Demons turned giant slayers
Originally published in the Dubbo Photo News
The Dubbo Demons had plenty to celebrate this weekend after sealing a nail-biting five point victory over the undefeated Bathurst Giants.
The Giants women’s team hadn’t lost a game since 2019 but the Demons didn’t let that scare them.
After an impressive contest against them in round one of this year, the then under-manned team hoped they’d be able to pip them at the post come the round five match.
Playing this time in Dubbo, the Demons had their strongest team of the year, with a massive five player bench and multiple debutantes.
“It’s obviously good to knock off the favourite team, especially with how long they’ve been undefeated for.
“It just goes to show that anyone on their day can win this competition and win the game. I’m just excited to be able to do it at home and in such a great round as well,” said Dubbo coach Peter Martinoli.
The league was celebrating the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round and was once again wearing their Indigenous guernseys, designed by Demons player Trudy Sloan.
Coming out ahead, the 5.3.33 to 4.4.28 has been heralded as the best display of women’s football this season. An intensely physical game, both teams were determined to get over the line and a solid wall of players prevented the Giants from getting the ball into their forward half during the last quarter.
“It was really just seeing two heavy-weights battling it out. It was played in great spirits the whole game, and it was just hard at the ball. It was a physical game, as it always is against the Giants, and we were just lucky enough to get away with the choccies.”
The team played a new gameplan, which Martinoli said they hadn’t been able to train for leading into the game, but had worked out well on the field.
“It meant their midfield didn’t get that first use of the ball which completely stopped their engine from running, which gave us all the momentum to move forward on our own.”
The ever-consistent Bec Wilde was a machine in the midfield, continuing to be a reliable player supporting her teammates and getting some great loose balls.
Martinoli also praised newly-returned player Keeghan Tucker for her ability to shut down Bathurst’s tall forward, Olivia Johnston.
“Moving Keegan back there completely shut down the Giants game and as a result, they had no other option to go to.”
Dubbo youth girl player June Jones stepped into the team for her first senior game with Martinoli saying she slipped into the group seamlessly.
“She played well, she did her role and got a few free kicks for her hard efforts. Hopefully now it’s under her belt she knows that she can play senior women’s football and it doesn’t just have to end at youth girls.”
With less than a goal in it for much of the fourth quarter a positive home crowd was boosting player morale on field.
“Just having that extra little bit of support to help spur the players on so they know and can think, ‘yeah, I'm doing good because I can hear the crowd cheering’,” said Martinoli.
Captain Emily Warner was awarded best on field and presented with a medal following the game.
The two teams came together, along with the senior men’s sides, for a small presentation in recognition of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Club Secretary Nick Lowther reflected on the positive impacts Indigenous people have had on the club over the years. He spoke to the dedication of Aunty Lorni Hyland and the work she did within the club to support Indigenous players and the entire club community.
Traditional Owner Uncle Lewis Burns welcomed the teams to Tubba–Gah Country within the Wiradjuri nation. He sung a song for the groups to welcome them and encouraged everyone there to clap along with him. He too spoke about Aunty Lorni Hyland and her dedications to the community both within and beyond the Dubbo Demons.
“It’s always a pleasure to come and welcome people from off country. Even though Bathurst is still Wiradjuri Country, it’s not Tubba-Gah Country,” he said.
“I want to say, I like the Koori flag you’ve got in the middle of the field, I haven’t seen that before, but I will also acknowledge Aunty Lori. When she was around she was very into teaching the kids and showing our kids our artwork, and putting them on the right path.”
Both the women’s and men’s teams from Dubbo wore their Indigenous guernseys designed by Wiradjuri woman Trudy Sloane. The Bathurst Giants women’s team wore guernseys designed by Giants player and Wiradjuri, Wailwan and Dharug woman Hailee Taylor.
The senior men’s team had a much less stressful win, leaving the Giants with a long drive home following their 20.7.127 to 2.8.20 loss. The tier two team wasn’t able to make it three from three for the Demons, going down to a strong Parkes outfit 0.4.4 to 12.8.80.
The Demons are back on the road to Bathurst this weekend to take on the Bushrangers.