KC from Casey

As mentioned above Zijai from Noble Park and previously Sandringham was the star for Casey. He did a lot of the hard work in the midfield along with Ed Morris who was also very good. Sam Frost looked a notch above this standard of competition and shouldn't take long to get back in the AFL. Dean Kent and Josh Wagner would also be knocking on the door.

The small crowd that ventured out to Casey Fields got more than its money worth (admission was free) after a mainly dour, lacklustre performance by the VFL Demons and Hawks ended in a cliffhanger with the home team coming home with a rush and kicking the winning goal late in the final term. Apart from a brief period early in the game, Casey had trailed all day after struggling to find the goals for most of the first half. The Demons notched up nine consecutive behinds (including a couple of posters) to the visitors' seven goals four before their star of the day Yilber “Bella’’ Zijai from the Sandringham Zebras via Noble Park posted the first from a free kick in front of the big sticks. Zijai had a great first up game both in the midfield and up forward and his three goals were crucial in the team's second half comeback. Ed Morris was his partner in crime in a midfield which eventually got on top in a second half in which the Hawks managed just one goal in a second half that provided a stark contrast to each team's first. Sam Frost returned from injury and showed great toe in defence and was rock solid there although he was clearly being held back in terms of game time. The Hawks were in fine fettle in the early going with their talls controlling the air and their strong midfield looking more polished and dominating proceedings. Josh Wagner was another player coming back from injury who worked his way into the game. Pat McKenna showed some good glimpses until injured. Dean Kent showed plenty of pace up forward in another encouraging performance. Tim Smith and Declan Keilty overcame quiet starts to kick three goals between them. Smith was often drawn too far under the ball when leading in the first half but was much better in the second while Keilty moved between the forward line and the ruck where he added mobility later in the game. Jake Spencer worked hard and eventually got on top against the Hawks' big man brigade which included former Melbourne Demon Jack Fitzpatrick who is no stranger to this ground. Tomas Bugg flashed in and out directing the traffic well and Jack Trengove held the midfield together before spending some time in defence later in the game. Bayley Fritsch who is highly thought of at the club but has had his injury woes kicked two goals. The home team missed an experienced pair in skipper Jack Hutchins and James Munro and relied very much on an inexperienced group of VFL listers who worked hard. Two players who were not on the official list were Aloysio Ferreira and Sandringham Dragons' Goy Lok. Both did well and the strongly built Lok booted a goal. It was certainly a game of two halves which mirrored each other in reverse. The Hillmen looked top heavy in the latter stages of the game and appeared to run out of steam as the new look Casey poured on the pressure to achieve what looked impossible in the game's first hour. Casey Demons 0.6.6 2.10.22 7.12.54 10.15.75 Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 9.6.54 10.8.68 10.12.72 Goals Zijai 3 Fritsch T Smith 2 Bugg Keilty Lok Best Bugg Zijai Morris Kent Frost Spencer

Demons win 10.15.75 to 10.12.72 with a late snap goal. I'm off to work ... report later.

Now a four point game 9.13.67 to 10.11.71.

Only ten points in the game as Casey goals to 8.12.60 to Box Hill's 10.10.70. As to the game plan, there were few similarities between what was produced in the first half and what the Demons have been doing in the JLT and again last week against the Saints, mainly due to the difference in execution skills. I don't think there are enough quality movers of the ball down here. Most of the younger members of the Demon list are raw and some of the Casey boys are a long way off the pace. The ball movement was much better in the third quarter when the Hawks' big man dominance of the first half was nullified.

Three quarter time:Casey Demons 7.12.54 trail Box Hill Hawks 10.8.68. A good team effort with five goals to one that quarter with the advantage of a slight breeze. Interesting that the main movers in the middle for Casey have been Zijai and Morris.

A much better term for the Casey boys with the first three goals that brought them to within 20 points. A goal to the Hawks makes it 10.6.66 to 5.10.40.

At half time the Hawks are dominating the Dees 9.6.60 to 2.12.22.

A free kick to Sandy recruit Zijai sees Casey's first goal on the board after 9 points in a row. They trail by 31 points.

