OUT-BUSTLED by KC from Casey

From the outset, the Casey Demons lacked any spring in their steps. They were out-hustled and out-bustled and finally outplayed by the Brisbane Lions by 38 points on their home turf in perfect conditions at Casey Fields.

It was never going to be easy for the Demons, who are a young and inexperienced combination left with very little in the way of big-man strength in the absence of Max Heath, promoted to the AFL, and Tom Campbell, out injured. Similarly, their key forward stocks were diminished with Matt Jefferson playing at Melbourne, Aidan Johnson on the injury list, and Luker Kentfield seconded into a raw, makeshift, and undersized ruck after Nate Pipicelli’s late withdrawal.

The result was virtually inevitable against the Brisbane Lions, a power of the competition in recent seasons but who had lost their two opening matches in their home state. They opened the game with great vigor. They made space ran with the ball kicked accurately both around the ground and in front of goal while the Demons, beaten at the stoppages were sloppy and forced into error. The Lions opened up a five goal lead by time while the home team remained goalless.

There was a brief period of revival early in the second term after Luker Kentfield opened with a goal within seconds, to which the Lions immediately responded. Then came a Casey purple patch with two quick goals from Luke Cheffers followed up by two more youngsters in Jobe Scapin and the lively Tom Matthews chipping in for opportunist goals and suddenly there was hope. The deficit had been narrowed to 15 points in the space of a few minutes.

It was the Lion machine that revved itself up and blew the game apart with four unanswered goals to go into the sheds at the major interval with a solid 37-point lead. From there it was a procession until the sting went off the game and Casey clawed back a little dignity at the end of the game.

For the most part, the Lions played with greater intensity and in doing so, they made the play. The Demons left too many opponents unguarded so that even when they made an error and miskicked, there was always someone else to gather the football. When the ball went forward for Casey, the visitors always seemed to have a defender in position to cut off the ball movement.

Casey’s problems were not helped by the fact that Paddy Cross had to leave at half time to take up emergency duty at the MCG after a reasonable stint working hard with some strong tackling. With his departure, the Demons were left with ten mostly inexperienced foot soldiers, the exception being Tom McDonald who played his heart out, as he always does, picking up 23 possessions and taking eight marks.

Jack Henderson, with 26 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances, Andy Moniz-Wakefield had 23 touches, and Ricky Mentha Junior 19 possessions coming out of defence were impressive. Mentha Jnr was particularly strong early while Tom Matthews was lively and courageous, taking a few hits along the way.

Kentfield who is being touted as the club’s potential next AFL debutant managed 16 hitouts but, apart from his goal did little damage. He was assisted in the ruck by lightly built Kalani White who looked like he was being carefully managed on return from a bout of glandular fever. Jed Adams, Oscar Berry and Riley Onley had tough assignments in defence with Adams taking some strong saving marks.

Skipper Riley Bonner was again the top possession winner with 29 disposals, capably backed up by Ethan Stanley, Jesse Craven and two up a coming youngsters in Toby SInnema and Luke Cheffers who finished with three goals. Last minute inclusion Tairon Ah-Mu contested hard up forward and in the ruck and was also rewarded with three goals. The Casey contingent is young and will improve with time as they acclimatize to the tempo of the game.

The Demons sit uncomfortably near the foot of the table and will be desperate for an infusion of experience into its ruck and midfield stocks if it is to play a meaningful role in this season’s VFL action. Their next opponents are Richmond’s VFL side at Casey Fields on Anzac Day.

CASEY DEMONS 0.4.4 4.7.31 9.7.61 13.9.87

BRISBANE LIONS 5.2.32 11.2.68 17.4.106 20.5.125

GOALS

CASEY DEMONS Ah-Mu Cheffers 3 Craven Kentfield Hodder Hoghton Matthews Scapin Stanley

BRISBANE LIONS McKenna McLachlan 4 Abberley Fazldeen Torrent 2 Beecken Curtin Dunkley Hayes McCarthy Moore

BEST

CASEY DEMONS Bonner McDonald Henderson Moniz-Wakefield Cheffers Adams

BRISBANE LIONS Joyce Marshall Torrent McLachlan Beecken McKenna