NTFA division 2 2018, finals week 1: Evandale looks to end Demon streak

The Demons have had the edge over Evandale in recent times, overturning a four-goal final-term deficit to pinch last year’s qualifying final and quintupling their own three-quarter time score in round 12 to pull off an even unlikelier comeback. 

While Lilydale coach Colin Lockhart opted to rest his stars last weekend, Storay used a round 18 clash with Tamar Cats to settle his best 22 for the Country Eagles’ biggest clash of the year. 

“They’ve got the wood over us a bit so we’re really looking to change the tune and get one back,” Storay said.

“We need a four-quarter effort – if we play anything under that we’re not going to win. Lilydale are a very good side and they’re relentless, regardless of the outcome of the first three quarters they’re going to keep coming for us so we’ve got to be on our A-game.”

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Lockhart compared the two sides’ rivalry to that of Hawthorn and Geelong.  

“Both match up pretty evenly, they’ve got the same amount of talls and smalls so it’s always a good contest and grounds don’t seem to favour either side,” he said.

The Demons will inject at least five stars into their lineup after only taking a squad of 18 to St Helens last round. 

Reuben Rothwell, Wil Lockhart, Trent Griggs, Levi Tuthill and Kevin Avent will all return but star forward Billy Tuckerman could miss the rest of the year following a workplace accident. 

“He’s pretty hard to replace but we think we can cover him with Kev, he takes a good grab and he’s a very good kick,” Lockhart said.

“He very rarely gets outmarked so he’ll bring the ball to ground.”

EAST COAST became just the second team to beat Lilydale last week, but coach Ned Hyland was happier to have rested sore players while keeping momentum.

The key forward is unlikely to return from the ankle injury that has kept him out for 10 weeks but will have “nearly a full side” for Sunday’s meeting with Perth.

Hyland said he expected a tougher game than the 121-point result of round 15 and was looking forward to returning to Invermay Park.

“We play good football there, last year’s finals series proved that and our side’s not too dissimilar to last year’s,” Hyland said.

“We haven’t played there this year but I don’t think it will take long to get back into the swing of things.”

Magpies coach Josh Holton will be forced into changing last week’s side but says his players are on a high after downing Old Scotch.

“East Coast are a good side and they probably embarrassed us last time we played them and we’re keen to make amends for it,” Holton said.

“We really got something out of (last weekend) momentum-wise and the belief that we are good enough to compete with the better teams … Scotch are a pretty good side.

“We’ve got to bring that attitude and self-belief that we can do it.”

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