By Trevor Jackson
Port MacDonnell 16.10 (106) d Kalangadoo 11.11 (77)
PORT MacDonnell showed it still has the ability to pile on a big score when the Demons defeated reigning premier Kalangadoo in Round 1 of Mid South East football on Saturday.
The Demons had lost several big names over the off-season, but showed no sign of that when the Magpies visited.
The home side opened a 12-point margin by the first break and never let the Magpies back in the door.
By the long break the Demons led by 20 points, then banged on seven major scores in the third term to put the result all-but beyond doubt.
While the Magpies attempted a come-back in the final stanza, two goals and five behinds was not going to do the job and the Demons ran out 29-point victors.
Tim Sullivan showed he not just a big man in the ruck, with six major scores for the Demons.
He was joined by Christian Howlett (3) and Ned Wilke (2) with multiple goals.
For Kalangadoo, the much-anticipated return of Michael Krieger provided just three major scores, with Scott Agnew chipping in with two.
For victorious coach Josh Woodall it was the perfect start to the year.
He said many of the young players played their roles and the more experienced guys certainly stood tall.
However, Woodall said the Magpies started strong, but his players were soon on top.
“I think they started kicked the first two goals and we didn’t know how it was going to play out from there,” Woodall said.
“We just moved the ball the way we wanted and stuck to our structures and it just kept happening for us.
“When we got a few goals in front we felt like we were in control.”
With Sullivan sitting up forward after a bit of soreness leading into the game, the Demons always had a strong target and with clearances from Will MacDonald – best on ground for the Demons – it was a matter of taking the opportunities.
“Tim is an elite player,” Woodall said.
“It was handy to have him deep forward and Will MacDonald in the middle.
“Will was clearly best on the field … he was unreal.
“Ned Wilke got injured just after half time and if he didn’t get injured, he could have got best on.
“He has had a good pre-season and played unreal in the centre.”
Woodall said Kyall McClean did a good job to keep Dylan Bromley and the he didn’t worry too much about Michael Krieger.
“Defensively, Jake Turner, Kyall McClean, Ethan Gladman, Luke Richards and Mat Stark were unreal,” he said.
“Jake Turner was probably our leader back there with Kyall and they just encouraged everyone else to run.”
As for the victory over the reigning premiers, Woodall simply said it was good for the group’s confidence.
“It was good for us to keep that belief,” he said.
“The club was up and about, everyone is keen and it kicked us off really good.
“I was proud of the boys and really happy to get the win.”
