FOOTBALL
THEY say it's fraught with danger to have a week's rest in a finals series.
A football-free weekend can stifle your team's momentum and players can go stale.
That theory was blasted to smithereens in week two of the Western Region Football League division 2 finals.
North Footscray Devils built an insatiable appetite on the sidelines before an 89-point massacre of the Albanvale Cobras in a semi-final at Crofts Reserve on Saturday.
Devils co-coach Ross Hedley said the chance to take stock and watch the other four teams go hammer and tongs was a blessing for the flag favourites.
"I reckon it was great for us," he said.
"It gave us that extra time to get over the injuries and freshen ourselves up."
The Devils were the first team to book a berth in the grand final.
Sitting out preliminary final weekend does not worry them.
They are on track to win their first senior premiership since 1983.
To break the drought they will need to be spot-on with their preparation to ensure the cobwebs don't form in the long wait for their date with destiny on September 5 at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee.
The Devils survived a fiery opening to go to the break leading by eight points.
"It was a typical start to a final," Hedley said. "A lot of tackling, a lot of chasing and a few skill errors.
The Devils maintained their chasing and harassing for the remainder of the game.
But the Cobras lost their venom and a stunning turn-around led them to boot just one more goal for the rest of the game.
The Devils cruised, achieving the little goals they set throughout the game.
"Our aim for the day was to win every quarter. We did that and we won the game," Hedley said.
"We're not a bad side when we do all those little things, the tackling, the chasing and putting the defensive pressure on."
The Devils stuck to their defensive responsibilities by holding the Cobras
to just nine scoring shots for the
game.
Their opponents finished with their tiniest score of the season: 24 points, a shadow of their average 145 points per game. The Devils' winning margin would have exceeded 100 points were it not for their woeful inaccuracy of 16 goals from 33 scoring shots.
They had 10 individual goalkickers and did as they pleased against the team widely tipped to be the great challenger to their shot at glory.
"I was very surprised," Hedley said of the Cobras' lack of penetration.
"It was a real compliment to our backline and the pressure our onballers and forward line applied to make them turn the ball over."
Devils captain Mick Drew epitomised his team's approach. The midfielder put his head over the ball to do a lot of "bullocking" work. Ruck rover Sean Curtis and ruckman Ross Stewart combined well to edge the centre clearances.
Defender Jarrod Arnott was the standout for the Devils.
"He was sensational for us and has been fantastic for us all year," Hedley said.
"He's got long arms, he can jump and he's pretty agile and can play in a variety of positions."
It is going to be hard for the Devils to keep a lid on their excitement.
It's 27 long years since their last senior triumph and the fans will be counting down the sleeps to that first Sunday in September.
"There's a real buzz around the place, which is great," Hedley said.
More football, pages 98 and 99.
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