NCFL GRAND FINALIST – CHARLTON

WYCHEPROOF-Narraport will chase its first premiership since 2010 when it meets Charlton in Saturday’s North Central league grand final.

The Demons proved to be the clear standout side in the home and away season, but have had to take the long route through to the grand final.

Having finished three games clear on top of the ladder with a 15-1 record, the Demons were upstaged by Charlton by 11 points in a low-scoring second semi-final a fortnight ago.

But on the back of a brilliant second half against Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final last week, the Demons now have a shot at the flag.

After scores had been level at half-time against the Bulls the Demons slammed on 11 goals to three to run away with a 49-point preliminary final victory.

While 42 players will take to the field on Saturday, without doubt the player who looms as the most influential is Demons’ star Corey Jones, who will be desperately craving to play in a flag with his home club.

Jones was unstoppable against the Bulls last week with a bag of 10 goals that gives him 88 for the season from 15 games – an average of 5.8 per game.

If the mercurial Jones has another day out, it’s hard to see the Demons being beaten.

As well as Jones, the Demons also have James Coatsworth (35 goals), Ricky Allan (26), Andrew Mead-Harding (26) and Adrian Pappin (26) to impact the scoreboard.

With Jones and Coatsworth, the Demons have two former winners of the Feeny Medal in their team.

Captain Boe Bish – a 2010 premiership player – has had a consistent season across half-back, Matt Riordan offers coach Julian Bull with a swingman who can play at both ends, while Tim Holobowski has provided the Demons with plenty of grunt in the centre.

Ruckman Chris Howgate has been a handful for opposition with his height, and out on the wing Morgan Fawcett will be hoping to add a premiership medal to his Rising Star Award.

The Demons making the grand final with a 16-2 record has been a significant turnaround under new coach Bull given the club had missed the finals the previous two years.