Devils prepare to dig deep

DUAL premiership coach Dan Jordan is confident Darley’s best is still good enough to match it with any of the BFNL’s premiership contenders as they navigate a challenging phase of their season.

Like several contenders – probably more so than at any time in the competition’s recent history – the Devils have been cruelled by injuries and other unavailability over the last month.

A gut-wrenching last-gasp six-point loss to North Ballarat last Saturday at Mars Stadium was the Devils’ third defeat from their past five games.

It dropped the reigning premiers to fourth spot on the ladder at 5-3, two wins shy of top pair Sebastopol and Ballarat and one behind the third-placed Roosters.

Ill-prepared to use injuries and absences as an excuse, Jordan said the Devils had simply failed to capitalise on their chances against the Roosters, who he gave full credit to for delivering the goods in big moments.

“We were expecting a good arm-wrestle. We had our chances. We spoke about not taking our moments as well as they did in the end and that might have been the difference,” he said.

“To lose by a couple of points is disappointing, but I can’t fault their endeavour or effort.

 

“They cracked in. It was a highly physical game – we knew they would close it up.

“As soon as that rain came in it took away a few areas that we thought would be strengths for us.

“We just have to get down to the grind.”

A couple of things Jordan could not question was the Devils’ endeavour and perseverance.

In the end it took a monster effort from the Roosters and some brilliance from Jamie Quick, who booted the match-winning goal, to eventually sink them.

Despite a tricky period, Jordan is very much up-beat and optimistic of up to half a dozen players filtering back into the line-up over the next month.

That includes the potential for one or two to return in time for two more back-to-back tough battles against Ballarat and Sunbury, which played each other on the weekend, with the Swans coming from behind for a plucky 19-point win.

“We are really challenged with depth at the moment … Jayven Tanner and Will Johnston pull out yesterday (Friday), who are our two key forwards, which doesn’t help,” he said.

“I think if we get healthy, or best is still very much good enough.

“But the matter is we have to get healthy, but we also have to ensure we get through this period, being able to be competitive and win games that we should.

 

“Ballarat and Sunbury are our next two games and they are big games.

“Ballarat are going really well and Sunbury are starting to get a few (players) back.

“We need to get to work and ensure we don’t lose touch and hopefully put ourselves into a good spot come that back third of the year and get a bit more of a connection.

“We are battling with that with players coming in and out. Plenty to work on.”

It was the Devils’ senior players – Billy Myers, Nick Hind, Brett Bewley and Lachlan George – who again led the way against North Ballarat, with George’s strong frame important around the stoppages.

Alleviating the need for any real concern in regards their current plight is the current even nature of the senior competition and depth of genuine finals hopes.

“It’s wide open,” Jordan said.

“I reckon the two really healthy sides are going well – Sebas and Ballarat. The rest are having a few ins and outs.

“Melton, us, Sunbury have all had their concerns, but are still sitting there.

“It’s going to be interesting at the end of the year to see where it ends up.”