CRAZY WEEKEND by KC from Casey

You know it's been a truly crazy weekend for VFL football when Sandringham, held goalless in its last game, could manage 21 of them in its game against Port Melbourne yesterday and then the Casey Demons, known this year for their free flowing high scoring football, could score eight for the day (only two after half time) and still beat Essendon VFL by eight points in their vital top-four battle at RAMS Arena, Craigieburn.

That outcome reflected Casey’s early dominance when it kicked the first five goals of the game to the midpoint of the second quarter, an almost impassible defence led by Declan Keilty, Sam Frost and Jay Lockhart and particularly after half time, the superior class of veteran Bernie Vince (25 disposals) who was making his VFL debut. He stood out like a beacon and his contribution was enormous when the Demons were under siege and it highlighted the difference in quality between this level and the high step up to AFL. Without him, the side would not be sitting with a record of seven consecutive wins this morning.

The Bombers scored  the first point early but a goal from Angus Scott gae the Demons a lead which they held throughout the rest of the game. They maintained the ascendancy throughout periods of heavy rain. When the rain stopped, the Bomber resurgence began and it was relentless for a while until Casey ruckman Mitch King took a mark from close in to restore three goal lead at the main break.

Essendon had the better of Casey in most departments when the game turned into a battle of defences after half time. The Bombers had plenty of run but it was the fierce tackling of the Demons and the strong marking of Keilty and Frost that saved the day in an arm wrestle that saw the home team reign their lead to 10 points at three quarter time. 

A goal to Tim Smith, who had been so important earlier in the game with his strength and tackling, was the perfect start to the final term but the Bombers were not to be denied. They kept coming and the defenders kept repelling until the siren heralded the end of a dour struggle with Casey still on top.

The game was a breakout match for ginger headed Oskar Baker who finished with 34 touches on a wing. Billy Stretch continued his strong vein of good form and kicked two goals and Corey Wagner was again an important cog in the Casey cause.

Their next assignment is a home game - Casey's first meeting with the newly formed North Melbourne VFL.

Peter Jackson VFL 2018

Casey Demons 3.2.20 6.3.39 7.3.45 8.6.54

Essendon VFL 0.2.2 3.3.21 5.5.35 6.10.46

Goals

Casey Demons Stretch 2 Balic Garlett Hutchins King Scott T Smith

Essendon VFL Boyse 2 Houlahan Merrett Stewart Younan

Best 

Casey Demons Keilty Wagner Stretch Vince Frost Lockhart

Essendon VFL Mutch Hind Merrett Draper Heppell Clarke

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 20 kicks 14 handballs 34 disposals 9 marks 6 tackles 126 dream team points
Harley Balic 1 goal 9 kicks 7 handballs 16 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 63 dream team points
Tomas Bugg 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 75 dream team points
Lachlan Filipovic 2 hit outs -4 dream team points
Sam Frost 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 58 dream team points 
Jeff Garlett 1 goal 2 behinds 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 65 dream team points 
Jack Hutchins 1 goal  2 kicks 3 handballs 5 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points 
Dion Johnstone 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 37 dream team points 
Declan Keilty 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 68 dream team points
Jay Kennedy Harris 8 kicks 9 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 11 tackles 88 dream team points
Dean Kent 10 kicks 4 handballs 14  disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 45 dream team points
Mitchell King 1 goal 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 17 hit outs 56 dream team point
Jay Lockhart 13 kicks 7 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 78 dream team points 
Goy Lok 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 36 dream team points
Corey Machaya 6 kicks 1 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points
James Munro 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 61 dream team points 
Cameron Pedersen 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 55 dream team points
Corey Stockdale 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 4 tackles 45 dream team points
Angus Scott 1 goal 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals marks tackles dream team points
Tim Smith 1 goal 11 kicks 9 handballs 20 disposals  7 marks 2 tackles 78 dream team points
Billy Stretch 2 goals 13 kicks 10 handballs 23 disposals 1 mark 9 tackles 110 dream team points  
Bernie Vince 18 kicks 7 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 5 tackles 107 dream team points
Corey Wagner 15 kicks 12 handballs 27 disposals 2 marks 9 tackles 106 dream team points