WHITE HILLS unfurled its 2018 HDFNL premiership flag before demonstrating why it will be difficult to stop from adding another.
It took the Demons just a few minutes to flex their muscles in their season opener at Scott Street against Lockington Bamawm United on Saturday night in an ominous reminder of their strength.
With premiership goalers Ashley Gilmore and Rhian Moresi on top of their game early, White Hills slotted 10 goals before the Cats got their first to race to a 20-3 lead at the opening break.
A vastly new-look Cats would get no closer with the Demons running out convincing 50-goal winners.
The Demons tally of 70 goals was two more than their average of 68 gained in regular season matches last year in an indicator they have lost none of their potency at the attacking end of the court.
Gilmore finished with 47 goals, while Moresi, best on court in last season's flag win against Colbinabbin, added 23.
With four premiership flags in total unveiled on Saturday, after the Demons won grand finals in all four senior grades in 2018, A-grade coach Lauren Bowles said the club was keen to mark the occasion with a big performance.
"Unfurling those flags, it brings back that excitement from last season - that grand final is pretty fresh in the memories," she said.
"To have a start like we did has obviously set us up for the rest of the game.
"Our volume of shots was incredible - to get 70 goals on the board was super-impressive, as was the turnover rate in defence.
"It was hard to go past Anna-Grace (Close) and Bronte (Deary) in terms of our standout performers, they continually turned the ball over for us.
"When you have the defensive girls picking off balls left right and centre, all you need is to get the ball down to our goalers, who do a pretty good job of converting."
The early-season loss of midcourter Sarah Fern with a knee injury paved the way for an A-grade call-up for Yasmin Colley, with the best on court from last season's A-reserve premiership triumph winning accolades from the coach for an impressive performance at wing attack and wing defence.
"Her feeding into the goalers was impressive - her's was a super-impressive game," Bowles said.
"It doesn't matter whether we throw her into wing attack or wing defence, she listens and does the job.
"She should be very happy with her game."
The Demons have the bye next weekend and will return to action on April 19 against Mount Pleasant.
Lockington-Bamawm United gets the chance to regroup against Heathcote at Lockington, with the Cats' defence of Annalese Palmer and Emma Hall winning plaudits from their opposition.
"I thought they gave Ash Gilmore and Rhi a good run for their money - they made them work really hard and they never gave up," Bowles said.
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