A three week break between games is a double edged sword for Mernda.
The Northern Football League division 3 side played its last game on May 27. With a bye and competition-wide bye on the weekend, the Demons next match is June 17.
Demons’ coach Steve Power said the break had come at a good time with injuries, but at the same time it was difficult.
“With our injury list it is good, but most of those guys are long term injuries,” he said last week.
“We’ve been mixing training up a bit. We went to the pool the other night and we’ll look at having an intra club match.
“We’ve got to keep them coming to training.”
After winning their first two matches of the year, the Demons have lost their last five and sit seventh on the ladder.
Power said it had been a tough start to his first season in charge at the Demons.
“We don’t want to use injuries as an excuse, but our depth has been tested this year.
“We don’t have under-19s, so we’ve been trying to promote players who have been playing well in the two’s.
“There’s been a couple of games against sides like South Morang where we’ve been in games but we haven’t been able to sustain good football for four quarters.”
Power said they had at least eight players out with long term injuries. They include ruckman Joel Carter who hasn’t played since March.
Adding to Power’s selection worries, Les Adams and Matthew Golledge are both suspended.
Adams, a best and fairest winner at the club, was suspended for 10 weeks, while Golledge is banned for seven weeks.
Power said while they still remain in finals contention, sitting two games outside the top four, it wasn’t something they were concerned with at this stage.
“We’re trying to keep positive,” he said.
“We’re concentrating on getting our next win and enjoying our football. I don’t think we have the luxury of looking ahead to playing finals.
“It’s been seven weeks since we’ve had a win.
“We’ll try and knock off some of the sides above us on the ladder in the run home.”
The Demons next challenge is against Heidelberg West, which sits fourth on the ladder. The two sides played each other in round one, with the Demons getting the job done that day.
Power said they would have a fight on their hands to get a second win against them.
In other division 3 action this week, Epping will be hoping to end its losing streak against Banyule, Laurimar plays Reservoir and St Mary’s faces South Morang.
