Joe McConnell | AFLDD Media
New grounds make for new era in Lockyer Valley AFL
The Lockyer Valley Demons senior side will play its first home game of the season this week on the clubs newly established grounds at Cahill Park.
Located in Gatton, Cahill Park hosts a number of sporting teams already including rugby league, cricket and netball.
Demon’s club president Tony Bowers says each level of the club from the juniors to the men’s senior side are thrilled about playing at Cahill Park, marking a new era in Lockyer Valley AFL.
“The teams are definitely excited,” Mr Bowers said.
“The main cause for the move was the condition of the Gatton Showground being unsafe for the players due to the number of events that were held there,” he said.
“It wasn’t taken care of very well and the move to Cahill is a positive for the club.”
The Demon’s senior team will certainly be hoping the new home field advantage will bring a change of fortune to what has been a rough start to the 2014 season.
The team lost its opening match to Goondiwindi 29.19 (193) to 6.10 (46) and fell to Highfields last week by a score of 26.16 (172) to 1.1 (7).
Lockyer Valley head coach Michael May says despite the difficult losses, his team still has a positive outlook on the season and is eager to break in their new home field.
“We’ve had a couple of really tough matches, but the team is very motivated and looking forward (to playing at Cahill Park),” May said.
Heading into round three, the Lockyer Valley are potentially facing its toughest opponent yet in the Warwick Redbacks.
Warwick have yet to lose a game, beating Highfields in round one by a total of 69 points and blowing out Toowoomba by 137 points last Saturday.
Even with Warwick’s domination through the first two games of the season, Coach May says that his team is poised and prepared to continue their improvement.
“We are going to go and out and continue to work and be proactive on the day,” May said.
“Our focus is on our game and not on what our opponent is doing,” he said.
“We are still in the process of building and making our club as professional as possible, which takes time. “
The Redbacks will be led by three-time Holman medallist Brendan Iles (10 goals) and Adam Stevenson (eight goals) who are second and third in the Allied Pickfords competition in goals kicked.
Meanwhile, the Lockyer Valley has struggled to score points in the young season.
Matt Wein leads the team with a total of two goals kicks, both of which came in the opening game against Goondiwindi.
Despite this, the Demons will look to use their new home grounds as an advantage and a source of momentum in their game against Warwick.
Tony Bowers says this is only the beginning of what the club’s overall goals are for Cahill Park as the Lockyer Valley’s source of AFL.
“We have big plans for the future,” Mr Bowers said.
“We hope to have proper buildings and lights for night games,” he said.
“It will be a process, but you have to start somewhere.”
The Lockyer Valley Demons will play the Warwick Redbacks Saturday April 12 at 2:30pm at Cahill Park.
Last Modified on 24/04/2014 10:54
