TO THE SWORD by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

The Casey Demons closed off their game against the Southport Sharks with a comfortable 30-point win off the back of a monster six goal opening term in which they put the Southport Sharks to the sword and kept them scoreless. 

Despite losing Toby Bedford to AFL medical sub duty, Majak Daw and Bailey Laurie, the Demons still fielded a strong list of 13 MFC players and also managed to blood two more local newcomers in Tyler Edwards and Tom Macrae after adding four debutants last week. The Sharks took over a strong group of experienced campaigners including ex-Demons Jay Lockhart and Zac Foot who played a number of games with Casey last year.

Veteran talk forward Mitch Brown was in scintillating early form for Casey, booting the first three goals in ten minutes and a fourth with a kick as the siren sounded to end the opening term. Youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield playing the best game of his short career to date booted a goal early as did the busy Luke Dunstan. 

The onslaught continued into the second term with goals to Jacob Van Rooyen and Brown’s fifth, at which point the Demons had reached the half century mark and led by 47 points. At this stage however, the weather turned bleak and to their credit, the visitors fought back and scored the next four goals to end the half in arrears by 25 points, making the rest of the game an interesting contest for the hardy group of spectators at Casey Fields.

It was a dour struggle for the remainder of the day as the scoring dried up but the Casey midfield held strong in the clinches. In the absence of Daw, Southport’s rucks of Crossley and Thurlow dominated that contest but Kade Chandler (26 possessions, seven marks), Luke Dunstan and Jimmy Munro (17 touches each) and Mitch White (16) did the hard work at the coal face and around the ground while Jake Melksham was classy and kicked a brilliant goal just when the Sharks looked threatening,

The defence was well led by Adam Tomlinson (23 touches) who continued his good form since his return to the VFL team. Moniz-Wakefield finished with two goals, 18 touches and six tackles while Van Rooyen booted two goals, chipped in to help in the ruck and tackled strongly. 

It was a pity that the powers that be decided to fixture a clash of times between the two Demon sides who both are undefeated and occupy top spot on the ladder. 

With Melbourne heading off to Optus Stadium in Perth next Sunday evening, at least there will be no clash for Casey’s game against North Melbourne VFL for their game at Arden Street at midday. 

CASEY DEMONS 6.2.38 8.5.53 10.9.69 13.11.89

SOUTHPORT 0.0.0 4.4.28 6.8.44 8.11.59

GOALS 

CASEY DEMONS M.Brown 6 Moniz-Wakefield Van Rooyen 2 Dunstan Melksham Weideman 

SOUTHPORT Woodcock 2 Crossley Dawson Gowers Joyce Pescud Thurlow 

BEST 

CASEY DEMONS M.Brown Moniz-Wakefield Tomlinson White Chandler Dunstan

SOUTHPORT Crossley Dawson Fyfe Thurlow Willis Joyce

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 12 kicks 2 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 76 dream team points
Riley Baldi 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 39 dream team points
Jake Bell 8 kicks 1 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 10 hit outs 45 dream team points
Mitch Brown 6 goals 2 behinds 16 kicks 1 handball 17 disposals 12 marks 1 tackle 130 dream team points
Matt Buntine 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 49 dream team points
Kade Chandler 2 behinds 15 kicks 11 handballs 26 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 98 dream team points
Luke Dunstan 1 goal 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 81 dream team points
Tyler Edwards 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 60 dream team points
Corey Ellison 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 24 dream team points
George Grey 1 behind 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 66 dream team points
Tom Macrae 1 kick 1 handball 2 disposals 5 dream team points 
Judd McVee 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 33 dream team points
Jake Melksham 1 goal 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 71 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2 goals 1 behind 13 kicks 5 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 96 dream team points
James Munro 1 behind 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 62 dream team points
Fraser Rosman 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 43 dream team points
Deakyn Smith 3 kicks 7 handballs 10 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 1 hit out 43 dream team points
Roan Steele 2 kicks 3 handballs 5 disposals 1 mark 15 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 20 kicks 3 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 79 dream team points
Daniel Turner 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 34 dream team points
Jacob Van Rooyen 2 goals 4 kicks 1 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 6 hit outs dream 60 team points
Sam Weideman 1 goal 2 behinds 6 kicks 8 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 4 hit outs 72 dream team points
Mitch White 1 behind 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 1 marks 5 tackles 65 dream team points