Close loss to Swans a turning point for fired-up Demons

Canberra Demons vice-captain Mitch Maguire believes an eight-point loss at the hands of the Sydney Swans at home on Saturday could lead to a turnaround.

Canberra were behind for the entirety of the game, and were struggling to gain and maintain an advantage.

Five minutes into the last quarter the Swans had a 38-point margin in hand, before the Demons closed out the game with six of the last seven majors.

“That one probably hurt more than losing by 10 goals," Maguire told neafl.com.au post-match.

"Just to know we are so close to beating a top side like Sydney is pretty devastating to be honest.

“There are definitely some positive signs out there. I think going forward we can use this as the turning point of our season, (ahead of) a huge game against Aspley next week.”

At the conclusion of Round 12, Canberra sits just outside the top six in seventh with a record of four wins and six losses. Within those six losses, three of them have been less than three goals.

Maguire puts down the inconsistent run of performances down to lapses of concentration during the middle of key fixtures.

“That’s the thing - we have patches where we can really turn it on and match it with any side in the comp, but it’s just the flipside of that. Those 5 to 10 minute lapses that really hurt us,” Maguire said.

“I think it just comes down to our mental approach more than anything. I think there are just times when we have too many blokes switching off, stop communicating and that just leads to those lapses where the opposition get that run on and kick those two or three goals.”

The next month of football will be telling of where the Demons will find themselves at the end of the home and away season.

The Demons will face Aspley at Voxson Oval before three home games against Sydney University, Redland and the NT Thunder.

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