By Tara Murray
Tullamarine will need to bounce back if it is to keep its Essendon District Football League division 1 premiership hopes alive.
The Demons produced their worst performance of the season at the wrong time when they were comprehensively beaten by Airport West in a semi-final.
The Demons were in the game on the scoreboard at half-time, but never looked likely.
A nine-goal-to-one second half resulted in the Eagles winning 15.13 (103)-6.11 (47).
Demons coach David Connell said it was a disappointing game all round.
“I don’t think we could have played any worse,” he said. “They were in control for most of the game. Most of the areas we concentrate on, we were beaten on.
“I’m not worried about the margin – we tried a few things in the third quarter to see if we could get something going.”
Connell said resting players the week before hadn’t been the reason for the loss.
He said there had been no choice about resting those carrying injuries and the knowledge they had a second chance might have played a role in the performance.
Connell said there wasn’t one player that stood out in the loss.
“We had no winners,” he said. “Five or six broke even, but that’s it.
“It’s the worst performance of the year. We’re hoping we don’t do that again.”
The Demons will this week face Craigieburn in a preliminary final, with the winner to play Airport West in the grand final.
Connell said hopefully the outcome would be different, but nothing else would change this week.
“We went into Saturday needing to win one game to make a grand final and nothing has changed with that result,” he said.
“We still need to win one game to make the grand final.
“We will be remembered by how we play this week.
“If we win, no one will remember it.
“If we lose, we will remember it for the next six months.”
Adam Bartrop is in doubt for the game after hurting a knee early on Saturday.
It was his return game from an injury to his other knee.
Connell said he hoped they would get Tim Barresi and Anthony Prestia back from
injury.
In other results, Greenvale has finished the premier division season in fourth after a disappointing final round.
Playing for a top two spot, the Jets lost to Essendon Doutta Stars 12.17 (89)-9.7 (61).
The Jets will face Strathmore in a knockout semi-final.
In division 2, Roxburgh Park sealed a top two spot with a 21.14 (140)-12.7 (79) win against Moonee Valley.
The Magpies will play Northern Saints for a spot in the grand final.
For more on Craigieburn’s win:
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/craigieburn-survives-a-scare/pub/northern/
