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The Casey Demons overcame a bout of goal kicking yips and a last quarter Box Hill Hawks comeback to record a thrilling 7 point away from home victory on Sunday. With senior affiliate Melbourne fighting a Covid breakout and some injury concerns to their listed players, Casey turned to youth and called up locals Zac Andrewartha, Matthew Johnson and Harvey Neocleous to join Matt Buntine, a local product who was part of the inaugural GWS Giants list. The team made a slow start but took control late in the opening term and led at every change. There was little to get excited about in what was for the most part a dull game under cloudy skies at Box Hill City Oval and but for their inaccuracy in front of goal, the game should have been safely in the Demons’ hands by the final break. However, two goals to the home side reduced what had been a game high 26 point Casey lead midway through the final term to a manageable 17 points with the freshening breeze aiding the Hawks. The Hawks grabbed their chances early in the final quarter and within ten minutes took the lead after three more unanswered goals. Casey coach Mark Corrigan made some telling changes to the on ball division and the team lifted on the running strength of Oskar Baker and the goal kicking composure of the previous night’s medical sub Kade Chandler who responded with three goals, the last of which, at the 23 minute mark, made victory safe despite a goal on the siren which brought the home team back to a losing margin of seven points. The Demons went into the game with 11 AFL listed players after the withdrawal of Jake Melksham due to a late Covid19 case at Melbourne and with Michael Hibberd also out, they were severely down on experience. Box Hill were in a similar situation - they fielded only 9 Hawthorn players. It was left to a combination of young and old to preserve Casey’s undefeated record. Majak Daw was magnificent in the ruck and was aided by young ruckman Jake Bell who lifted in the final term. Skipper Mitch White was ever-reliable kicking the team’s opening goal with help from a brilliant Chandler pass and another to kick off the second half. James Munro burrowed into packs and tackled hard in the midfield and George Grey kicked a couple of handy goals. Adam Tomlinson was handy with some strong marking in defence. Some Demon youngsters are worthy of mention. Bailey Laurie played his best game and was dangerous up forward throughout. Likewise, live wire small forward Andy Moniz-Wakefield was impressive with his run and his endeavour, particularly when the chips were down late in the game. And high marking Jacob Van Rooyen showed some glimpses of special talent which should, when fully developed, translate into a very good AFL key forward in due course. He kicked an outstanding goal in the third quarter. Fraser Rosman had his moments and seems to have settled well into a key defensive position. In the end, the final score of 10.19.79 to 11.6.72 said it all about Casey’s big bout of the yips. The top of the ladder Demons face a big challenge next up when they host Southport for the first time at Casey Fields. CASEY DEMONS 3.7.25 5.10.40 7.15.57 10.19.79 BOX HILL HAWKS 2.2.14 4.4.28 6.4.40 11.6.72 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Chandler 3 Grey White 2 Laurie Steele Van Rooyen BOX HILL HAWKS Jeka 3 Greene 2 Brinker-Ritchie Butler Cavarra Parsons Phillips Serong BEST CASEY DEMONS Baker Moniz-Wakefield Chandler Laurie Munro Bell Tomlinson Grey BOX HILL HAWKS Phillips Grey Mascitti Howe Horner Blanck Statistics Zac Andrewartha 2 kicks 9 handballs 11 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 35 dream team points Oskar Baker 1 behind 13 kicks 3 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 60 dream team points Riley Baldi 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 17 dream team points Jake Bell 2 behinds 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 11 hit outs 47 dream team points Mitch Brown 3 behinds 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 8 marks 57 dream team points Matt Buntine 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 40 dream team points Kade Chandler 3 goals 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 95 dream team points Majak Daw 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 31 hit outs 81 dream team points Luca Goonan 1 behind 4 kicks 9 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 45 dream team points George Grey 2 goals 2 behinds 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 68 dream team points Matthew Johnson 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 51 dream team points Bailey Laurie 1 goal 2 behinds 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 89 dream team points Judd McVee 4 kicks 7 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 34 dream team points Bryce Milford 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 1 marks 21 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals marks tackles 61 dream team points James Munro 2 behinds 12 kicks 11 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 81 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 1 behind 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 28 dream team points Fraser Rosman 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 6 marks 5 tackles 45 dream team points Deakyn Smith 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 20 dream team points Roan Steele 1 goals 5 kicks 1 handball 6 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 30 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 61 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 1 goal 1 behind 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 6 marks 2 hit outs 52 dream team points Mitch White 2 goals 1 behind 12 kicks 3 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 58 dream team points

