UNDERDOGS by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

Thanks to the large injury list at Melbourne, the Casey Demons went into their fifth round clash with Footscray VFL as the underdogs and despite a courageous showing up to half time after conceding the game’s first four goals, their third quarter fade out saw them fall short against quality opposition for the second time in a week.

Casey went into the game with only 9 AFL listers after Declan Keilty was called up to make his debut when Tim Smith was forced to pull out of the Melbourne team with back issues. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead of 25 points with the breeze before Casey skipper Mitch White scored his team’s first goal and another by Kade Chandler brought the Demons to within two goals at the first break.

Corey Wagner was superb throughout but his contribution in the first quarter was exceptional and kept his team in the game. 

The Demons applied great pressure early in the second term and took control of the game with the wind at their backs and three goals by the 15 minute mark saw them in the lead by 9 points at one stage. The Bulldogs slowed the pace of the game down and scored a vital goal in the shadows of half time to lay the foundations for a big third quarter with the wind. 

Casey fought back after conceding the first goal of the final term but they were unable to match their efforts of last week when they nearly stole the game from the Tigers.

Sam Weideman reacted strongly to his axing from the Melbourne team and was always dangerous whether up forward or giving a chop out to Liam Wale-Buxton in the ruck. Oskar Baker played his best game since suffering a bad hamstring injury late last year and chimed in with a couple of goals in the second quarter. There were also encouraging signs from two young South Australians Tom Sparrow, again hard at the ball and developing key defender Harry Petty.

Casey’s Jimmy Munro was hard at it as usual in his 100th game and youngsters Tom Freeman and Aidan Quigley were excellent contributors on the day.

Things don’t get any easier with a trip to Windy Hill against the top placed Bombers.

2019 Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL

Casey Demons 2.2.14 5.7.37 5.8.38 8.11.59

Footscray VFL 4.2.26 5.4.34 9.9.63 11.10.76

Goals

Casey Demons Baker Weideman 2 Chandler Munro Quigley White

Footscray VFL Boyd 3 Cavarra Gardner 2 Barnett Lipinski Nash  West

Best

Casey Demons C Wagner Sparrow Petty T Freeman Baker Quigley

Footscray VFL Williams Young West Smith Scott Boyd

Statistics

Oskar Baker 2 goals 1 behind 15 kicks 5 handballs 20 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 99 dream team points  

Toby Bedford 1 kick 2 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 15 dream team points  

Jaxon Briggs 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 34 dream team points  

Kade Chandler 1 goal 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 44 dream team points  

Wayne Collis 4 kicks 1 handball 5 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 1 hit out 44 dream team points  

Jake Di Pasquale 9 kicks 11 handballs 20 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 75 dream team points  

Tom Freeman 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 1 tackles 70 dream team points  

Mitch Gent 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 48 dream team points  

Jack Hutchins 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 28 dream team points  

James Jordon 13 kicks 6 handballs 19 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 81 dream team points  

Mykelti Lefau 1 behind 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 1 marks 4 tackles 4 hit outs 55 dream team points  

Mitchell Lewis 1 behind 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 60 dream team points  

Nick Lowden 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 33 dream team points  

James Munro 1 goal 9 kicks 12 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 88 dream team points  

Harrison Petty 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points  

Aidan Quigley 1 goal 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 74 dream team points  

Charlie Spargo 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 59 dream team points  

Tom Sparrow 1 behind 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 1 marks 6 tackles 82 dream team points  

Cory Stockdale 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 47 dream team points  

Corey Wagner 16 kicks 9 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 5 tackles 104 dream team points  

Liam Wale-Buxton 1 behind 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 22 hit outs 48 dream team points  

Sam Weideman 2 goals 3 behinds 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 6 hit outs 108 dream team points  

Mitchell White 1 goal 1 behind 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 55 dream team points