Port Lincoln football
RAIN and wind swept Centenary Oval after the traditional Anzac ceremony, starting with the Anzac Ode followed by the Last Post and a minute's silence for our fallen heroes of past wars.
The 2008 premiers, Waybacks, looked a far bigger side than Mallee Park and with conditions suited more for stop start football, which both sides are good at, the game became one of determination and good old fashioned guts.
Demons ruckman Mark Blight faced up against the Pecker's Justin Clements, and it was the Peckers who won the first clearance of the season to kick the first point, but it was the Demons who kicked the first goal when the rebound out of their back half found the ever present Murray Kelsh, who found new player Michael Vogelsanger on the long lead who showed in that instant the Demons have a full forward that can lead, mark and kick when he landed the first of his three goals for the day.
The Demons, through that vital first use at the stoppages, were in control with Matt Goodwin getting early touches and Murray Kelsh linking up with the rebound out of the Peckers back half from several turnovers. New signing Mathew Keatley worked the corridor up forward looked good and enabled Rohan Montgomerie to kick the Demons' second goal, followed up by Matthew Keatly for his first goal for the club to give the Demons a handy 18-point lead in weather for ducks.
It was a good start by the Demons but the Peckers' Anzac Shut Out is what this game will be remembered for when their known ability to run and share the ball with superior ball handling skills and support of each other with an equal share of the first use.
The Peckers gave themselves the momentum to kick eight goals from the start of the second quarter to the final siren compared to Wayback's three goals, only one a quarter.
Wayback held a five point advantage at the at the long break but by three quarter the Peckers had gained a one-point lead, kicking five goals to the Demons' two during the second and third quarters.
While it was not a complete takeover, it was close enough out and the matter of attending to unfinished business and personal pride was evident as the Peckers, with strong voice, urged each other on, which saw them run out winners, kicking three goals in the last quarter through Phillip Dudley, Harry Miller and Russell Carbine.
The Demons were well down on their premiership side with several changes, but football is just that, sides will change like the tides from year to year, and the Demon supporters can expect the tide to change their way again and will see a far better showing from here on in.
The Peckers' turn about was a team effort with co-captain Harry Miller working up and down the middle from the back half to the forward zone, taking marks in defence and when forward of the ball finished with two goals.
Ronald Carbine, the Peckers' other co-captain, was inspirational with his ability to stay in the game and racked up the possessions to make good use of every touch.
Up forward the miracle maker Phillip Dudley, who was reported to have gone to NSW, was back and kicked three goals as only he can.
Devlin Walsh was back to his best and the seniors in Clifford Warrior and Ainsley Betts, and the fastest legs in the west Derrick Wanganeen turned and swayed his way through the lines as if he had a free pass.
Taking all into account it, was the team effort that won for the Peckers and their ability to put it all together with several new players first up was another major factor in their win.
Waybacks did not gel that well; the honesty factor was there and the structure under coach Scott Clark and his experienced staff will, without any doubt, get it all together and the message to opposition teams rest is that best of the Demons is yet to surface.
n By Bluey Dunn
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