RELENTLESS by KC from Casey

The Casey Demons returned to the winning list with an emphatic 54 point victory over a limp North Melbourne VFL combination at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Smarting from last week’s thrashing at Box Hill, the Demons came out of the blocks intent on redeeming themselves for their embarrassing start to the 2019 campaign. 

After a brief early bout of inaccuracy, the goals flowed as a result of relentless pressure applied to the visitors who were constantly forced into error. The pleasing thing from Casey’s viewpoint was that the team had multiple avenues to goal with six different goalkickers hitting the scoreboard in the opening term tally of 6.7.43 to 0.0.0. 

The inspiration came from Jeff Garlett who shook off a lengthy period of injuries and indifferent performances to return to his sparkling best. Garlett tackled and harassed the opposition, brought others into the game, maintained that effort throughout and booted three goals to give himself every chance of returning to the Melbourne line up in the near future.

Casey continued to dominate proceedings into the second term and pushed its lead out to 49 points at the 14 minute mark before the hapless Kangaroos scored their first ever goal against the club after 5½ quarters (they were held goalless in their only previous meeting last year). 

The Demon domination continued to half time when they led by 54 points and then through to the last break and into the final term when they led by as much as 84 points, 14 minutes into the quarter when skipper Mitch White booted his third. 

At that point, the home side appeared to relax and coach Jade Rawlings would not have been impressed as North went on a five goal spree to double its goal tally in the last fifteen minutes of the game. 

The coach would however, have been happy with his team’s all round effort and the much improved input of his Casey-listed players. Seasoned performers from the skipper to Mitch Gent and Jimmy Munro were in the fray early, as were debutant, Tim McCaffrey from Wangaratta Rovers and Jaxon Briggs who played his best game yet and booted three goals. Although recruit Liam Wale-Buxton was eventually well beaten in the hit outs by seasoned big man Tom Campbell, he contested strongly and tackled well.

Speaking of tackling, Alex Neal-Bullen was a tackling machine throughout the game while the in-and-under midfield work of Corey Maynard was outstanding. Tom Sparrow was given a run with role on Dom Tyson and did very well in curbing the dangerous on baller for most of the game in what will prove an excellent learning experience for the youngster.

Harry Petty and Declan Keilty both bounced back after subdued performances last week with the former outstanding in defence with his marking and rebounding work. Keilty looked good in his various roles, especially around the ground when called on to do the relief ruck work and also kicked a strong goal in the third term when up forward. Both will be in contention for promotion this week with injury doubts over Oscar McDonald and Braydon Preuss.

The Demons have a bye next weekend before returning to Casey Fields to take on Richmond in a fortnight.

2019 Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL

Casey Demons 6.7.43 10.9.69 17.10.112 18.11.119

North Melbourne VFL 0.0.0 2.3.15 4.6.30 10.5.65

Goals 

Casey Demons Briggs Garlett White 3 Baker Garlett McCaffrey Smith 2 Keilty Gent Quigley 

North Melbourne VFL Larkey 3 Campbell 2 Hodges  Hrovat Rippon Robinson Wilkinson

Best 

Casey Demons Petty Garlett Gent White Keilty Sparrow

North Melbourne VFL Campbell Hayden Rippon Robinson Larkey Hrovat

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 2 goals 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 78 dream team points  
Toby Bedford 2 kicks 5 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 30 dream team points  
Jaxon Briggs 3 goals kicks handballs disposals marks tackles dream team points  
Kade Chandler 1 behind 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 56 dream team points  
Jake Di Pasquale 9 kicks 7 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 64 dream team points  
Tom Freeman 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 56 dream team points  
Jeffrey Garlett 3 goals 1 behind 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 88 dream team points  
Mitch Gent 1 goal 1 behind 15 kicks 7 handballs 22 disposals 8  marks 2 tackles 99 dream team points  
Jack Hutchins 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 34 dream team points  
James Jordon 11 kicks 3 handballs 14  disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 57 dream team points  
Declan Keilty 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 7 tackles 7 hit outs 92 dream team points  
Mitchell Lewis 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 1 marks 4 tackles 43 dream team points  
Tom McCaffrey 2 goals 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 81 dream team points  
Corey Maynard 1 behind 6 kicks 17 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 68 dream team points  
James Munro 10 kicks 10 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 84 dream team points  
Alex Neal-Bullen 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 13 tackles 87 dream team points  
Harrison Petty 15 kicks 2 handballs 17 disposals 9 marks 3 tackles 90 dream team points  
Aidan Quigley 1 goal 1 behind 8 kicks 11 handballs 19 disposals 1 marks 4 tackles 72 dream team points  
Tim Smith 2 goals 1 behinds 7 kicks 10 handballs 17 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 2 hit outs 94 dream team points  
Tom Sparrow 9 kicks 10 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 79 dream team points  
Luke Tynan 6 kicks 10 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 48 dream team points  
Liam Wale-Buxton 1 behind 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 9 tackles 23 hit outs 89 dream team points  
Mitchell White 3 goals 13 kicks 3 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 4 hit outs 100 dream team points