WAYBACK finished the minor round with a solid win over Tasman at Centenary on Saturday.
This game was about two things, firstly Wayback's preparation for the finals series, which was severely hampered with several of their league players looking on.
The Demons had two late withdrawals in Joe Cragg-Sapsford and full forward Michael Sara, and it was reported that Ben Sampson and Rory Hunt would rest niggling injuries.
The unavailability of key forward Kane Williams and with Tom George and Wade Stevens playing in the reserves, the Demons were well short of their best list.
Secondly, the Demons also had six players that played two games in Ziek Kay, Levi Kontizka, Michael Harders and Addison Lands up from the under 17s and Wayne Langford and Rory Sheehy from the reserves.
Tasman had two changes from the programmed team with Jarred Christian coming into the side and Mike Orbons replacing the injured Jake Stoll.
The Demons kicked to the car park end, favoured by a strong swirling wind.
Wayback dominated in the first quarter with eight shots on goal to register three goals, five points. Combined with several shots that went out of bounds on the full meant the Rooster back half was under constant pressure, while the Roosters struggled to go forward and could manage only the one solitary point.
If not for the Demons' control in the first quarter the result could have well gone the other way.
Rooster Aisea Raikawasa took on Luke Westbury at the four centre bounces and stoppages and this was the only position where the Roosters equalled the Demons.
The Demons had established a 22-point lead, which was not a sign of their domination.
Matt Keatley kicked the first of his three goals and a best on ground performance would have this player well in the running for the Mail Medal. Chris Lever was on the money with a long range shot and Michael Vogelsanger, one of the most consistent goal kickers in the league, kicked the first of his four goals for the day.
Credit is paid to the Roosters for the rest of the game as they lifted their work rate and applied pressure.
Working as a team the Roosters were the equal of the Demons on the field and on the scoreboard.
At the main break the Demons led by 23 points, 11-12 to 8-7.
If not for the all game presence of Matt Keatley, a solid effort by Wayne Langford when in ruck and around the field, and two inspiring search and destroy efforts by Brad Davidson and Clayton Millard, plus the Vogelsanger who made the most of limited chances, the result indeed could have gone the other way.
For Tasman the leaders in Matt James, Matt Parker, Ross Campbell, and Hayden McKinlay playing behind the ball and pushing forward, helped the Roosters close in on the Demons' in the last quarter.
Young Rooster Ben Daniels, who had kicked a late goal in the third quarter, kicked the Roosters' first two goals in the last quarter and has the potential to become a key forward.
Tasman's last quarter produced five goals and they outscored the Demons with goals from Mark Smith, Craig Reincke and Ross Campbell, adding Daniel's two goals, but the Demons also responded with their best quarter on the scoreboard, kicking four goals with Vogelsanger kicking his third and fourth goals, Keatley landed his third and young Ziek Kay again proved he is a player of the future with one goal.
With the conditions improving the last quarter opened up and saw nine out of the 19 goals kicked to finish off what had been a tough body on body game, with tackling the biggest statistic of the game.
For the Tasman league team the season is over but their B grade side will again face Wayback in the elimination semi final.
The Demon league team will play Mallee Park in the second semi final.
Taking in to account the Demons' injuries and taking nothing away from Tasman's effort, or the Demon players that did the job on Saturday, the Demons were well short of premiership form, and the coaching staff will look forward to the return of seven players that will more than likely come back into the side.
Well played Tasman for 2009 and congratulations on sticking to your youth policy for that and that alone is where the future of the club begins in 2010.
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