SWEET SIXTEEN by KC from Casey

The game was an uneven match up from the very beginning. The Casey Demons, representing an alignment between the reigning premiers Melbourne and the outer southeastern expansion area centred around a sprawling Cranbourne with its rapid population growth and the stand alone Northern Bullants from the inner north who sit at the foot of the VFL table. With 14 AFL listed players and a couple more having experience at the elite level opening with the breeze at their backs, the result was inevitable. The game ended with a whopping 91 point win to the Casey Demons who wrapped up the competition’s minor premiership a month early with their sweet 16th consecutive win for the season. 

Luke Dunstan got leather poisoning with 41 touches and 2 goals to go with them while young key forward Jacob Van Rooyen came away with a 5 goal haul. However, from go to whoa this was a supreme team effort with individuals dominating and pulling together to achieve the desired outcome.  

They were naturally at their most dangerous with the wind at their backs. The Demons piled on six goals to nil in the first and third terms and, while the Bullants offered strong resistance in the second, the home side maintained its stranglehold with four goals to one at the end - a tribute to the strong defence led by Adam Tomlinson, Daniel Turner and Jake Bowey who were capably assisted by Casey listers Corey Ellison and Matthew Buntine.

The swirly winds weren’t conducive to sizzling displays of skill but the Demons mastered the elements as much as was physically possible, The midfield was led by the masterful Dunstan and his assistant Jimmy Munro who took full advantage of the strength in the ruck of the returning Josh Smith who had a great duel with his Bullants counterpart. There was plenty of support in the engine room including from skipper Mitch White and improving youngster Riley Baldi.

Demon fans would have seen a lot to like from players of the future, notably Van Rooyen who showed special talent with his solid marking in the difficult conditions and his boundless enthusiasm and attack on the football. Bailey Laurie, Blake Howes and Taj Woewodin are also names that can be earmarked for 2023 and beyond. The fact that they can be developed in a successful environment at Casey will be of immense benefit to the players and the club when the time comes for them to step up to the next level.

A lot can also be said for small forward rivals Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler who kicked five classy goals between them and though he was subdued, Andy Moniz-Wakefield managed an awesome goal in a moment of magic.

Mitch Brown was as always at this level a dangerous foil up forward with three goals and Joel Smith had some pleasing moments up playing forward on his return from a long lay off with injury.

The only annoyance for this team is the fact that it has another bye coming up in the lead up to the last month before the opening of its finals campaign.

CASEY DEMONS 6.3.39 8.7.55 14.12.96 18.17.125

NORTHERN BULLANTS 0.1.1 4.3.27 4.3.27 5.4.34 

Goals 

Casey Demons Van Rooyen 5 Bedford M Brown 3 Chandler Dunstan 2 Laurie Moniz-Wakefield White 

Northern Bullants Boyd Honey Kolar Murphy Nikolovski

Best 

Casey Demons Dunstan Munro Van Rooyen Bedford Tomlinson White Baldi

Northern Bullants Mackie Velissaris Murphy King

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 1 behind 12 kicks 3 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 63 dream team points
Ryan Baldi 1 behind 10 kicks 10 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 69 dream team points
Toby Bedford 3 goals 1 behinds 9 kicks 7 handballs 16 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 86 dream team points
Jake Bowey 18 kicks 8 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 94 dream team points
Mitch Brown 3 goals 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 79 dream team points
Matt Buntine 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 50 dream team points
Kade Chandler 2 goals 1 behind 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 77 dream team points
Luke Dunstan 2 goals 2 behinds 18 kicks 23 handballs 41 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 135 dream team points
Corey Ellison 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 57 dream team points
Blake Howes 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 52 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 1 goal 6 kicks 13 handballs 19 disposals 6 marks 1 tackles 70 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 3 marks 25 dream team points
James Munro 14 kicks 15 handballs 29 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 107 dream team points
Aiden Quigley 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 44 dream team points
Miles Shepherd 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 41 dream team points
Joel Smith 1 behind 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 41 dream team points
Josh Smith 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 24 hit outs 74 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 19 kicks 10 handballs 29 disposals 11 marks 110 dream team points
Daniel Turner 1 behind 15 kicks 6 handballs 21 disposals 8  marks 82 dream team points
Ryan Valentine 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 8 hit outs 40 dream team points
Jacob Van Rooyen 5 goals 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 7 hit outs 68 dream team points
Mitch White 1 goals 3 behinds 10 kicks 19 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 69 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 61 dream team points