 10.11 (71)-5.8 (38).
Fletcher said the wind made it the hardest conditions that they’ve played in all year.
“We kicked with the wind in the first quarter and we were able to lead all day,” he said.
“Our stand-in captain won the toss and it was a great start. It was a big factor in the game.
“Fitzory Stars were good. They’re a skilful team and were able to turn it on at times, but we repelled them well.”
Daniel Smith kicked three goals for the Demons, while Riley Edwards kicked two goals.
Fletcher said Kellett played his best game for the club, while Billy Morrison was sensational taking 25 marks.
It’s been a tough week for Morrison with his parents’ home burning down recently.
“He spoke after the game to the players and supporters,” Fletcher said of Morrison.
“He’s been here two seconds and the support has been huge for him. It’s pleasing to see that for a new guy at the club.”
The next period of matches will really tell the Demons where they are heading into the pointy end of the season.
Fletcher said the next three weeks were like a finals series.
“We face the Turtles [Old Eltham Collegians], Laurimar and Kinglake. They are three key weeks.
“We can say that we are already close to playing finals, but we need to make sure that people are playing well as we have three big tests in the next three weeks.”
Meanwhile, Laurimar had a big win against Reservoir winning 24.20 (164)-3.2 (20), while Lalor lost to Heidelberg West, 30.16 (196)-4.6 (30).
