Sport
28 May, 2025
Promising signs from Demons
REIGNING premiers Nirranda proved too strong for the Timboon Demons last weekend.
Despite the 13.14.92 to 3.7.25 loss, Demons coach Andrew Hargreaves was adamant the score didn’t reflect the game.
“Don’t look at the scoreboard, we’ve come a long way to closing the gap,” he said.
Nirranda got away in the second half, kicking 10 goals to two.
Hargreaves said the Demons had their chances.
“We were in the game for three quarters of it. We lacked polish with that last kick into the forward line,” he said.
Hargreaves said, had the Demons converted a couple of chances when they had the momentum, the game could have been very different.
“If we can tidy up our forward entries we are not far away,” he said.
Teenager Tommy Illingworth made his senior debut and was immediately given a strong role.
“Tommy was in a rotation between half forward, on the ball and on the bench, there was no easing him into it,” Hargreaves said.
“He played really well, he attacks the footy, we knew he had what it takes to step up immediately.”
Long serving Demon Lyndon Alsop played his 200th senior game on Saturday.
“Lyndon’s great mate Sam Newey said a few words before the game and we had a banner for him,” Hargreaves said.
“He’s been a really solid player, he always does the job with a minimum of fuss and is rarely beaten.”
Alsop was modest about his achievement but said the milestone meant a lot.
“It’s been a long time coming, a fair few of us have played together for a long time,” he said.
Now based in Warrnambool, Alsop still loves his involvement at Timboon.
“It’s not that far to travel out, it’s just a great family club that’s fantastic to be involved at,” he said.
A solitary year at South Warrnambool in 2022 was Alsop’s only time out of Demon colours.
“I was working out the other side of Warrnambool that year so it was easy to have a run at South Warrnambool,” he said.
“I had a great time there and they are a wonderful club, but I was keen to get back to Timboon as soon as I could.”
When asked about his future, Alsop said his body was holding up but as a shift worker he was a “year to year” proposition.
The challenges continue for the Demons, this week hosting top of the ladder Merrivale at the Timboon Recreation Reserve.
Nirranda was also too strong in the reserves with an 11.6.72 to 6.7.43 win.
Darcy Bridgewater, Bailey Delaney and Eben White were the best for the Demons, White the only multiple goal scorer with two.
Timboon had a big 18.14.122 to 0.2.2 win in the under 18s.
Joshua McKenzie kicked three goals in a best on ground performance, with Harvey Redshaw also kicking three.
Caius Cuthell and Jhyce Bartlett were also named in the best with McKenzie.
Timboon was also too strong in the under 15 football, winning 15.13.103 to 1.0.6.
Jontae Te Nana-Rodgers kicked eight goals in a best on ground performance, Alby Jones and Byron Woods also in the Demon’s best.
In the under 13s, Timboon prevailed 7.5.47 to Nirranda's no score.
Jed Watson kicked four goals for the junior Demons, with Beau Mackieson, Leo Makin and Lenny Oates best players.
Read More: Timboon