HDFNL: Impressive Demons thump Elmore in season-opener | Photos

Jed Lamb bagged seven goals and the Demons new-look midfield unit ran riot as the home side cruised to a 21.15 (141) to 4.5 (29) victory.

For the past 18 months the Demons have openly stated they'll be a much better side this year compared to the one that was beaten in the 2018 elimination final.

Elmore also entered the game with expectations of improvement under the guidance of new coach Dylan Friedberger.

The fact White Hills won the game was no surprise, but the ruthless manner in which it put paid to the Bloods was impressive and it gave the visitors a severe reality check.

White Hills coach Sam Kerridge had the first kick of the HDFNL season and it was a sign of things to come as he combined with midfield recruits Patrick Eefting and Tate Mifka to set up the victory with a dominant first term.

Eefting, in particular, was superb through the middle of the ground as the Demons piled on six goals to none in the first quarter.

The home side kicked the first 11 goals of the match before Elmore finally broke through for its opening major of the season at the 14 minute mark through recruit Phil Hubbard.

The second quarter belonged to one of White Hills' favourite sons - Matt Sawyer.

The veteran ruckman/forward has come out of retirement to bolster the Demons big man stocks.

He played deep forward on Friday night and did the ruck work inside forward 50, which allowed number one ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom to roam a kick behind the play.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the night came early in the second term when Sawyer kicked a goal from a set shot just inside 50m.

The big man didn't stop there.

He kicked another set shot goal from long range and kicked a third goal on the run after a give-and-go handball chain with his long-time team-mate Gavin Bowles.

Sawyer finished the game with four goals and it probably should have been five.

Lamb kicked seven goals and he too missed a couple of chances that he'd normally kick.

With Sawyer the long, deep target, Lamb, Mitch Dole and the resting midfielders were able to roam inside forward 50.

While it's only one game, and the Demons up the ground weren't put under much pressure by the Elmore midfielders, the home side's forward line did look potent.

At the other end of the ground, the Demon defence continually short circuited the Elmore attacking moves.

When the ball hit the ground Elmore didn't have any crumbing options and the Demons rebounded under little pressure.

On a night when little went right for the Bloods, teenage full-forward Mitch Cricelli did enough to prove that at times this year he'll give opposing key defenders plenty of headaches.

He only kicked one goal for the night, but he has something about him that should excite the Elmore faithful.

After a thumping from White Hills it doesn't get any easier for the Bloods next weekend.

Their first home game of the season is against another flag fancy - Colbinabbin.

Friedberger, who didn't play against White Hills because of an ankle injury, should make his debut for the club.

White Hills has another home game next Saturday against Leitchville-Gunbower.

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