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WYCHEPROOF-NARRAPORT gets its chance at redemption on Saturday.
A year after losing the North Central league grand final to Charlton by seven points the Demons meet Birchip-Watchem for the premiership at Boort.
Wycheproof-Narraport has carried the tag as the team to beat throughout the year following a dominant home and away season in which the Demons finished three-and-a-half games, plus 90 per cent, clear on top of the ladder.
And they were able to do so averaging the lowest player points in not only the North Central league, but of the 36 teams in the AFL Central Victoria region that also takes in the Bendigo, Heathcote District and Loddon Valley competitions.
Coached by Julian Bull, the Demons have averaged just 23.3 points per game, with Saturday’s grand final team of 21 to include 19 one-point players.
The Demons have clearly been the most potent scoring side in the competition, averaging 110 points per game – 18 more points than any other team.
Integral to the Demons’ scoring power has been the duo of Corey Jones and Andrew Mead-Harding, who have combined for 125 goals.
With his 70 goals, 36-year-old Jones – the North Central league’s most dynamic player – is the competition’s leading goalkicker in what has been a season where he has also played through the midfield and off half-back, while Mead-Harding has bagged 55 goals.
Renowned as a defender for much of his career, Matt Riordan has made the transition to attack this year and contributed 33 goals to give the Demons another key forward option.
Ruckman Chris Howgate’s top season was recognised on Feeny Medal night when he and team-mate Jones both tied for second with 21 votes.
The Demons will go into the game without their vice-captain George Turner, who has been super through the midfield this season, but suffered a broken jaw in last week’s 21-point preliminary final win over Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
The Demons won their last premiership in 2010 when they beat Boort by 44 points.
They have since lost tight grand finals in 2011 and 2016.