CASEY SCORES HIGH by KC from Casey

If you arrived at Casey Fields early enough on Saturday morning, you would have been greeted with the prospect of a miserable, wet day conducive of low scoring, scrappy football. But conditions moderated, the ground dried up and the fans were treated to an entertaining, high-scoring open brand of football that saw some classic high marking and both teams topping the 100-point barrier. The Casey Demons won the contest by 117 to 102 but North Melbourne were not to be denied for the way in which they fought out the game to its very end.

North have been in good form lately and, despite their injury and suspension woes at AFL level, they included some top players in their lineup. Halfway through the opening quarter, they held the upper hand until Joel Smith booted two quick goals late in the term - one off a screamer of a mark that, while not rising to his father’s mark of the last century, was top shelf. Roan Steele was in outstanding early form picking up 13 touches in a scintillating opening term.

As it has often done this season, Casey slowly edged its way forward and with the likes of Ben Brown, Jake Melksham and Josh Schache joining Smith among the goalkickers, they soon moved to a four or five goal lead range which they carried into the final quarter before the accurate Kangaroos threatened on a few occasions but the home team had all the answers.

James Jordon, who came on in the driving Adelaide rain as Narrm’s sub late on Friday night was flown back to play for Casey and was it's leading ballwinner, finishing with 27 disposals and eight clearances.

The Casey defence held firm all day, led by Adam Tomlinson (24 disposals) who took 10 marks and Daniel Turner (22 touches, 13 marks) not far behind him. If one of them missed the mark, it would be gobbled up by Jed Adams who took seven marks.

Bailey Laurie had 22 touches and two goals while Taj Woewodin kicked one goal from his 22 disposals. James Harmes (21 disposals, eight clearances) and Blake Howes (18 possessions, nine marks) both had busy afternoons.

Of the Demons' younger AFL brigade, Deakyn Smith had a good game and Andy Moniz-Wakefield was prominent early. Ollie Sestan had some impressive moments while Matt Jefferson kicked a goal and had a few cameo moments.

Skipper Mitch White had an excellent game and led the team well to overtake Steele as the team's best VFL listed player by game's end.

Casey has a tough challenge next weekend as it takes on Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval next Saturday.

CASEY DEMONS 5.1.31 9.4.58 14.7.91 18.9.117

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 4.0.24 6.0.36 10.4.64 16.6.102

GOALS 

CASEY DEMONS Melksham Schache J Smith 3 Brown Laurie 2 Jefferson Sestan Steele White Woewodin 

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Harvey 5 Lowson  Sellers 2 Bath Cunnington Lazzaro Smith Thomas Turner Watkins

BEST 

CASEY DEMONS White Tomlinson D Turner Jordon Schache Steele

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Lazzaro Thomas Harvey Cunnington Taylor Turner 

Statistics 

Jed Adams 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 7 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points
Jack Bell 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 20 hit outs 53 dream team points
Ben Brown 2 goals 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 2 hit outs 56 dream team points
Matt Buntine 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points 
Finn Emile-Brennan 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 26 dream team points 
George Grey 1 behind 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 63 dream team points
James Harmes 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 74 dream team points 
Blake Howes 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 80 dream team points
Matt Jefferson 1 goals 6 kicks 6 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 43 dream team points
James Jordon 15 kicks 12  handballs 27 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 96 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 2 goals 10 kicks 12 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points
Jake Melksham 3 goals 2 behinds 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 68 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 43 dream team points 
Harvey Neocleous 5 handballs 5 disposals 2 tackles 18 dream team points
Josh Schache 3 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 3 hit outs 95 dream team points 
Oliver Sestan 1 goal 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 50 dream team points
Deaykin Smith 6 kicks 7 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 32 dream team points
Joel Smith 3 goals 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 66 dream team points
Roan Steele 1 goal 17 kicks 6 handballs 23 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 95 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 18 kicks 6 handballs 24 disposals 10 marks 1 tackles 101 dream team points
Daniel Turner 17 kicks 5 handballs 22 disposals  13 marks 97 dream team points
Mitch White 1 goal 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 10 tackles 107 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 1 goal 1 behind 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 74 dream team points