The Casey Demons have broken the ice for season 2024 with a pulsating come-from-behind victory over Port Melbourne in which it took the lead for the first time at the halfway mark of the final quarter.
The game played in mild Autumn conditions in neutral territory at Kinetic Park, Frankston, never reached great heights in standard but it proved gripping in character at the end at the Casey Demons overcame the Borough to win by 15 points after trailing badly early in the second half.
Port scored the opening two goals and maintained the ascendency throughout the opening term despite a late goal to Casey’s Ollie Sestan. The second term was a seesaw battle in which Port Melbourne managed to hold sway through the brilliance of ex-Bulldog Billy Gowers who had five goals till half time. His former teammate Josh Schache chimed in with a couple of goals of his own. Another late-term goal to the Demons saw them draw to within 15 points at the main break.
Port Melbourne dominated proceedings in the early part of the second half kicking 4.1 to a single point to the 13 minute mark, skipping away to a 26 point lead. Their two man ruck was getting on top of Casey’s Will Verrall who was playing a lone hand in the ruck. Bailey Laurie was manfully holding the depleted midfield together seemingly on a thread, when the game took a turn for the better.
Another former Dog in Lachie Hunter who had been held to five touches in the opening half, came alive and began to dictate the play. Daniel Turner, in his return match after injury, was moved forward and suddenly, the team clicked into action. Casey kicked eight of the last nine goals of the match, including six to one in the final quarter and notched up its first victory for the season.
There were some good signs from a Melbourne perspective. The roles of Hunter and Laurie were instrumental in the fightback, Verrall is starting to really blossom as a ruckman and Kynan Brown and Ollie Sestan are rapidly developing their craft. Turner played a significant role when he went forward and Andy Moniz-Wakefield continues to make progress in his role in defence. Of the VFL-listed players Paddy Cross put in his best yet performance for the club.
The icebreaking victory has provided a fillip for the club after two defeats at home to open the season. Unfortunately, the opportunity to build momentum from the win has been stifled by next weekend’s bye.
CASEY DEMONS 2.4.16 5.8.38 7.11.53 13.12.90
PORT MELBOURNE 4.2.26 6.4.40 10.7.67 11.9.75
GOALS
CASEY DEMONS K Brown Sestan Schache 3 Fullarton 2 Turner K Windsor
PORT MELBOURNE Gowers 5 Conlan 2 Barnes Curry Miller Signorello
BEST
CASEY DEMONS Laurie Schache Hunter Sestan Fullarton K Brown
PORT MELBOURNE Gowers Green Hird Hooper Flockart Rankin
Statistics
Jed Adams 6 kicks 3 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 38 dream team points
Kynan Brown 3 goals 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 8 tackles 96 dream team points
Leo Connolly 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 35 dream team points.
Paddy Cross 1 behind 16 kicks 3 handballs 19 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 89 dream team points
Tyler Edwards 1 behind 5 kicks 1 handball 6 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 1 hitout 48 dream team points
Kyah Farris-White 1 behind 1 kicks 1 disposal 1 mark 7 dream team points
Tom Freeman 7 kicks 7 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 39 dream team points
Tom Fullarton 2 goals 4 behinds 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 7 hitouts 101 dream team points
Lachie Hunter 16 kicks 6 handballs 22 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 87 dream team points
Matt Jefferson 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals marks 1 tackle 16 dream team points
Brayden Laplanche 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 47 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 1 behind 11 kicks 13 handballs 24 disposals 1 mark 17 tackles 122 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 6 tackles 81 dream team points
Ned Moodie 6 kicks 7 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 53 dream team points
Josh Schache 3 goals 1 behind 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 84 dream team points
Ollie Sestan 3 goals 12 kicks 8 handballs 20 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 78 dream team points
Ryan Steele 6 kicks 7 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 49 dream team points
Mitch Szybkowski 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 56 dream team points
Adam Tomlinson 15 kicks 1 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 57 dream team points
Daniel Turner 1 goal 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 9 marks 3 tackles 82 dream team points
Will Verrall 1 behind 17 kicks 4 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 31 hitouts 115 dream team points
Mitch White 1 behind 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 1 mark 5 tackles 52 dream team points
Kai Windsor 1 goal 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 2 tackles 29 dream team points
