Extract from Illawarra mercury story
Mitch Jennings
24th August 2018
The Butchers started their campaign with a draw and a loss before building their season on a solid run through the middle of their campaign, edging out Wests and Dapto in tight ones and sharing the points with Collegians twice.
With a round two loss to the Canaries their only defeat of the season, Butchers skipper Joel Johnson said his side will head into the post-season high on confidence.
“I think the middle part of the year we had a couple of games that really showed what we’re about,” Johnson said.
“That’s what we’re trying to live by as a club and I think everyone’s bought into that and knows we need to work hard for one another.
“We’ve shown what we can do against the good teams and we’re going to need to do that on Sunday.
“The last couple of weeks we probably haven’t played to that standard but we’ve had a good couple weeks preparing for this game so we’re hoping to emulate that mid-season form.”
The Butchers will like their chances against the Devils having fought out an 18-all draw in round one at Gibson Park before edging them out 20-16 at Parrish Park in round eight.
Johnson hopes their thoughts turn to that match in the lead-up to Sunday’s meeting.
“I think they’ve been looking over their shoulder at us for most of the year,” he said.
“Hopefully they’re had a few sleepless nights thinking about the game and that can have that little mental edge over them.
“At the back end of the game when things are getting a bit tight and a bit tough we can draw on that win we got over them at their home ground.”
Original story: Fresh Devils primed for finals after spell
