DOGGED by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,102]

On Sunday, the Casey Demons met the Footscray VFL under the roof at the same venue where their nemesis took them down in the 2017 grand final and the result left them with the same feeling of disappointment - this time with a seven point defeat that ended the club’s four game winning streak and made things a lot harder in terms of playing in this year’s final series.
 
And, as has so often happened this year, the Demons let the game get away from them with but failing to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way early while allowing their opponents to slip away to score easy goals, often against the run of play. As a result, the Bulldogs were already up by four goals when Oskar Baker took a strong mark and scored his team’s first major a minute before the quarter time siren.
 
That was basically the difference between the sides for most of the remainder of the game until the Demons made their final lunge at victory with the game’s last three goals and even then, after James Jordon kicked the team’s last goal, there was still time left to win the game but it was simply not to be and the team was left to lament the wasted opportunites that are evident when a team dominates the possession count by 353 to 305 but is unable to convert that to a win on the scoreboard.
 
Corey Maynard was the pick of the Demon players. He kicked a team lifting snap goal in the second term on the way to a 30 possession game which also included 11 tackles. Baker was also in good form with his run and pace and put his hand up for promotion with 26 touches. Jay Kennedy Harris, one of only two Melbourne listed players (along with Oscar McDonald) with more than double figure AFL experience was prolific with a game high 31 disposals which would have done his chances of promotion for next week’s heart of the nation clash against West Coast, very little harm.
 
James Jordon again showed promise and had some very good moments when played in the middle.
 
Of the VFL listed players, the ever-reliable Jimmy Munro and former skipper Jack Hutchins were strong in the contest and Cory Stockdale was a strong performer on the day but in the final analysis the team lacked the finishing class of the Bulldogs.
  
And that was the story of the day for a team with just 10 AFL-listed players of who only six have experience at the highest level. The team simply lacked the strength and experience of their opponents and it told in those vital moments when there was a game to be won.

The Demons remain in ninth place on the ladder and face a season defining game next week at Casey Fields against eighth placed Geelong VFL.
 
Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL
 
Casey Demons 1.3.9 4.5.29 7.9.51 10.13.73
 
Footscray VFL 4.2.26 7.4.46 11.6.72 12.8.80
 
Goals 
 
Casey Demons Bradtke Wagner 2 Baker   Bedford Jordon Lefau Wale-Buxton  White
 
Footscray VFL William 3 Dale Jong Scott Wallis 2 Hayes 
 
Best 
 
Casey Demons C Wagner Hutchins Kennedy Harris Munro Maynard Baker
 
Footscray VFL Jong Morris Hayes Roberts Porter William
 
Statistics 
 
Oskar Baker 1 goal 14 kicks 12 handballs 26 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 105 dream team points  
Toby Bedford 1 goal 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 58 dream team points  
Austin Bradkte 2 goals 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 1 tackles 29 dream team points  
Jaxon Briggs 1 behind 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 46 dream team points  
Kade Chandler 8 kicks 1 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 52 dream team points  
Wayne Collis 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 67 dream team points  
Tom Freeman 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 39 dream team points  
Mitch Gent 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 33 dream team points  
Jack Hutchins 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 70 dream team points  
James Jordon 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 10 tackles 90 dream team points  
Declan Keilty 3 behinds 6 kicks 8 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 18 hit outs 71 dream team points  
Jay Kennedy Harris 1 behind 18 kicks 13 handballs 31 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 104 dream team points  
Mykelti Lefau 1 goal 2 behinds 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 66 dream team points  
Ariek Lual 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 25 dream team points 
Oscar McDonald 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 65 dream team points 
Corey Maynard 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 89 dream team points 
James Munro 1 behind 9 kicks 20 handballs 29 disposals 1 mark 9 tackles 108 dream team points  
Aiden Quigley 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 8 tackles 59 dream team points
Cory Stockdale 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 76 dream team points 
Luke Tynan 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 56 dream team points 
Corey Wagner 2 goals 21 kicks 9 handballs 30 disposals 2 marks 11 tackles 131 dream team points  
Liam Wale-Buxton 1 goal 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 1 marks 1 tackles 33 hit outs 79 dream team points  
Mitch White 1 goal 5 kicks 6 kicks 11 handballs 4 disposals 4 marks tackles 63 dream team points