Within reach
The reigning premiers and dominant side of the previous three seasons is there again in 2022 and poised to defend its league title. The Demons, while not starting this finals series as minor premiers – for the first time in a while – are in no worse shape this time around; even if their rivals think they might be there for the taking. For many, they are still the benchmark of the competition – even if Kalkee and Edenhope-apsley got the better of them this season. Back in round seven, the Saints jumped the Demons and took a 10goal lead into the final term before the Demons found their gear and clawed back nine of them. A loss to the Kees the week before makes the round-six-seven blip on the Demons’ record perhaps seem larger than in reality Two incredibly close games for the Demons, and the first they had lost in a while, was perhaps a chance to regroup and bounce back – which they did. Wins filled their column until the Saints travelled to the Grampians foothills for a round-15 rematch on Laharum’s courts with the Saints putting another dent in the Demons’ charge towards a three-peat. With players who have spent years together and know how each other operates better than any other, Laharum has continued to play elite quality netball, while blooding new talent.
With a new challenge in front of them and with their closest rivals now teams that have come out of the clouds to try and take their mantle, the Demons netballers have new and previously unconsidered sides to tackle this finals series.
Set to face Kalkee on semi-final Sunday in a week’s time, Laharum will have to navigate Paula Weidermann’s Kalkee players to book a spot in the penultimate round of sport.
With Caitlin Story shooting more than 430 goals during the home-and-away season, averaging more 31 goals a game, and her shooting partner Maddie Iredell putting away more than 300 for the year, the Demons can muster a score to beat anyone.
A Grade playing coach Erin Mellington, speaking to The Weekly Advertiser in the pre-season, talked about her belief in her side’s ‘winning formula’.
“We are all playing for the same reason and working towards the same goals. Importantly, we are all really good friends and have lots of fun together,” she said.
While some in the league might hope for a new title holder, Laharum will know how to make its formula work in a finals series.
And a post-covid-restriction return to the top for the Demons would be the most fun to Laharum netballers, as teams spend another summer working out how to supplant them.