MOMENTS OF DOUBT by KC from Casey

The Casey Demons maintained their undefeated run and top spot on the VFL ladder after a bruising game against Richmond VFL at Punt Road yesterday but it wasn’t without its moments of doubt.

The team was greeted by clear windless weather and sunny skies at Tigerland, a far cry from the prevailing conditions at their fortress in outer suburban Melbourne at Casey Fields. Things looked very bright in the  early part of the game when Jimmy Munro got things under way with the opening goal from a free kick but things turned gloomy when the home team piled on six goals for the rest of the quarter, interrupted only by a couple of steadiers from Tom McDonald. 

The Tigers’ lead was stretched from 21 points to 26 by the 5 minute mark of the second term but from that point on, the Demon defence, led by Adam Tomlinson (till half time), Fraser Rosman, Deakyn Smith and Corey Ellison held them to just two goals for the remainder of the game (including a consolation goal late in time on at the very end). Tomlinson was unseen after collecting his 17 touches to half time, apparently taken off to be the emergency for the later game across the park at the MCG.

Tomlinson’s presence might have been missed due to a few injury scares in the tough going later in the game but the classy Casey forwards ensured the win with two productive bursts - one in the second half of the second quarter and the other in the final term.

Jake Melksham fired the team up with a goal of his own and was inspirational in the team’s  revival. Goals from Munro and McDonald further narrowed the gap before Andy Moniz-Wakefield flew to mark and goal to give the Demons the half time lead. A dour third term followed in which both defences were on top and scores were level at the final break. 

Casey took the ascendancy early through a goal from dependable skipper Mitch White who was the best on ground and it was time for the visitors to run the Tigers ragged. Oskar Baker turned in an excellent four quarter performance and some late goals to promising youngsters in Bailey Laurie and Jacob Van Rooyen were very encouraging. 

The 23-point victory lifted the Demons to the status of the only team in the competition with full points from all matches after the Giants drew their match with Sandringham at Blacktown on Saturday and sets up an interesting encounter next week against the Box Hill Hawks at City Oval, Box Hill.

Casey Coach Mark Corrigan would have come away happy at the way his charges overcame those early moments of doubt and turned the momentum their way and into a comfortable victory in the end.

Casey Demons 3.0.18 7.6.48 8.7.55 13.9.87

Richmond VFL 6.3.39 7.4.46 8.7.55 9.10.64

Goals

Casey Demons McDonald 3 Munro White 2 Brown Chandler Laurie Melksham Moniz-Wakefield Van Rooyen

Richmond VFL Lefau 2 Aarts Clark Henderson Johnson Olden Stack Tucker 

Best

Casey Demons White Rosman Melksham McDonald Tomlinson Baker Chandler Ellison

Richmond VFL Street Aarts Ryan Sonsie Martyn Clarke

Statistics

Oskar Baker 17 kicks 7 handballs 24 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 95 dream team points
Riley Baldi 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 63 dream team points
Jake Bell 2 kicks 1 handballs 3 disposals 1  tackle 3 hit outs 11 dream team points
Mitch Brown 1 goals 2 behinds 10 kicks 1 handballs 11 disposals 7 marks 59 dream team points
Kade Chandler 1 goals 1 behind 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 6 tackles 93 dream team points
Majak Daw 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 31 hit outs 79 dream team points
Corey Ellison 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 65 dream team points
George Grey 9  kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 46 dream team points
Ryan Koo 3 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 17 dream team points [injured]
Bailey Laurie 1 goal 1 behinds 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 59 dream team points
Tom McDonald 3 goals 1 behind 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 6 hit outs 65 dream team points
Judd McVee 1 kick 6 handballs 7 disposals 4 tackles 32 dream team points
Jake Melksham 1 goal 15 kicks 4 handballs 19 disposals 8 marks 6 tackles 99 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 49 dream team points
James Munro 2 goals 5 kicks 10 handballs 15 disposals 7 tackles 69 dream team points
Fraser Rosman 17 kicks 4 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 78 dream team points
Miles Shepherd 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 64 dream team points
Deakyn Smith 5 kicks 8 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 51 dream team points
Roan Steele 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 59 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 15  kicks 2 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 68 dream team points
Jacob Van Rooyen 1 goal 1 behinds 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 34 dream team points
Mitch White 2 goals 1 behind 15 kicks 11 handballs 26 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 43 dream team points

2 hours ago, mo64 said:

Excellent summation DeeSpencer. People are overrating the games of Baker and Rosman by looking at their stats. There was plenty of stat padding by these 2 from kick-outs which I found annoying. At AFL level, May roosts it long to contest, yet at times Baker was calling for the short 15m kick to the back pocket. Baker will be a good VFL player, whilst Rosman is still a work in progress.

The experienced players impacted the game, whilst the youngsters had their brief moments. I wish it was the other way around. Would love to see Laurie play a consistent 4 quarter game.

Shepherd and Steele look very promising.

What impressed me with Baker wasn't his stats. It was his ability to get away from pressure using his pace and his decision-making. These are abilities that transfer to AFL level (although admittedly they haven't as yet). The AFL-listed younger players seem to me to lack consistency but show some class so they just need more injury-free time to develop.

The other thing that is apparent is how much potential some of the VFL-listed players have.  Corey Ellison, Roan Steele, Miles Shepherd (1st game), George Grey als. Mitch White & Jimmy Munro are great players at VFL-level but are not AFL level. The problem is of course is that not many Casey-listed players get to play in any given week (there are 30 detailed on Melbourne's website but it's not up-to-date).

22 hours ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

Liked what I saw of Rosman today.

Reminds me just a tad of Phil Pinnell

LeFau played well but that last unrealistic gutless jump was deliberately designed to damage someone.  He was a mile off a realistic attempt to mark in that contest and decided someone was gonna pay no matter and leapt off the ground early with one knee raised.

Needs to get weeks IMO

Ryan might end up being a very good ruckman with a few years under his belt

Thought Jake the snake was pretty good after quarter time.  Baker & White also in the top three for mine.

Plugger Mac did really well given the delivery and basically no system coming inside in the first half.  Better after then.   He also played the high HF role quite well after half time.  Plugger still has the smarts at ground level, outmarked his opponents relatively easily in one on ones on the limited opportunities given and got to plenty of contests.  Did get caught a few times but was in congestion making the play and trying to impose.

Tomo pretty solid but solid at this level doesn't necessarily equate to AFL sometimes.

Chandler, Rosman, Ellison, Tomo and an HM to Moniz who i thought looked classy at times, especialy with the last kick coming inside on about two occasions.   Most players at this level (non AFL experienced ones) tend to bomb most of the time to the goal square or thereabouts.

Laurie not bad but a decent amount of development to go yet IMO before getting a shot at the big time.

Edited April 25, 20223 yr by Demon Dynasty

Baker was good. I’m not really a huge fan generally but he was clean and showed his pace. 

Laurie had a good last quarter and did some classy passages of play but he doesn’t look to have have enough AFL qualities. I will be very surprised if he makes it. He is not quick and small, so he would need to be elite in terms of skill and become very strong. He doesn’t do enough to show he is able to go to the next level.

Rosman could make it but needs to improve his hands. He’s not clean enough but is athletic enough.

TMac played very well. 

Van Rooyen was quiet and should be switched into the backline. 

Melksham was decent.

Tomlinson was ok but is way behind Petty and even Smith. 

Chandler was ok but missed a sitter. 

Moniz-Wakefield shows some speed and promise. 

Edited April 25, 20223 yr by Fat Tony