RESILIENCE by KC from Casey

[Demonland 72,213]

The Casey Demons showed great resilience as they withstood a late challenge from Essendon VFL to maintain their undefeated record after a dour struggle in gloomy conditions at Casey Fields on Saturday.  

Following the withdrawal of Sam Weideman to the Melbourne side for Friday night’s AFL game, the Demons’ had their key position forward stocks further depleted with the loss of youngster Jacob Van Rooyen before the start and an injury to Mitch Brown early in the second term. However, they managed to find a way to overcome the sudden and unexpected lack of tall timber up forward with a combination of their running forwards and smalls and a solid three goal contribution from the veteran, Mitch White.

It was a sluggish start for the home team which, despite kicking with the breeze, conceded the first two goals before Brown scored their first with a snap across his body after youngster Bryce Milford laid a strong tackle to set up the play followed by the leveller from Kade Chandler soon after. The Bombers soon regained the ascendency with two goals before Melbourne recruit Blake Howes’ exciting response. Casey was in a spot of bother as it trailed by a goal at the first break with Essendon kicking with the advantage of the breeze in the second.

The Demons’ concerns were alleviated when Toby Bedford’s early goal in the made it all square again and from there, they showed their resilience, gradually getting on top in the middle and holding the lead from that point onward despite being hotly challenged a few times during the afternoon as well as having to find new avenues to goal after Brown’s unfortunate departure.   

They were aided with some strong marking and conversion up forward from White and a promising debut from local product Roan Steele who kicked two for the day when they were badly needed.   

The Demons seemed to have the Bombers’ measure throughout the third term and established a handy 17- point lead at the final break. 

Fans would have been impressed with the class of Howes and the steadiness in defence of the likes of Deakyn Smith, Oscar Baker and Fraser Rosman, Oskar Baker.   They held together well when the chips were down as Essendon made its final comeback.    

Jimmy Munro was solid as usual throughout the day and provided great strength in the nerve-wracking final term. Corey Ellison was also a force in defence as the Demons held firm in the final moments and vigorously protected their undefeated record. 

Casey’s next encounter will take place at Point Gellibrand when it takes on Williamstown on Saturday night.

CASEY DEMONS 3.4.22 7.9.51 11.12.7813.13.91 

ESSENDON VFL 4.4.28 5.6.36 9.7.61 13.10.88

GOALS

CASEY DEMONS White 3 Chandler Howes Steele 2 Bedford M Brown Dunstan Grey

ESSENDON VFL Waterman 3 Golds McDonald-Tipungwuti Weightman 2 Baldwin Hobbs Sutton Voss

BEST

CASEY DEMONS White Baker Chandler Munro Howes Rosman Ellison Howes Daw

ESSENDON VFL Zerk-Thatcher Waterman Hobbs Atley Bryan Conforti

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 16 kicks 8 handballs 24 disposals 1 marks 2 tackles 72 dream team points
Toby Bedford 1 goals 4 kicks 8 handballs 12 disposals 6 tackles 55 dream team points
Jake Bell 1 behind 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 13 hit outs 53 dream team points
Mitch Brown 1 goals 3 kicks 3 disposals 2 marks 21 dream team points [injured]
Kade Chandler 2 goals 1 behind 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 97 dream team points
Majak Daw 3 behinds 13 kicks 13 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 26 hit outs 81 dream team points
Luke Dunstan 1 goals 1 behinds 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 58 dream team points
Corey Ellison 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 23 dream team points
Tom Freeman 10 kicks 1 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 56 dream team points
Luca Goonan 1 kicks 3 handballs 4 disposals 3 tackles 22 dream team points
George Grey 1 goals 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 39 dream team points
Blake Howes 2 goals 1 behind 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 1 marks 5 tackles 63 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals  6 tackles 44 dream team points
Judd McVee 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 33 dream team points
Jake Melksham 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 3 tackles 39 dream team points
Bryce Milford 2 kicks 3 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 24 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 behind 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 27 dream team points
James Munro 1 behind 9 kicks 14 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 1 hit out 79 dream team points
Fraser Rosman 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 52 dream team points
Deakyn Smith 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 1 marks 2 tackles 30 dream team points
Roan Steele 2 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 59 dream team points
Mitch White 3 goals 1 behinds 12 kicks 2 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 82 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 8 kicks 1 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 39 dream team points