Bradley squared the footy up to Berrett who marked 30 metres out from goal and made no mistake to get the Demons on the board with 7 minutes on the clock.

North had three chances to goal in the next few minutes but Bones missed a set-shot from 25 metres out directly in front, Ben Wandel missed from the canteen flank and Ellis missed the target from the boundary line in the old tuck-shop pocket.

South failed to clear the area from their third consecutive kick-in from full-back, Craig Jaeschke gathered the footy, kicked deep inside fifty, Tyson Pawley gave the footy with strength to Bones and he snapped truly from 20 metres out.

Pawley had the opportunity to nail another goal for the Roosters a few minutes later but his shot from deep in the pocket just missed the target.

Matt Wandel gathered the kick-in, handballed to brother Ben who handballed to Hollitt, he handball to Nicholas who kicked to full-forward, South tried to clear the area with a few handballs, Hollitt gathered, kicked to the goal-square, Ellis gathered, handballed over his head, Matt Wandel got hold of it, handballed to Ben Wandel and finally he kicked the goal.

The Roosters were now 17 points up approaching the 17-minute mark of the opening term.

The Demons responded.

Mick Nayda received a free in defence, kicked outside the fifty, Matt Dare gathered, found Murphy on the outer wing who chipped over the top to Joel Dunstan and he kicked to the hotspot. Michael Cloke was given a free and kicked the goal from 25 metres out with 18 minutes on the clock.

Entering the time-on period Ben Sanford made a good interception, went short to Murphy who kicked to the complex pocket, Mark Young did the roving, ran into an open goal and went bang.

South had definitely lifted their work-rate and should’ve registered another major two minutes later but Bradley failed to convert from 35 metres out.

North never got the footy past the centre from the kick-in, Wayne Hutchinson got hold of it, handballed to Bradley, handball back to Hutchinson, handball to Nayda who kicked to the flank, Mark Young marked, gave it to Bradley who gave it to Berrett and he threaded it through the middle from the boundary line 35 metres out.

At the 24-minute mark Dare cleaned up in defence, handballed to Hutchinson who found Lehmann with a good kick, handball to Conor Ahern who kicked to the broadcast wing, Reynolds gathered, passed to Murphy who kicked to the hotspot, Snaddon gathered, kicked the footy to the goal-square, Bradley grabbed it and popped it through the middle.

A good finish by the Demons to an enthralling quarter of footy saw them 8 points up at the first huddle.

QUARTER TIME: SOUTH 5.1 (31), NORTH 3.5 (23)

North Clare coach Craig Jaeschke gave his troops a fair old serve at the break and they took notice.

With two minutes on the clock Ben Coles roved the ball from a ball-up in the centre, handballed to Hollitt, handball to Bones who kicked to the flank, Pawley gathered, went backwards to Matt Wandel, handball back to Pawley who kicked over the scoreboard flank, Shaun Ribbons gathered and snapped successfully from 20 metres out.

The Roosters went forward again from the kick-in finishing with Ribbons having a shot for goal from the scoreboard flank but it was rushed through for a behind.

The Demons failed to clear the area from the kick-in with a number of handballs coming unstuck resulting in a ball-up.

Ribbons won the tap, Ben Wandel roved the ball, kicked inside fifty, Pawley made a good spoil, gathered, sent a perfectly waited kick to Ribbons who kept running, nailed the major and the Roosters were in front by 5 points.

South answered when Murphy gathered the footy from a throw-in, delivered a beautiful pass across half-forward to Berrett who marked, nailed his third goal for the half from 40 metres out and they were back in the lead by a point.

North hit back. Following the re-start they went forward inside fifty where Dan Wandel applied a strong tackle, was rewarded with the free and split the centre from 35 metres out.

It was an intense contest for the next few minutes with neither side giving an inch before Murphy had a snap at goal for the Demons but it rolled through for a point.

The Roosters transferred the footy down the other end of the ground from the kick-in finishing with Craig Jaeschke having a snap for goal from the scoreboard pocket but he missed the target.

