The contest between Westies and South at Bennett Oval on Friday night was of top quality with the Dragons eventually running out winners by 25 points against a dogged South who refused to give in.
The game got underway with the Dragons kicking to the Fisk Steet end with the aid of a two-goal breeze.
They started well with two goals in the first two minutes through Dylan Everett and Nathan Grzona and then Brad Henderson made it three in six minutes and the alarm bells were ringing for the Demons.
Simon Nowak and Henderson were causing the Demon defence problems early and it was the latter who goaled again after a slick exchange of handballs set the forward up with his second for the quarter and a 28-point lead.
Demons captain Ryan Baker was able to get one back for the Dees and they trailed by 26 points at the first change.
South came out fighting after the break with nothing to lose.
They upped the pressure as Ray McIntosh and Guy Sultan started to come into the game and Big Brad Page was offering a marking target up forward.
The intensity picked up as the Dragons tried to counter the Demons pressure as both teams were laying some big tackles and at half time Westies led by 15 points.
After the main break the Demons started the better, but couldn't bridge the gap and they paid for it as against the run of play Brad Smith found space and slotted through the goal giving the Dragons a 21-point lead.
West looked like busting the game right open, but the Demons wouldn't go away.
Captain Baker was back to his best and answered the Brad Smith goal to keep his side in touch.
The Demons were showing some real bottle, but the classy Leigh Symonds had other ideas and when Henderson who was the benefactor of the Symonds' good work goaled, the Dragons had a handy 25-point lead at the last break.
West came out firing in the last quarter kicking the first three goals through Kellett, Everett and Winders and the game was all but over.
To the Demons credit though they fought it right out to the end, but weren't good enough as the Dragons ran out winners by 25 points.
Best for the winners was Leigh Symonds who was superb in the middle, Brannen Everett showed poise and class, Blake Symonds was solid and Brad Henderson caused the demon defence problems early.
For South Ray McIntosh was the stand out in a good team effort, captain Ryan Baker kicked four goals and was quality all day, Mark Phillips was solid in defence and Brad Page took some good grabs up forward.
Not a huge crowd Friday night, but I'm sure all there thoroughly enjoyed both the A Grade and B Grade games as there was some top football played and its was well worth watching.
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