NANGILOC are hoping to break a 36-year premiership drought in today’s grand final match against Werrimull.
Despite being a contender in the past three grand finals, the Demons haven’t been able to bring the home silverware in more than three decades.
But a so-far-successful finals campaign has given the Demons a welcome confidence boost.
Coach Annette Emonson said their narrow preliminary final win over minor premiers Bambill cemented for her team that they were on the right track at the right time.
“Last week went to plan for us, so I think that’s just given us confidence that we are setting the right game plans, and when we’re following them it is going to plan and working out alright,” she said.
“But game plans change every time you play a different team.
“You’ve got to sort of identify their strengths and their weaknesses, and our strengths and our weaknesses against them, and try to use those to the best of our ability and make the most of those options and see how it goes.”
While it has been a tough journey for the Demons over the past couple of years, Emonson said their only focus now was on the game in front on them, and not past performances.
“We’ve got a different line-up this year, we’ve got a different focus,” she said.
“Last year we were the team with the injuries and the illnesses, this year, touch wood, we are all fit and healthy at this stage and Werrimull were the ones carrying the injuries.
“Does that change things? I don’t know.
“I think last year we were the ones that went in favourites, and it didn’t help us at the end, so maybe being the underdog is the way to go.”
Excited to take to the court, Emonson wanted her side to leave everything out there and earn that elusive grand final win.
“No one really wants to be there if they don’t win do they?” she said.
“I don’t think you’re just happy to be there – you’re there and you want to win.
“Being there is not the goal, the goal is to win it.”