Two minutes into the time-on period Bones soccered the footy forward from a ball-up, Pawley gathered, tried a check-side snap that went astray, Ben Wandel gathered and snapped his second major for the half.

Three minutes later Andrew Vandeleur was given a free kick for a deliberate out of bounds by North alongside the point post in the old tuck-shop pocket, ran around and guided it home to cut the margin back to 5 points.

Approaching the 27-minute mark Craig Price received a free from a throw-in, kicked inside fifty, Craig Jaeschke ran onto the footy, gathered and split the centre from 30 metres out.

A minute later Grant Jaeschke cut off an errant handball by a Demon, kicked the footy high towards the centre, Craig Jaeschke dropped the mark, recovered, gathered, handballed to Hollitt who found Ribbons and he kicked to the scoreboard flank where Pawley was given a free. Pawley threaded it through the middle from 40 metres out and the margin was out to 17 points.

Murphy won the centre clearance with a kick inside fifty, Reynolds took a gutsy mark running with the flight of the ball, passed to Mark Young in the canteen pocket who marked, the siren blew and he steered it through from a very acute angle.

A very good half of footy came to an end with the Roosters leading by 11 points.

HALFTIME: NORTH 9.7 (61), SOUTH 8.2 (50)

North had two chances to stretch their lead considerably early in the second half but Ben Wandel missed a snap at goal from 30 metres out and another snap from Wandel, this time from the paint went through off hands for a behind.

Approaching the 7-minute mark Price was given a free kick from a ball-up, kicked to the pocket, Ben Wandel gathered the footy and this time he didn’t miss from 30 metres out.

Matt Ward won the centre clearance with a kick inside fifty resulting in a ball-up, Ben Wandel got hold of the loose ball and snapped another goal for the Roosters from 20 metres out.

North went forward again with Tom Swearse gathering the footy from a throw-in, he handballed to Coles who found Ward and he kicked on the left foot to the pocket, Ribbons gathered, handballed to Dan Wandel and he snapped truly from 15 metres out.

Ward received a free at the re-start, kicked inside fifty, Ben Wandel gathered the crumbs, snapped his fifth goal for the afternoon giving the Roosters their fourth unanswered major and a lead of 37 points with 12 minutes gone in the third term.

South rallied.

Berrett stole the footy out of a pack at the re-start, kicked to the scoreboard flank, Snaddon used his body well, gathered, kicked to full-forward, Vandeleur marked, gave it back to Snaddon who had kept running and he snapped the much-needed goal from close range.

The Demons went forward from the re-start finishing with Mark Young having a snap for goal from 30 metres out but he missed the target.

Vandeleur wrapped up a Rooster following the kick-in, was rewarded with the free, handballed to Bradley and he sailed it home from 55 metres out.

At the 18-minute mark Pawley received a free inside his defensive fifty, kicked into Snaddon, Reynolds swooped on the loose ball, snapped successfully around his body from 45 metres out and the Demons had cut the margin back to 18 points.

As the clock ticked into time-on Vandeleur threw his slipper out at a Rooster jogging past him, umpire chrome dome Cogan saw it, sent him to the bench for 10 minutes with the dreaded yellow card and he might’ve even been reported.

Ellis received the free, was advanced from the back-flank to the 50-metre line and he split the centre for his first goal of the day.

South had the opportunity to get the reply approaching siren time but Hutchinson missed the target from 40 metres out on the complex flank.

North entered the home straight 23 points in front.

THREE QUARTER TIME: NORTH 14.9 (93), SOUTH 11.4 (70)

South had a big job ahead of them at the start of the final term and if they had any chance of winning the game they definitely needed the first goal.

They started with a positive attitude and looked like nailing the opening major but Mark Young missed the target after good work from Ash Smith with 2 minutes gone.

Three minutes later Ahern mopped up in defence, handballed to Bradley who found Mark Young with a good kick and he delivered to Berrett on the canteen flank. Berrett sailed it home from 50 metres out on the boundary line and the Demons got the start they desperately needed.