GALLANT by KC from Casey

The world “gallant” is not one that is readily acceptable to losing teams in our game of football so when it was used in the context of the Casey Demons’ loss to Sandringham in yesterday’s match at Casey Fields, it left a bitter taste in the mouth. 

The Demons went into the game against the St Kilda affiliated Zebras with the advantage of playing on their home turf (not that this has been a major asset in 2024) and with very little else going in their favour. The Saints have close to a full list from which to select their team and, as a consequence, Sandy fielded a strong team with a solid group of AFL campaigners. The Demons, on the other hand, managed to provide ten AFL players, most of them short on AFL experience and also lacked the VFL experience of recent years. 

Skipper Mitch White was the exception to that rule and he was indeed, magnificent all afternoon in an outstanding leadership performance that produced a game high 38 possessions as well as two goals and ten clearances. He was responsible for Casey’s strong first half showing and then, led the charge at the end with the goal that led his side’s run of five unanswered goals in the middle of the final term that had them so tantalisingly close at 1 point in arrears before the Zebras kicked away with the game’s last two goals.

Earlier, the Demons kicked themselves out of the win with errant kicking for goal that proved fatal to the cause in a half of football that saw several lead changes. The half time score of 6.10.46 to 7.2.46 said it all. With Membrey and Hotton taking control in the third term, the Zebras looked to be on their way to an easy win until the late Casey comeback.

For Melbourne fans, the form of Matthew Jefferson who booted 5.3 and took eight marks  was heartening. His display of forward craft and thirst for the contest were his best in the year and a half in which he has been with the Demons. Ben Brown’s 3.3 after the main break showed that he is by no means a spent force.

Andy Moniz-Wakefield continued with his rich vein of form covering plenty of ground and collecting 17 kicks, 17 handballs and taking six marks. Bailey Laurie (25 disposals), Jack Billings (24) and Koltyn Tholstrup (23) were all busy.

With plenty of young talent being groomed for the future, the club should not expect too many “gallant losses” going forward.

The Casey Demons next outing is next Saturday at Piranha Park against fellow cellar dwellers Coburg Lions.

CASEY DEMONS 4.4.28 6.10.46 8.12.60 14.14.98

SANDRINGHAM 5.0.30 7.2.44 14.4.88 17.9.111

GOALS 

CASEY DEMONS Jefferson 5 B Brown 3 Laurie White 2 Cross Szybkowski

SANDRINGHAM Membrey 6 Hotton 5 Lowe 2 Allison Butler Heath Watson 

BEST

CASEY DEMONS White Moniz-Wakefield Jefferson Laurie K Brown B Brown

SANDRINGHAM Heath Membrey Crouch Campbell Hotton Paton

Statistics 

Jed Adams 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 51 dream team points 
Jack Bell 5 handballs 5 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 6 hitouts 20 dream team points
Jack Billings 13 kicks 11 handballs 24 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 77 dream team points
Ben Brown 3 goals 3 behinds 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 9 marks 1 tackle 82 dream team points 
Kynan Brown 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 4 marks 8 tackles 86 dream team points
Paddy Cross 1 goals 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 1 marks 5 tackles 55 dream team points

Tyler Edwards 1 behind 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 78 dream team points
Tom Freeman 8 kicks 8 disposals 3 marks 33  dream team points
Max Gregory 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 54 dream team points
Matt Jefferson 5 goals 3 behinds 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 82 dream team points
Brayden LaPlanche 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 59 dream team points 
Bailey Laurie 2 goals 1 behind 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 5 tackles 115 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 17 kicks 17 handballs 34 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 115 dream team points 
Harvey Neocleous 1 behind 1 kick 2 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 15 dream team points
Ollie Sestan 2 behinds 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 65 dream team points
Roan Steele 1 behind 13 kicks 6 handballs 19 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 76 dream team points
Mitch Szybkowski 1 goal 6 kicks 1 handball 7 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 47 dream team points
Koltyn Tholstrup 9 kicks 14 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 1 tackles 74 dream team points
Ziggy Toledo 1 handball 1 disposals 2 dream team points
Ryan Valentine 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 48 dream team points
Will Verrall 1 behind 6 kicks 13 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 14 hitouts 77 dream team points
Mitch White 2 goals 26 kicks 12 handballs 38 disposals 8 marks 5 tackles 158 dream team points
Kai Windsor 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 4  marks 1 tackle 35 dream team points