RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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COLLINGULLIE-Ashmont-Kapooka coach Shane Lenon has conceded the Demons are going to have kick a bigger score to win Sunday's Riverina Football League grand final.
The Demons have been restricted to seven goals in each of their two finals over the past fortnight and Lenon admits they are likely to need more to beat Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at Narrandera Sportsground.
Seven goals proved enough to get over the line against Coolamon in last Sunday's preliminary final, but was too few against the Goannas in the second semi-final.
Lenon was quizzed about the Demons' forward structure at Wednesday's grand final media call where he stood by his forward-line with only a couple of minor admissions.
"As long as you kick more goals than what the opposition does," Lenon said.
"Hopefully we can hit the scoreboard a little bit more on Sunday."
Asked whether seven goals is likely to be enough this week, Lenon responded "probably not."
He hinted that CAK will go in with a more attacking mindset in the grand final.
"Two weeks ago we didn't get enough ball forward," Lenon said.
"For a quarter and a half the ball was played in Mango's half of the ground and I thought our defence stood up very, very well.
"Last week, yeah we probably we had a bit more defensive mindset, we'd lost a key backman and had to swing things around a little bit so we went a little bit more defensive.
"There were people that were probably a little bit concerned with our defence once (Geoff) Spriggs went out but I wasn't one of those.
"We probably went a little bit more defensive last week than what we normally would but that was Coolamon, this week's Mangoplah so things will be a little bit different again."
CAK won 15 straight games between losses to MCUE.
The Demons went down to the Goannas in round one, then won their next 15 games before again falling to their rivals in the second semi-final.
Lenon believes the loss was certainly not a bad thing.
"I think a loss can jolt you into action," he said.
"As a coach over the years I've found you actually learn more from a loss.
"When you get beat you've got to really address certain things, how you play.
"Whether we were complacent or not, I'm not sure, we were coming off a week off and our form had been pretty good.
"We played pretty well to half-time and we were outplayed after half-time and that's why we had to front up again last week.
"It certainly jolted us into action and luckily for us we had a second bite of the cherry and we were good enough to get through."
Lenon revealed on Wednesday that he will name Geoff Spriggs in the team for the grand final.
Spriggs injured his knee against the Goannas in the second semi-final.
Matt Kennedy and Brad Aiken are certain starters.
Lenon said he will name Spriggs and then give him until a final fitness test on Sunday morning.
"He's got to be close to 100 per cent, he was probably 70 per cent last Sunday," he said.