UNTROUBLED by KC from Casey

The Casey Demons were untroubled for the third week in a row as they went on a four quarter romp at Marvel Stadium to record a 107 point win over an undermanned bottom-of-the-ladder North Melbourne VFL.

The scoring riot began about ten minutes into the game when Sam Weideman notched the first of four goals that could easily have been six or seven but for some uncharacteristic misses from close in. The Demon forward, spurned so far by the club’s AFL selectors, demonstrated a strong work rate, an example followed throughout the evening by his teammates. Indeed, time and again during the game, the skills and the drive to work hard and to team together were the factors that underlined the massive chasm between the two sides. There was some resistance in the third term when they finally scored a goal or two but in the end, the century plus winning margin was a fair indication of the difference between the teams.

The football public is aware that the two clubs are at different stages in the development cycle but the game was not the best vehicle to showcase the VFL on prime time Thursday night national television.

By quarter time with four goals to nil in the bag, two of them to Weideman, the game already looked over. The Demons increased the lead at every interval thereafter to 54, 62 and eventually 107 points at the end with Kade Chandler’s goal after the final siren.

Coach Mark Corrigan was able to rotate his players on and off and over the ground at will. Majak Daw was impressive early in ruck and around the ground and came off early in the piece with what looked like a niggle. This gave rookie ruckman Aaron Bradtke more valuable time than usual to show his wares. He still has a lot to learn but he’s a tall unit and will get better with added experience and muscle on his frame.

Tom Sparrow was very much in need of a good run and got it this week. The improving midfielder put together a career high 31 disposals in a best on ground performance but needs to work on his kicking for goal. James Harmes, on return from a hand injury, took a while to warm up but soon became a destructive force against his insipid Kangaroo counterparts. Small men Toby Bedford and Chandler thrilled the small crowd with their electric pace but face a daunting task breaking into the Demons’ AFL side given the form of its incumbent smalls.

One half of the Casey line up was made up of the club’s VFL-listed players and they deserve great credit for their contribution to the cause. Skipper Mitch White was strong over the ground and chipped in with a couple of quick goals in succession to kick off the final term. Jimmy Munro was prolific with 23 touches and ten solid tackles. Twenty-year-old Zac Foot from the Sydney Swans was fast and clever and picked up three goals. He could easily be snapped up in the mid season draft. A number of the young Casey boys put in pleasing performances given that they had less ground time than their more experienced and seasoned teammates.

The most pleasing aspect of the game would have been the fact that the team was able to play in the same style and fashion as the Demons’ AFL team and though the opposition never demanded it, they were able to play with intensity when required. That, and the fact that two young recruits in Jake Bowey and Fraser Rosman showed that they have talent and are coming along nicely.

2021 VFL Mens

Casey Demons 4.6.30 8.9.57 11.13.79 19.17.131

North Melbourne VFL 0.2.2 0.3.3 2.5.17 3.6.24

Goals

Casey Demons Weideman 4 Foot 3 Chandler Grey Harmes White 2 Bedford Machaya Munro Rosman

North Melbourne VFL Gunther Polidoros Scott

Best

Casey Demons Sparrow Harmes Bedford Weideman Bowey Chandler

North Melbourne VFL Gunther Roos Appleby W. Walker Clayton Dumont

Statistics

Toby Bedford 1 goal 2 behinds 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 78 dream team points
Jake Bowey 15 kicks 8 handballs 23 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 92 dream team points
Aaron Bradtke 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles 18 hit outs 68 dream team points
Kade Chandler 2 goal 3 behinds 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 9 tackles 104 dream team points 
Majak Daw 5 kicks 5 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 10 hit outs 39 dream team points
Corey Ellison 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 46 dream team points 
Zac Foot 3 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 98 dream team points
Tom Freeman 13 kicks 2 handballs 16 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 74 dream team points
George Grey 2 goals 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 52 dream team points
James Harmes 2 goals 16 kicks 11 handballs 27 disposals 2 marks 9 tackles 123 dream team points 
Jack Hutchins 6 kicks 6 disposals 4 marks 28 dream team points
Neville Jetta 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 64 dream team points
Tom McCaffrey 1 behind 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 37 dream team points
Cory Machaya 1 goal 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 59 dream team points
James Munro 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 14 handballs 23 disposals 4 marks 10 tackles 105 dream team points
Fraser Rosman 1 goal 14 kicks 3 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 82 dream team points
Deakyn Smith 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 46 dream team points
Ryan Sparkes 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 73 dream team points
Tom Sparrow 3 behinds 17 kicks 14 handballs 31 disposals 9 marks 5 tackles 128 dream team points
Corey Stockdale 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 37 dream team points
Sam Weideman 4 goal 3 behinds 15 kicks 2 handballs 17 disposals 10 marks 1 tackle 5 hit outs 118 dream team points
Mitch White 2 goals 1 behind 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 63 dream team points