VAN GOGH MOMENT by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

There is not much that can be said about the capitulation of the Casey Demons against Port Melbourne at North Port Oval. The Borough lost to the Demons six weeks ago by 43 points in a game that saw Casey begin the five-match winning streak that catapulted the team into premiership  contention and a top eight position. 

This week's turnaround was emphatic as Port Melbourne made the visitors look embarrassingly weak with its foot on their throats from the word go as it booted the first four goals of the match against the wind to secure a handy quarter time lead. Then, from the mid point of the second quarter and we into the third, they produced an onslaught of nine unanswered goals and ran away to win by 65 points. The turnaround was an outstanding 108 points from their Round 6 encounter. 

The lack of any pressure acts, the drop in enthusiasm and endeavour and the falling away in skills was dramatic . The Demons had 11 AFL listed players on the ground (Liam Hulett was selected for the game but was a last minute inclusion in the Development League team) and given the injuries and a lilkely suspension from the previous night's AFL clash one would have expected a lot more.

Instead, the Casey fans who had witnesses their recent dominant performances were puzzled and searching for answers to explain the sudden form slump. It looked as if the entire side was undergoing a Van Gogh moment - a complete meltdown complete with self-mutilation. Yes, it was that bad.

It was only later that it emerged that four members of the team has played up and broken team rules and gone drinking after the Box Hill game (ironical because that part of town was once known as an alcohol free zone). 

Three of the players in question had all been on the cusp of selection for Melbourne - a very important consideration in view of the need for freshness after three six day breaks. However, the players, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Ben Kennedy, Dean Kent and Jake Spencer were all told they would not be picked on Friday's starry night against the Swans. However, they did play in the VFL game leaving one to wonder what impact the whole sad and sorry saga had on both their Demons' AFL and VFL teammates. There is no excuse for the conduct and the losses but it couldn't have come at a worse time for Melbourne and Casey. In the event, the three K's played well enough, while Spencer was subdued and beaten by a rookie ruckman. 

Two former basketballers and Category B rookies were Casey's best. Corey Maynard continues to impress in the Demon midfield and Joel Smith was strong after a long lay off with injury.

Peter Jackson VFL 2017

Casey Demons 1.2.8 2.4.16 4.8.32 5.7.37 

Port Melbourne 4.0.24 9.4.58 14.5.89 16.9.105

Goals

Casey Demons  Fritsch  Giobbi Kennedy-Harris  Kent Morris

Port Melbourne Conway 4 Nahas 3 Cain Searle 2  Arnot  Lisle Pearson Pinwill Sandilands

Best 

Casey Demons Maynard Smith Kennedy-Harris Kent Kennedy Trengove

Port Melbourne Carey Viojo-Rainbow Cook Conway Templeton Clarke

Statistics

Dion Johnstone 5 kicks 10 handballs 15 disposals 6 tackles 56 dream team points 

Declan Keilty 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 4 tackles 41 dream team points 

Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goal 15 kicks 10 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 107 dream team points

Ben Kennedy 1 behind 11 kicks 19 handballs 30 disposals 12 tackles 119 dream team points

Dean Kent 1 goals 1 behind 18 kicks 9 handballs 27 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 104 dream team points

Mitch King 1 behind 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 16 hit outs 50 dream team points

Corey Maynard 1 behind 12 kicks 20 handballs 32 disposals 4 marks 16 tackles 145 dream team points

Joel Smith 9 kicks 12 handballs 21 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 83 dream team points

Jake Spencer 1 behind 2 kicks 6 handballs 8 disposals 1 marks 6 tackles 37 hit outs 83 dream team points

Jack Trengove 7 kicks 13 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 60 dream team points

Sam Weideman 2 behinds 4 kicks 11 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 14 hit outs 75 dream team points

In the Development League game, Port Melbourne overpowered Casey by 14 points. Nathan Gardiner continued his strong goal kicking vein of goal kicking form with five goals. Perry Lewis-Smith was best on ground.

AFL Vic Development League 2017

Casey Demons 5.1.31 7.1.43 11.3.69 12.5.77 

Port Melbourne 1.2.8 7.5.47 9.6.60 13.13.91

Goals 

Casey Demons Gardiner 5 Vander Haar 2 Armour Baker Ferreira Foote Hillard

Port Melbourne Hogan 3 Golby Kelso Renooy 2 De Soysa  Hayes Houghton Treverton

Best 

Casey Demons Lewis-Smith Lovett Machaya Hillard Gains Baker

Port Melbourne Golby Treverton Hooper Wenn Jaffer-Williams Atkins