THE BIG MEN DON'T FLY by KC from Casey

[Demonland 71,629]

The Casey Demons might be celebrating back to back victories but they were far from impressive in a routine 3 goal victory against winless Coburg at Piranha Park at the weekend. 

The game was in stark contrast to the last encounter between the sides at the same venue less than twelve months ago. Back then they were the Scorpions, chock full of experienced AFL listers and they monstered their hosts by 13 goals. It was certainly a different team way back then. The rucks that day were Jake Spencer and Cam Pedersen, there were two former MFC captains in the side, they several 100 gamers and up and coming youngsters like Clayton Oliver and Christian Salem racking up possessions.

This time around there were no real big men lining up for the now VFL Demons and that is probably the main reason why Casey has struggled this season. The curse of the big men has hit almost as much, if not more, than it has their Melbourne counterparts. The stories of Max Gawn and Jake Spencer are well documented. The club's other 200cm plus big men are young kids in Mitch King and Lochie Filipovic but they were both out ill and injured respectively. That left Casey listed first gamer Gach Nyuon but he lasted a quarter before succumbing to an ankle injury. This left the ruck work to 194cm Declan Keilty assisted by a slightly taller Sam Weideman but they were battling against the odds. Coburg won the hit outs by 66-33 but Casey had the edge in terms of on ballers who gave the team first use of the ball at stoppages despite the ruck imbalance.

Coburg began well but the accurate Demons managed to grab a four point lead late in the opening term and were never headed from then onwards. Small man Jay Kennedy-Harris dominated possession with 47 touches and eight tackles and he was ably assisted by Dean Kent who managed to get his hands on the ball 28 times in the midfield. Ben Kennedy was dangerous in attack with three goals and 23 disposals, while the consistent Jack Trengove again was solid with 30 possessions.

The game never rose to any great heights in an error riddled performance. The plucky Lions were persistent and did not allow Casey to break away after half time. The teams traded goal for goal in the the third quarter and again in the last. 

Coach Justin Plapp would be satisfied with the promise of some of his VFL charges. James Munro led the way with 27 possessions, 50 gamer Ed Morris finished with 23 disposals and a goal and skipper Jack Hutchins was also effective with 19 touches.  

Like their AFL counterparts, the VFL Demons have the opportunity to move into the top 8 if they can beat Collingwood on the Queens Birthday Weekend.

Peter Jackson VFL 2017

Casey Demons 4.0.24  8.4.52 10.10.70 12.14.86 

Coburg 3.2.20 5.5.35  8.6.54 10.8.68

Goals

Casey Demons  Kennedy 3 Hulett Scott 2 Ferreira Gent Gordon Moncrieff Morris 

Coburg Kerbatieh 3 Dodge McEvoy 2 Holdsworth Hunt Lowson 

Best

Casey Demons Kennedy-Harris Keilty Moncrieff Gordon White Johnstone

Coburg Hunt Posar McEvoy Allan Exon Orr

Statistics

Liam Hulett 2 goals 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 61 dream team points
Dion Johnstone 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 53 dream team points 
Declan Keilty 3 kicks 7 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 14 hit outs 50 dream team points 
Ben Kennedy 3 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 12 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 123 dream team points
Jay Kennedy-Harris 19 kicks 28 handballs 47 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 144 dream team points
Dean Kent 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 82 dream team points
Corey Maynard 8 kicks 13 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 73 dream team points
Tim Smith 1 kick 7 handballs 8 disposals 5 marks 31 dream team points
Billy Stretch 1 behind 10 kicks 14 handballs 24 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 72 dream team points
Jack Trengove 14 kicks 14 handballs 28 disposals 7 marks 6 tackles dream 115 team points
Sam Weideman 3  kicks 8 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 7 hit outs 49 dream team points
Mitch White 1 behind 16 kicks 8 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 80 dream team points
The Development League team overcame a slow start to gain control of the game in the third quarter and win by 5 goals.

AFL Vic Development League 2017

Casey Demons 2.2.14  6.7.43 13.10.88 17.12.114

Coburg 3.4.22 6.5.41 9.5.59 13.6.84

Goals

Casey Demons Gardiner 4 Lefau Zijai 3 Cotte 2 Briggs Cox  Hillard  Lok

Coburg McRorie 3 Aujla Byrne Curtis El-Moussalli Ercolano Haberfield McDonald  Romios Schraven Wunhym

Best

Casey Demons Baker Dwyer Dan Johnston Hiscock Lefau Gardiner

Coburg Wunhym Karpany McRorie Curtis Ercolano Conn