TAMING THE TIGERS - PART ONE by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

The Casey Demons spoiled the Werribee Tigers’  party last night when they came away from the newly refurbished Avalon Airport Oval with a hard fought 17 point victory.

The home side was returning to their millions of dollars state-of-the-art home after 18 long months and was hoping to mark the historic occasion with a win. 

And that definitely seemed to be on the cards after ten minutes into the third term when the Tigers opened up a three goal lead in what was up until then a dour, low scoring affair. The Tigers had made all the running in a truly gutsy performance for the club which is now completely stand-alone after North Melbourne severed ties with it at the end of last year.

With several of their “unknown” brigade combining well together under the lights,  keeping a tight rein over the opposition and their key position players dominating the marking duels at either end, the prospects of a boilover win were as high as the Tiger spirits. 

Enter Cam Pedersen and the Demon runners whose superior fitness turned the situation on its head when they finally managed to open up the game. The next 15 minutes saw a complete change of direction as Casey piled on three quick goals to get themselves back into the game and eventually, they took the lead by two points at the final break and went on to win by 16 at the end of the day. 

Such was their dominance that in the last quarter and a half they scored 7.5.47 to 2.1.13 with the majority of play constantly in the Demons’ forward line. Pedersen directed proceedings and Jayden Hunt returned to form and with Billy Stretch revelling on the wing, provided run and fed the Casey forwards enough of the ball to stop Werribee in its tracks.

Play was congested all night and, as a consequence, the Demons were constantly prevented from playing the attacking style of game evident last week at Coburg. Later in the game however, the tiring Tigers were never going to win the game with their defensive tactics despite a very honest performance from their players.

Max King put in his best game in the ruck and around the ground and he had good support on the ball from Lachlan Filipovic, Sam Weideman and occasionally, Pedersen.

Jay Lockhart showed class in defence and Corey Wagner gave great support. Earlier in the game, Angus Scott was the danger man up forward with two of his team’s first half goals. 

Casey’s next assignment will be much tougher - a trip to Richmond’s Swinburne Centre at Punt Road next Sunday and more Tigers to tame await.

Peter Jackson VFL 2018

Casey Demons 2.1.13 3.5.23 7.8.50 10.11.72 

Werribee Tigers 3.1.19 5.4.34 7.6.48 8.7.55

Goals

Casey Demons Pedersen Scott 2 Balic Hunt King Maynard T Smith Weideman

Werribee Tigers Corbett 3 Barrack Gribble Hooper Munro Robinson

Best

Casey Demons Hunt White King Lockhart Stretch T Smith

Werribee Tigers Gribble Moloney Corbett Nott Hanson McFarlane

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 46 dream team points 
Harley Balic 1 goal 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 64 dream team points 
Jaxon Briggs 5  kicks 1 handballs 6disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 45 dream team points 
Lachlan Filipovic 1 kicks 3 handballs 4 disposals 1 tackle 16 hit outs dream team points 
Mitch Gent 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 67 dream team points  
Jayden Hunt 1 goal 14 kicks 5 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 73 dream team points 
Dion Johnstone 1 behind 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 7  tackles 48 dream team points 
Declan Keilty 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 26 dream team points 
Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 behind 12  kicks 8 handballs 20 disposals 3 tackles 60 dream team points 
Mitch King 1 goal 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 35 hit outs 93 dream team points 
Mitchell Lewis 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 29 dream team points 
Jay Lockhart 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 2 tackles 35 dream team points 
Corey Maynard 1 goal 1 behind 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 85 dream team points 
James Munro 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 11 tackles 70 dream team points 
Cameron Pedersen 2 goals 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 4 tackles 49 dream team points 
Harrison Petty 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 15 dream team points 
Angus Scott 2 goals 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 55 dream team points 
Joel Smith 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 49 dream team points 
Timothy Smith 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 9 tackles 74 dream team points 
Billy Stretch 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles 82 dream team points 
Corey Wagner 11 kicks 2 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 1 hit out 77 dream team points 
Samuel Weideman 1 goal 1 behind 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 13 hit outs 65 dream team points 
Mitchell White 9 kicks 7 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 54 dream team points