STREAK’S END by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

Winning streaks are meant to be broken and just like their big brothers in Melbourne earlier in the year, the Casey Demons saw their run of victories come to an end after exactly 17 straight games at the weekend.

Making their first visit to Brisbane’s Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, the Demons found the Queensland warmth a touch harsh after a cold hard winter and struggled for goals and for air after half time to lose a high quality VFL match by 14 points - 10.11.71 to 8.9.57. 

There were no excuses for Casey as it fielded a strong team with 16 AFL listed players but from even before the start, the omens were not good.

The Demons lost the Melbourne/Casey partnership’s lucky charm in Jake Bowey on the eve of the match when he was called up to replace Christian Salem for the AFL Demons’ Friday night clash at the Gabba and while his presence there was noted, the loss of the pocket sized #17 was significant for Casey. There’s that number 17 again!

From the very start, the Demons struggled to get their usual rhythm going on the ball. Their two dynamic running smalls in Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler who hadn’t played for three weeks after the bye and missing last week’s game against Carlton, looked rusty and were playing well below their previous levels. Neither found their touch around the ground and between them, they only contributed a single goal. Luke Dunstan was also less productive in the middle and the team missed the hard tackling in and under work of Jimmy Munro. Oskar Baker with 23 disposals was the best of the Casey smaller brigade.

Without their usual midfield ascendency, the pressure was well and truly on the forwards and, with a singular exception, they struggled to trouble the scorers.

That exception came in the form of exciting youngster Jacob Van Rooyen who played a lone hand role up forward with his marking and around the ground exuberance to contribute four goals. Had his enthusiasm only rubbed off on his fellow forwards, we would surely have been celebrating another victory instead of mourning the team’s first loss of the season. The enigma of JVR is that the Melbourne selectors have, perhaps wisely, determined to hold him back for a 2023 AFL debut.

Whilst not at their absolute best, the defence led by Adam Tomlinson, Daniel Turner and Corey Ellison went about their duties in a workmanlike manner and the older heads in skipper Mitch White and Matthew Buntine tried their best to steady the ship.

There was another exceptional display for the Demons from James Jordon who was a trifle unlucky to be omitted from their AFL side at this stage of the season. He responded with a superb display on the wing - with a team-high 27 possessions and eight tackles. His hand remains held high for a return to the fray at the higher level.

A qualifying final against the Sydney Swans Reserves awaits the Casey Demons who will be happy to return to their home fortress for that encounter.

CASEY DEMONS 2.5.17 5.5.35 6.6.42 8.9.57 

BRISBANE LIONS 3.2.20 5.5.35 8.8.56 10.11.71

Goals 

Casey Demons Van Rooyen 4 Baker Baldi Chandler Dunstan 

Brisbane Lions Robertson 3 Cox Fort Fullarton Lester Manly Sharp Smith 

Best 

Casey Demons Jordon Baker Van Rooyen White Baldi Ellison

Brisbane Lions Robinson Robertson Fort Lester Buzza Smith

Statistics 

Oskar Baker 1 goal 18 kicks 5 handballs disposals 9 marks 93 dream team points
Riley Baldi 1 goal 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 39 dream team points
Toby Bedford 1 behind 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 9 tackles 51 dream team points
Jack Bell 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 16 hit outs 46 dream team points
Mitch Brown 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 53 dream team points
Matt Buntine 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 78 dream team points
Kade Chandler 1 goal 1 behind 7 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 54 dream team points
Luke Dunstan 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 58 dream team points
Corey Ellison 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 2 hit outs 63 dream team points
Blake Howes 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 31 dream team points
James Jordon 1 behind 18 kicks 9 handballs 27 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 116 dream team points
Ryan Koo 4 kicks 1 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 25 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 31 dream team points
Tommy Macrae 1 kicks 1 disposals 1 mark 6 dream team points
Judd McVee 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 67 dream team points
Deakyn Smith 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 67 dream team points
Joel Smith 2 behinds 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 55 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 17 kicks 3 handballs 20 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 64 dream team points
Daniel Turner 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points
Jacob Van Rooyen 4 goals 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 2 hit outs 74 dream team points
Sam Weideman 2 behinds 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 3 hit outs 32 dream team points
Mitch White 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 74 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 55 dream team points