WIN ON PENALTIES by Ice Station

[Demonland 71,629]

The Casey Demons will take on minor premiers Williamstown in a qualifying final after beating off a strong Werribee challenge at Casey Fields yesterday. 

The 15 point victory was unconvincing but it gave the Demons their sixth straight victory and maintained their unbeaten run at home for the season. The Tigers were desperate as a win would most likely have given them a place in the finals and they put in a plucky performance which saw them within three points at the final change. But it was not enough in the end.

The game was close early with both teams locked together for most of the first half until a lapse in discipline saw the visitors give away free kicks and a couple of fifty metre penalties that led to three late second-quarter goals for the Demons that sent them into the sheds at half time with a 21 lead. 

Werribee worked hard after the break to atone for their indiscretions but the Demons closed off the game with the only two goals of the last term to secure the double chance.

The Demons were without skipper Jack Hutchins, rested with general soreness, but were well served by the goalkicking prowess of their smaller men in Bayley Fritsch and Angus Scott who managed five between them. Fritsch, who is the club's leading goalkicker, is on his way to the State Draft Combine where he is likely to further establish his credentials as a potential draftee. His mark and goal in the final term when the game was on the line was all class.

Of the Melbourne listed players Jack Trengove and Ben Kennedy played their roles and Corey Maynard continued his good progression through the season but, on the whole, they were disappointing when one considers that potentially, at least, an AFL finals place was on the line.

In the end, it was those penalties given away before half time that cost Werribee the game and a finals appearance.

The Casey Demons qualifying final game against Williamstown will be played this Saturday at 2:00pm at the scene of their opening game of the season, Burbank Oval.

Peter Jackson VFL 2017

Casey Demons  3.4.22 7.6.48 9.10.64 11.15.81

Werribee 2.2.14 4.3.27 9.7.61 9.12.66

Goals

Casey Demons Fritsch 3 Maynard Scott 2 Bugg Gordon Kennedy-Harris King

Werribee Corbett Munro 2 Cleeland  Fordham Hodgson Sharp  Xerri

Best 

Casey Demons Trengove Wagner Maynard Keilty Scott Fritsch

Werribee Hanson Gribble Barrack Iles Corbett Fordham

Statistics 

Tomas Bugg 1 goal 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 69 dream team points 
Sam Frost 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 36 dream team points
Liam Hulett 2 behinds 6 kicks 1 handballs 7 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 53 dream team points
Dion Johnstone 9 kicks 10 handballs 19 disposals 3 tackles 51 dream team points 
Declan Keilty 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 47 dream team points
Ben Kennedy 1 behind 13 kicks 13 handballs 26 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 85 dream team points
Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goal 1 behind 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 83 dream team points
Mitch King 1 goal 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 35 hit outs 76 dream team points
Corey Maynard 2 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 12 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 98 dream team points
Jake Spencer 1 behind 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 32 hit outs 64 dream team points 
Billy Stretch 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 38 dream team points 
Jack Trengove 15 kicks 10 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 85 dream team points 
Josh Wagner 13 kicks 13 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 84 dream team points 
Sam Weideman 2 behinds 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 54 dream team points

The Development League team have stormed into the finals series with successive 100 point plus victories. Nathan Gardiner's six goal effort secured him, top goal kicker status for the season.

AFL Vic Development League 2017

Casey Demons 6.4.40 9.5.59 15.8.97 23.13.151

Werribee 1.1.7 3.2.20 3.3.21 4.3.27

Goals

Casey Demons Gardiner 6 Cox 4 Armour Collis Lok Lefau 2 MacHaya Ambler Vander Haar Dan Johnston Giobbi 

Werribee Brett  Ellard Sutton Xavier

Best

Casey Demons Byers Hillard Dan Johnston Ambler Dwyer Gardiner

Werribee Junker Brett Adams Carlton Xavier Ellard