Casey struggling by 27 points to a slick Box Hill outfit. The team has yet to kick a goal - 0.7.7 to 5.4.34.

A fortuitous goal to Box Hill after a poor kick out from a point has given the Hawks an 8 point lead at quarter time. Box Hill 2.2.14 lead Casey 0.6.6. Frost, Wagner and Kent look all good to go if a vacancy in the ones open up. Trenners working his way into the game. Most of the others are just going at the moment although Spence is working hard in the ruck against a bevy of Box Hill talls.

Box Hill draw first blood with a nice goal after Frosty went for a long run around the boundary then kicked out on the full.

It's been a scrappy start to the game. Frost and Wagner are in defence with Pat McKenna. Dec Keilty, Tim Smith and Dean Kent are up forward. Big Jake lining up in the riuck. Casey gets the first score, a rushed behind after 8 minutes.

The game will start at least 10 minutes late for some unknown reason. The teams have now entered the arena which looks in great nick. The siren sounds like an old model T horn and it won't be long now.

We're about to get under way. The Casey Demons list for today is:- 2. Bayley Fritsch 7. Yilber Zijai 9. Mitch Gent 13. Jordan Kingi 17. Ed Morris 25. Dylan Gordon 27. Angus Scott 30. Goy Lok 32. Jaxon Briggs 35. Aloysio Ferreira 37. Dion Johnstone 38. Tim Smith 40. Pat McKenna 42. Josh Wagner 43. Brenton Hillard 45. Declan Keilty 48. Corey Maynard 54. Jack Trengove 55. Lachlan Filipovic 56. Tomas Bugg 59. Jake Spencer 60. Sean Dwyer 61. Liam Hiscock 65. Cameron Pedersen 73. Sam Frost 76. Dean Kent

The Development League game is over with the Box Hill Hawks 15.7.97 winning by seven goals over the Casey Demons 8.7.55. Goals Dickson 2 Allsop W Collis Di Pasquale Hughes Damien Johnston Nyuon The Casey Demons Development League team list for today is:- 3. Connor Ambler 4. James Freeman 5. Dylan Collis 8. Todd Vander Haar 11. Tom Glen 12. Jake Lovett 14. Mitch Lewis 15. Nathan Foot 16. Jake Gains 20. Nathan Gardiner 22. Ben Giobbi 24. Jordan Moncrieff 29. Jai Rout 33. Wayne Collis 36. Damien Johnston 39. Jake Dipasquale 41. Mitch Cox 46. Daniel Johnston 58. Gach Nyuon 62. Kyle Beveridge 66. Perry Lewis-Smith 68. Ethan East 70. Trent Armour 72. Mykelti Lefau 78. Keenan Hughes 80. Dan Allsop 81. Kirk Dickson

Since you're interested, I can also confirm definitively that O Mac is not playing for Casey this afternoon. ?

I heard a little while ago that the Saints were looking at becoming a stand alone reserves team but that might have changed.

He's playing in the ruck in the Development League team at the moment as is Jake Lovett. The Hawks are well in control and currently hold a 41 point lead. Conditions are very good for football with only a light breeze and a few drops of misty rain falling. The Demons have gone with the Casey Scorpions heritage jumpers (probably because the new Demons gear is still unavailable). Most of the team officials are also still wearing Scorpions' tops.

Three quarter time in the Development League and the Box Hill Hawks 11.5.71 lead the Casey Demons 6.7.43.

Final score - Casey Demons 16.9.105 defeated Williamstown Seagulls 10.9.69.

Close finish looming with Willi leading Casey by 2 points at ¾ time.

Yes ... apparently there was a mix up and the crew was only there to film the afternoon game (the main game was played first at 11.00am).

Vision from last week's practice match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Aqg40C7q8&sns=em

I'm currently on leave but I'm looking forward to reports from Sunday's game. I think one of the problems facing AFL clubs with teams in the VFL is the fact that the starts to the seasons for the competitions are so far apart. Casey is having its first hit out against another VFL team this weekend and yet Melbourne finished its pre season games more than a week ago, This has left quite a few players in a bit of a limbo without much game time, especially since Simon Goodwin basically stuck with almost the same squad throughout the three JTL games.