There was a touch of inevitability about the way the Casey Demons’ winning streak was snapped at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. They went into the game with top spot on the VFL ladder secured if they could win one of their two remaining games but with a line up barely resembling the combination that got them into that position in the first place. With the injuries at Melbourne mounting and the need to take two emergencies out west, the cupboard of AFL players available to play for Casey suddenly became almost bare and only ten of them turned up for the game played for the most part in blustery conditions and driving rain. For the Demons, that equation spelled doom and gloom and put paid to their chances of making it to a club VFL record 13 wins in a row. When the going was bad weather-wise, the Demons kept pace in the hard grind when scoring was tough and the game remained an arm wrestle for most of the opening half. The Hawks managed to slip away to a 13 point lead at the main break and when the weather cleared after half time, they drove home the advantage booting seven goals to three to take a 37-point lead at three quarter time. The final margin was a 45-point car crash despite Casey having a narrow advantage for the game going inside the 50 metre arc. The essence of winning games in such inclement conditions involves playing hard football, keeping your feet, putting your body on the line and tackling ferociously. With a few exceptions, that element was lacking with the Demons and the rump of their AFL was heavily exposed. Tom Bugg and Josh Wagner were the stand outs as far a Melbourne-listed players were concerned while young defender Harry Petty tried hard to stem the tide. Most of the remainder will struggle to hold their places based on this outing. The better players for Casey were again their VFL listers headed by Mitch Gent, Jay Lockhart and Corey Wagner while first gamer Tom Freeman showed up many of his more experienced teammates with an impressive debut. The club’s ruck issues this year have been well-documented and these were compounded with the absence of Sam Weideman and Cam Pedersen to give the inexperienced Demon ruckmen a chop out. As it was, the Hawks no name big men won handsomely in the ruck contests leaving coach Jade Rawlings with a massive headache on the eve of the finals because they were almost completely bereft of the necessary big body strength to win games in tough conditions. The Casey Demons play Williamstown at Casey Fields in next week’s final round and will be hoping for a win to ensure themselves of a home final. Otherwise, they want the Hawks to repeat their winning form at Box Hill City Oval against the third-placed Cats on Saturday. Peter Jackson VFL 2018 Casey Demons 1.3.9 2.6.18 5.8.38 6.10.46 Box Hill Hawks 1.3.9 4.7.31 11.9.75 13.13.91 Goals Casey Demons Lockhart 2 Hutchins Lok Stephenson White Box Hill Hawks Mirra Murphy 3 Brolic Cousins Jiath Maloney Moore O'Rourke Ross Best Casey Demons Lockhart J Wagner Keilty Bugg Gent T Freeman Box Hill Hawks Cousins O'Donnell Mirra Jiath Kilpatrick Duryea Statistics Jaxon Briggs 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 39 dream team points Tomas Bugg 21 kicks 7 handballs 28 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 106 dream team points Lachlan Filipovic 1 kick 1 disposal 2 tackles 9 hit outs 17 dream tea m points Tom Freeman 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 64 dream team points Jeffrey Garlett 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 35 dream team points Mitch Gent 2 behinds 13 kicks 13 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 95 dream team points Jack Hutchins1 goal 9 kicks 1 handball 10 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 56 dream team points Dion Johnstone 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 45 dream team points Declan Keilty 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 29 dream team points Mitch King 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 30 hit outs 49 dream team points Jay Lockhart 2 goals 17 kicks 5 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 125 dream team points Goy Lok 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 65 dream team points Pat McKenna 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 39 dream team points Cory Machaya 3 kicks 13 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 31 dream team points James Munro 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 82 dream team points Harry Petty 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 67 dream team points Angus Scott 7 kicks 9 handballs 16 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 57 dream team points Tim Smith 4 behinds 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 7 marks 4 hit outs 63 dream team points Will Stephenson 1 goal 1 behind 4 kicks 4 disposals 1 mark tackles 34 dream team points Cory Stockdale 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 27 dream team points Corey Wagner 19 kicks 9 handballs 28 disposals 8 marks 8 tackles 128 dream team points Josh Wagner 11 kicks 10 handballs 2 1 disposals 2 marks 11 tackles 1 hit out 104 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 8 kicks 2 handballs 1 0 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 55 dream team points

