That is coach Andrew Freemantle's first response to the question of what were the key ingredients to Calivil United's undefeated 2004 Loddon Valley league season.

The Demons had won the premiership in 2003 with an 18-3 record, but raised the bar in 2004, completing a perfect 18-0 season with an average winning margin of 65 points.

Such was their dominance across the 2004 season, the only time an opponent got within five goals of the Demons was the 14-point margin Bears Lagoon-Serpentine lost by in round 12.

The Demons had the bye in the opening round before beginning their premiership defence with a 43-point victory over Marong - the side they would later face in the grand final.

Their forward line was led superbly by gun recruit Hetherington, who topped the league goalkicking and ended the season with 92.

Hetherington booted 12 hauls of at least five for the season, including a bag of 10 in the Demons' 131-point belting of YCW in round 15.

"That was Phil's first year at the club and he finished with 90-odd goals without playing Inglewood (who were winless) either time... he was a great target," Freemantle said this week.

After completing a 16-0 home and away season, the Demons finished three games clear of Mitiamo on the ladder, before beating the Superoos by 33 points in the second semi-final.

A fortnight later they were pitted in the grand final against Marong - coached by Wayne Landry - which had upset Mitiamo by 32 points in the preliminary final to earn a shot at its first flag since 1989.

Leading into the grand final Freemantle was asked if the Demons were feeling any extra pressure carrying the undefeated record.

"No, I just think grand finals are pressure and a 50-50 ball game. We will have to play pretty well to beat them and need a bit of luck as well."

As they had done so often that year, the Demons gained the upper hand against the Panthers early, opening a 19-point lead at quarter-time before going on to win comfortably by 66 points with a final scoreline that encapsulated their season.

The Demons' grand final scoreline of 19.12 (126) to 8.12 (60) was almost identical to their average score for of 122 and against of 57 for the year in what was the second of their six-consecutive premiership seasons.

Ross Maxted, who would later coach the Demons' 2005 and 2006 flags, earned the VCFL Medal for best-on-ground, while fellow midfielder Aaron Demeo, who kicked three goals, was prominent and Steve Dean in defence was also a standout in the vicory.

"Everyone here is pretty relieved and to win it the way we did shows we were the best side. We had fantastic players and it's a privilege to coach them," Freemantle said after the win.

Coach - Andrew Freemantle

Record - 18-0

Percentage - 213-6.%

Average for - 122

Average against - 57

Points differential - +65

Quarters won - 59 of 72

Time in front - 95.8%

ROUND 1 - Bye

.............................................

ROUND 2 - 19.7 (121) def Marong 11.12 (78)

Best - Phil Hetherington, Jade Clymo, Glen Richards.

Record: 1-0, 155.1%, 4th

.............................................

ROUND 3 - 20.6 (126) def BL-Serpentine 11.7 (73)

Best - Phil Hetherington, Aiden Moore, Glen Richards.

Record: 2-0, 163.6%, 3rd

.............................................

ROUND 4 - 13.12 (90) def Bridgewater 5.7 (37)

Best - Jarad Smith, Grant Ralphs, Andrew Freemantle.

Record: 3-0, 179.3%, 2nd

.............................................

ROUND 5 - 14.11 (95) def Mitiamo 9.5 (59)

Best - Jarad Smith, Daniel Smith, Shaun Lourie.

Record: 4-0, 174.9%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 6 - 18.23 (131) def YCW 5.8 (38)

Best - Aaron Demeo, Phil Hetherington, Glen Richards.

Record: 5-0, 197.5%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 7 - 19.13 (127) def Newbridge 8.15 (63)

Best - Steve Dean, Ross Maxted, Jacob Grieves.

Record: 6-0, 198.3%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 8 - 28.21 (189) def Inglewood 5.4 (34)

Best - Glen Scholtes, Hayden Polglase, Jacob Grieves.

Record: 7-0, 230.1%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 9 - 17.12 (114) def Pyramid Hill 8.11 (59)

Best - Steve Dean, Aaron Demeo, Grant Ralphs.

Record: 8-0, 225.2%, 1st

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ROUND 10 - Bye

.............................................

ROUND 11 - 12.15 (87) def Marong 6.12 (48)

Best - Steve Dean, Jacob Grieves, Phil Hetherington.

