OUT WITH A BANG: Jonathon Evans will be instrumental this weekend when the Griffith Demons look to secure their second victory during the last round of the season. Picture: Anthony Stipo
THE Griffith Demons will be looking to end their controversial season on a high when they take on Canberra Nationals and Bathurst Goldminers at home this weekend.
After answering a mid-season call-up to play in the state league competition, the hastily thrown-together squad has found out first-hand the jump in class from local comps to that of the elite.
But the young and talented side has shown signs of improvement in almost every game, capped off by their 35-point win against Goulburn Bears at the weekend.
Demons assistant manager Beau Edwards said while the team was ecstatic with their first win, they were keen to get at least one more at West End Stadium before the season ends for them this Sunday.
"Everybody is still really pumped from the win and it actually made them work harder at training this week," Edwards said.
"We thought we could beat Goulburn last weekend and we did that, so now we're focusing on putting a good game to Canberra and then following up the next day against Bathurst.
"Canberra is a feeder side for the next level and they're very young and athletic so it's going to be a tough match.
"We're looking to put in a strong performance against Bathurst - they're more around our skill level and that's our best chance of getting a second win, and it's worth double points as the last game."
Despite two double headers in a row, Edwards said the Demons were looking good ahead of this weekend's games.
"The double headers haven't been too bad," he said.
"The teenagers are handling it well and we've been rotating our older players more, but they've still been giving as much energy as everyone else."
While it will take a team effort to secure a second victory, Edwards said the squad would look to Jonathon Evans to pile on the points and Stuart Lolotonga to restrict the visitors.
"I sound like a broken record but offensively Jon Evans is a gun," Edwards said.
"Coming from never having played state league before, he's now putting on 30 to 35 points a game.
"Stuart Lolotonga got seven steals last week and we'll be looking for that energy on defence again.
"The boys have responded really well and they should be proud of themselves.
"We're just looking to finish off on a high, regardless of whether we win or lose."
