The third derby of the season went the way of the home team at City Oval as it ran out 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77) winners.

It was the the Demons who jumped out of the gates early to score two goals in the opening minutes of the game directly from Saints turnovers.

Demons’ coach Nick Pekin said he had emphasised making a good start before the game.

“It is always good to get that really fast start,” he said. 

“I thought there might be a bit of rain around later but that held off.”

From that point on game settled into a midfield tussle.

The Saints worked back into the game through the first quarter as Jacob-Cooke Harrison kicked two goals to bring the scoreboard to 3.3 (21) to 2.2 (14) at quarter time.

For much of the second quarter the game remained an arm-wrestle with scoring opportunities for either side coming from counter-attacks off the half back line.

In the closing stages of the quarter the Saints midfield upped their game around clearances to pile on four goals as the side took a five-point lead into the long break.

A quiet third term exploded into life in the last five minutes as the Demons and Saints traded blows before the home side skipped ahead to a 10.10 (70) to 8.7 (55) lead at the last break.

Both coaches tried hard to rev their players up at three quarter time but it was the Demons who responded the quickest.

After the Saints missed an opportunity early, the Demons opened up a 33-point lead by half way through the quarter.

Late goals from the Saints dragged the scoreline back as the intensity lifted to finals like levels as the game drew to a close.

A Ryan Kemp goal just before the final siren sealed the win for the Demons.

Pekin said his players went in with a belief they could match the top sides.

“We’re starting to gel as a side a bit more,” he said.

“That goes a long way to winning games of footy.”

He said he was pleased with how his side played but they still lapsed at times.

“The Saints got on top in the midfield a couple of times, especially at the end of the second quarter,” he said.

“We’re always weary because they are a quality side.

“A few time late in the game we went in the corridor when we should have gone around the boundary.”

Saints coach Shane Breuer said the Demons had played really well.

“Their intensity was really high throughout the game and we couldn’t match them,” he said.

“A lot of the game was a contest through the midfield and they hit those contests harder.”

Despite the loss Breuer said it was good to have games like this leading into finals.

“I love these games,” he said

“You couldn’t ask for a much better run running into finals.

“The intensity  goes up another level come finals and our boys now know you can’t just turn that on for patches.”

Given the sides currently sit second and third on the ladder they are a good chance of playing each other in the first week of finals.