MOMENTS OF DOUBT by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

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