Record: 9-0, 220.9%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 12 - 16.12 (108) def BL-Serpentine 15.4 (94)

Best - Ross Maxted, Steve Dean, Glen Scholtes.

Record: 10-0, 203.8%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 13 - 19.7 (121) def Bridgewater 9.11 (65)

Best - Nick Manley, Aaron Demeo, Glen Richards.

Record: 11-0, 202.0%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 14 - 12.15 (87) def Mitiamo 5.10 (40)

Best - Glen Scholtes, Aaron Demeo, Jade Clymo.

Record: 12-0, 202.9%, 1st

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ROUND 15 - 29.9 (183) def YCW 7.10 (52)

Best - Not supplied.

Record: 13-0, 213.4%, 1st

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ROUND 16 - 19.11 (125) def Newbridge 10.10 (70)

Best - Glen Scholtes, Glen Richardson, Aaron Demeo.

Record: 14-0, 210.4%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 17 - 23.13 (151) def Inglewood 9.2 (56)

Best - Hayden Metcalf, Lachlan Ralphs, Daniel Smith.

Record: 15-0, 214.2%, 1st

.............................................

ROUND 18 - 18.3 (111) def Pyramid Hill 3.9 (27)

Best - Phil Hetherington, Jacob Grieves, Brock Rogers.

Record: 16-0, 220.2%, 1st

.............................................

SECOND SEMI - 17.10 (112) def Mitiamo 11.13 (79)

Best - Ross Maxted, Aaron Demeo, Phil Hetherington.

Record: 17-0, 213.8%

.............................................

GRAND FINAL - 19.12 (126) def Marong 8.12 (60)

Best - Ross Maxted, Aaron Demeo, Andrew Freemantle.

Record: 18-0, 213.6%

.............................................

Nick Manley, Steve Dean, Jarad Smith, Matt Winchcomb, Aiden Moore, Andrew Schepers, Marcus Allen, Grant Ralphs, Glen Richards, Jade Clymo, Brock Rogers, Glen Richardson, Jacob Grieves, Lachlan Ralphs, Ross Maxted, Andrew Freemantle, Aaron Demeo, Daniel Smith, Hayden Polglase, Phil Hetherington, Glen Scholtes.

Aaron Demeo - 39

Ross Maxted - 38

Phil Hetherington - 37

Jacob Grieves - 30

Glen Richards - 27

Steve Dean - 26

Glen Scholtes - 24

Jarad Smith - 19

Daniel Smith - 15

Jade Clymo - 11

Phil Hetherington - 92

Nick Manley - 38

Hayden Polglase - 29

Andrew Freemantle - 26

Glen Scholtes - 22

No. 6 - Strathfieldsaye 2015

No. 7 - Heathcote 2010

No. 8 - South Bendigo 1993

No. 10 & 9 - Golden Square 2010; Strathfieldsaye 2019

No. 12 & 11 - Castlemaine 2000; Strathfieldsaye 2014

No. 14 & 13 - Leitchville-Gunbower 2017; South Bendigo 1991

No. 16 & 15 - Colbinabbin 1999; Mount Pleasant 1995

No. 18 & 17 - YCW 1997; Bridgewater 2015

No. 20 & 19 - Mount Pleasant 1997; Mount Pleasant 1993

No. 22 & 21 - Bridgewater 2010; Bridgewater 2011

No. 24 & 23 - LBU 2011; Colbinabbin 1998

No. 26 & 25 - Gisborne 2003; LBU 2013

No. 28 & 27 - Gisborne 2002; Colbinabbin 1991

No. 30 & 29 - Maryborough 1998; Gisborne 2005

No. 32 & 31 - South Bendigo 1994; Golden Square 2009

No. 34 & 33 - Castlemaine 1992; South Bendigo 1990

No. 36 & 35 - Mitiamo 1999; Sandhurst 2016

No. 38 & 37 - North Bendigo 2019; Leitchville-Gunbower 2018

No. 40 & 39 - Bridgewater 1991; Calivil United 2017

No. 42 & 41 - Heathcote 1992, Sandhurst 2004

No. 44 & 43 - Eaglehawk 2008, Elmore 2007

No. 46 & 45 - Mount Pleasant 1990, Newbridge 2018

No. 48 & 47 - Gisborne 2006, Calivil United 1990

No. 50 & 49 - Calivil United 2003, Eaglehawk 2018

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