It wasn't the cleanest performance the Dubbo Demons have produced but Saturday's effort it was enough to get the job done and help build the side's record at home.
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The Demons want the trip to South Dubbo Oval to be one no team relishes and they've ticked the first box, downing the Bathurst Giants in their first home game of the 2019 Central West AFL season.
The hosts weren't at their best against a Giants side down on troops but still led at every turn on the way to a 11.9.75 to 9.12.66 victory.
"We could probably do a lot more better. It wasn't our best outing but a win's a win," Demons' Ben Madigan said.
"The Giants really gave it their all but we hung on."
The Demons hadn't played for two weeks - the Easter general bye being followed by a regular bye - and there was plenty of energy on show early.
It didn't result in a stack of goals but the hosts still led by five at quarter time.
The second quarter was a big one for the Demons and five goals saw the Shayne Wilesmith-coached team have a 7.5.47 to 4.6.30 lead at the main break.
Madigan admitted he would have liked his side to go on with the job and kick clear in the second half, but the plucky Giants side didn't allow that and kept in touch every time the Demons scored.
The Dubbo team was good enough to maintain its lead in the final quarter though and ran out nine-point winners.
"When we're on top we need to maintain momentum," Madigan said.
"They would kick a couple of quick goals and the lead would be 20 rather than 30 so there's those little things.
"We've got to put teams away but you've got to give the Giants credit. We've just got to work on playing each quarter out."
A pleasing aspect of the game was the Demons getting the job done without a swag of goals from Bevan Charlton-White.
Charlton-White is the leading goal-scorer in the competition but kicked just two majors on Saturday, one less than Joey Hedger with a team-high three.
"I really rate our forward line very highly," Madigan added.
"It's not just Bev. One of the Giants players I thought was among their best did a really good job on him but we've got other avenues and it's good to win without him being in dominant form.
"We put (Joey) in the forward pocket and asked him to kick us some goals and be around Bev and he did that.
"I was very impressed with him."
Madigan said the back six also deserved credit for standing up at home and shackling a Giants side which scored 151 points against the Bushrangers Outlaws just a week before.
"We want to make it a fortress," Madigan added of South Dubbo Oval.
"We want to make teams a bit scared of Dubbo."
The Demons sit third on the ladder, only behind the second-placed Bushrangers Rebels on percentages, ahead of this weekend's trip to play the Outlaws.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