Young Demon forward Sam Weideman's 2017 has been up and down all year. There have been times when he looked good and others, not so - but he showed enough promise to suggest that at some stage, he would break out and play a really strong game at VFL level. The explosion came in the opening quarter at City Oval, Box Hill when the young forward bagged four goals to set up the Casey Demons' fifth consecutive win after a flat start to the season. Weideman's goals came from strong marks including a couple that were strongly contested. His confidence built and his kicking for goal, usually a strong point, was a treat to watch, even when he was shooting from outside fifty. Early in the second term he took a screamer and slotted his fifth and from then on he was double and triple teamed which limited his output until he fittingly kicked the easiest of goals for his sixth late in the game. The effect of the full forward's heroics was infectious and the Casey midfield, many with their own cases to put to the Melbourne selectors, put their hands up with some prolific efforts. Jay Kennedy-Harris has had a sensational month producing big possession numbers in 3½ games (he was rested from half time as the carry over emergency in the Collingwood game a fortnight ago). His haul this time of 39 disposals certainly sent a message while Ben Kennedy was close behind with 35 touches. Dean Kent also produced the kind of display his coaches have been expecting of him all season and his 34 disposal game was electric. They were well backed up by the experience of Jack Trengove and the consistency of rookie Corey Maynard. Meanwhile, Mitch White was a tower of strength and quietly went about the job of stoutly defending anything that came near him. Light-bodied youngster Bayley Fritsch was always a danger around goals and provided the perfect foil for Weideman to finish with three goals. James Munro and Mitch Gent were again solid as usual. The game didn't go all Casey's way. After leading by 17 points at the main break, the visitors saw their lead dwindle to just four points halfway through the third term with Fritsch steadying the ship. A couple of goals from Tyrone Vickery for the Hawks caused a few heart flutters but Casey finished the game strongly with the last two goals to ensure a fifth straight victory and consolidate their position in the VFL top 8. Peter Jackson VFL 2017 Casey Demons 5.1.31 7.7.49 11.9.75 14.15.99 Box Hill Hawks 2.1.13 5.2.32 8.5.53 11.7.73 Goals Casey Demons Weideman 6 Fritsch 3 Scott 2 Cox Gent Morris Box Hill Hawks Vickery 4 Brolic Stewart 2 Adduci Jones Willsmore Best Casey Demons Kennedy Kennedy-Harris Weideman White Kent Trengove Box Hill Hawks Moore Cousins Stewart Whitecross Vickery Warren Statistics Liam Hulett 2 behinds 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 35 dream team points Dion Johnstone 1 behind 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 34 dream team points Declan Keilty 3 kicks 8 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 51 dream team points Ben Kennedy 26 kicks 9 handballs 35 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 121 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 22 kicks 17 handballs 39 disposals 7 marks 7 tackles 151 dream team points Dean Kent 21 kicks 13 handballs 34 disposals 8 marks 6 tackles 135 dream team points Mitch King 5 handballs 5 disposals 1 tackle 5 hit outs 19 dream team points Corey Maynard 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 92 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 kick 6 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 25 hit outs 69 dream team points Jack Trengove 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 73 dream team points Sam Weideman 6 goals 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 89 dream team points Mitch White 20 kicks 5 handballs 25 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 100 dream team points The Casey Demons held onto third spot on the Development League ladder with a comfortable 38-point win over last year's premiers. The Johnston brothers again stood out. AFL Vic Development League 2017 Casey Demons 7.2.44 13.2.80 16.6.102 19.9.123 Box Hill Hawks 4.3.27 6.7.43 8.12.60 12.13.85 Goals Casey Demons Gardiner 4 Dam Johnston Machaya 3 Baker Cotte Vander Haar 2 Dwyer Foote Lefau Box Hill Hawks Godwin Hehir 2 Burt Codd-Miller Cox Kilpatrick Murphy Traynor Walker Williams Best Casey Demons Dan Johnston Dam Johnston Machaya Ambler Dwyer Vander Haar Box Hill Hawks O'Sullivan Horner Walker Godwin Rusan Hollins