THE Dubbo Demons women have announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Central West AFL, after pummelling Young Saints 0.1-1 to 11.10-76 at Burrangong Oval on Saturday.
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The women piled on 20 unanswered points, including three majors, in the first quarter and continued their dominance in the second period as they added 14 points and conceded just one.
The single behind was the only point Young's women would manage all day, as the Demons came back out after the break to add another 42 unanswered points in the latter two stages.
Jono Naden, who played for the men's side before backing up as coach for the women, said the high-scoring offence and near-impenetrable defence signalled a terrific team effort from the ladies.
"They played really, really well. It was a really great team effort," he said.
"Stand out players in my eyes were Jane Winter - she played really well in and around the ball and the contest.
"There was Renee Black, she is normally a ruck rover but we had to throw her in the ruck. That's her first time playing in that position.
"And Jules [Jarry] I think played an awesome game. She started off on the wing and then we told her to run off her player and she ended up getting rewarded with the goal she ended up scoring.
"We put Sharnah Bird and Amber Knee in the back row - Knee did really well at centre halfback - but everyone played their part which I'm really happy about."
It was an under-strength Demons side, with just 14 players able to make the trip down south.
Under the rules of the women's competition, Young matched the visitors' numbers on the park. It gave the home side a deeper bench - something they would have been grateful for after a series of players came down injured on the Saints' bench.
"There were a few injuries unfortunately for Young. Our Demons were able to get through the game without any big injuries," Naden said.
"I thought the numbers that we travelled down with, they should be really proud.
"We didn't have a bench but everyone pulled together really well to come away with the win."
The victory helps cement the Demons' position as a threat to competition leaders Bathurst Bushrangers and Orange Tigers.
They have been formidable against bottom dwellers Young and Cowra (who they defeated 14.7-91 to 5.2-32 in round two), and also gave defending premiers the Bushrangers some trouble in rounds four and five despite suffering defeats.
But Naden believes it's only a matter of time until his girls surpass the Bushrangers, who he said have much less potential for growth than a Demons squad which features a number of first time AFL players.
"I believe we are [a threat]," Naden said.
"Bathurst, they're a really strong side in the women's competition, they're our sort of rivals at the moment. We're probably reckoned as the brute of the women's competition but we always enjoy playing against them."