Sport
30 April, 2025
Demons break through for a win
TIMBOON has broken through for its first win of the senior football season with an 11-9-75 to 7-8-50 win over South Rovers at the Walter Oval.
Demons favourite son Marcus ‘Barney’ Hickey played his 250th senior game for the club and was happy to get back on the winners list.
“The first two games we took as many positives as we could,” he said.
“We’ve been a bit patchy and will still take a few weeks to keep moulding together.”
An even first half saw the Demons up by just three points at half-time.
“They played their high possession, chip it around style in the first half,” Hickey said.
“But we got it on our own terms in the second half.”
The second half saw the Demons kick six goals to two to run out 25 point winners.
Hickey was full of praise for Josh Saunders, the former South Warrnambool star who made his debut for the Demons.
“Josh was a clear standout, he’s a great addition to our team,” Hickey said.
Hickey has had several years in coaching roles at the Demons, this is his first season for several years without a coaching role.
On reaching the 250 game mark, Hickey said he was “really, really proud, I just love playing and being involved here”.
The 34 year-old has played his entire career at Timboon apart from a year at Cobden in 2013 where he kicked 31 goals in 20 senior games.
“I loved my season at Cobden, they were a fantastic club to be at but I missed my mates at Timboon and couldn’t wait to get back to be part of the Demons again,” he said.
Youngster Tayne Berry also made his senior debut for Timboon on Saturday, drawing instant comparisons from Hickey.
“It just reminds me of when I made my debut as a 17 year old like Tayne is now,” he said.
“He played really well, is very mature, took some fantastic contested marks down back.”
Hickey celebrated the milestone and the win with a quiet night out for dinner before going home.
“Things are a lot quieter these days with a young family, but I had a really good day,” he said.
Is 300 senior games a chance for the long serving Demon?
“The mind is willing, the body is ok, I've been mostly lucky with injury so far. The young guys coming into the team keep me young so who knows?”
The Demons had a thumping 95-point win in the reserves, 18-6-114 to the Lions 3-1-19.
Thomas Hunt led Timboon’s goal kickers with four, with Richard Couch and Ned Deppeler named as best players.
South Rovers triumphed by nine points in the under 18s, 4-4-28 to 2-7-19; Max Rantall and Jasper Makin best for Timboon.
The under 15s was one sided with South Rovers winning 14-12-96 to 0-1-1; Alby Jones best for the Demons.
The under 13 Demons had an eight point win, 2-4-16 to 1-2-8, with Fletcher Hickey, Xavier Richardson and Judd Doolan among Timboon’s best.
In the A grade netball, the Demons had an upset loss to South Rovers, 39 to 26.
Ahead at half time by three goals, Timboon was outplayed in the second half, outscored 25 goals to nine.
“We were all a bit disappointed with how we finished,” Timboon coach Danica Clough said.
“We felt we’d been building the past couple of weeks so that wasn’t the performance we expected or wanted.”
Clough rated the work of goal defence Bethany Hallyburton, goal keeper Holly Kordupel and utility/defender Chloe Davis.
“Those three really held up that end while we were being beaten mid court,” Clough said.
“We had a few out, we'll learn from that and be better.”
Timboon had a good win in the A reserve netball, 47-33, with Macy Gale shooting 39 goals for the winners.
Nineteen goals to Sarah Brown led the Timboon B grade netballers to a win, 33-30.
Timboon also won the 17 and under netball 42-26; Evie Gordon with 23 goals and Meg Duro with 19.
Aysha Hollick shot 15 goals in Timboon’s 22-12 win in the 15 and under match.
In the 13 and under game, the Demons had a big win, 39-5, with Indii McKenzie shooting 22 goals.
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