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It was a case of the Casey Demons going into a game with a glass half full in their match up against the Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields on Saturday. As the list of injured and unavailable AFL and VFL listed players continues to grow and with Melbourne taking all three emergencies to Perth for the weekend on a “just in case” basis, its little brother was always destined to struggle. Casey was left with only eight AFL listed players from who to select their team but only two - an out-of-form Lachie Hunter and an out-of-favour Bailey Laurie have match experience at the elite level. The result was that, although Casey managed to get out of the blocks early to hold a quarter time lead of 26 points, which it managed to maintain until deep in the second term, the team was overwhelmed in the second half. Miraculously, it was still in the running for victory close to an end which saw them go down by seven points when the final siren sounded. Still, victory for the Demons would have been highway robbery because the Lions were so dominant all over the ground from midway through the second stanza after strongly built midfielder/forward Oliver Sestan booted his fourth goal of the game. Sestan’s impact early was immense. He opened proceedings with a goal from the back of the pack seconds into the game and followed up with a second from a mark soon after. By the time he kicked his third, Casey Fields had the feel of Fortress Casey from a couple of seasons back. Brisbane however, slowly worked its way back into the game although not on the scoreboard until some defensive lapses by the home team gave the Lions the opportunity to narrow the margin to 19 points in the shadows of half time. Casey’s deficiencies were there for all to see as their pressure and intensity fell to the point where they managed just a single goal in the final hour’s play. There was little tackling and opponents were allowed to cut through the defences with only poor conversion from Brisbane keeping Casey in with a chance. Unfortunately, the much-needed experienced personnel to steady the ship were absent, apart from skipper Mitch White and Roan Steele who again worked their butts off for their team with very little help. Without wishing to labour a point already made often this season, the Demons are missing the players who were highlighters in the midfield last year. To make matters worse, two of their VFL replacements in former Collingwood VFL skipper Campbell Hustwaite and ex-St Kilda lister Leo Connolly are out injured but they are not the equivalent of James Munro’s strong tackling in the engine room which is sorely missed. The next tier of replacement is not even close. Laurie worked hard for his 24 disposals, five marks and five clearances as did Kynan Brown with 23 possessions to a losing ruck although to his credit Will Verrall was persistent to finish with 16 touches and 9 clearances. They were let down unfortunately by Hunter who has struggled since incurring a troublesome calf injury during the preseason. Defender Andy Moniz-Wakefield had a busy day with 28 touches and four marks but might have been better used more up forward. Young key position players Matthew Jefferson and Jed Adams continue to hone their play and learn the trade but were unable to put in four quarter efforts. That will come with experience but the glass at the club is half full and the scarcity of that asset in the line up was again the story of the day for the flagging Casey Demons. CASEY DEMONS 6.3.39 7.5.47 8.8.56 8.9.57 BRISBANE LIONS 2.1.13 4.4.28 7.9.51 8.16.64 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Sestan 4 Jefferson 2 Bell K Windsor BRISBANE LIONS Lloyd 3 Collins Derksen Lloyd Lohmann Robertson BEST CASEY DEMONS Moniz-Wakefield Sestan Steele White Laurie K Brown BRISBANE LIONS Lyons Robertson Tunstill K Dunkley Macpherson Joyce Statistics Jed Adams 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 62 dream team points Jack Bell 1 goal 1 behind 3 kicks 7 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 8 hitouts 50 dream team points Kynan Brown 1 behind 9 kicks 14 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 73 dream team points Paddy Cross 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 37 dream team points Tyler Edwards 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 48 dream team points Tom Freeman 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 43 dream team points Max Gregory 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 54 dream team points Lachie Hunter 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 48 dream team points Matt Jefferson 2 goals 1 behinds 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 43 dream team points Bailey Laurie 12 kicks 12 handballs 24 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 89 dream team points Caleb Lewis 1 behind 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 2 marks 17 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 23 kicks 5 handballs 28 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 95 dream team points Ned Moodie 1 kicks 2 handballs 8 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 1 behind 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 30 dream team points Charlie Peters 7 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 17 dream team points Ollie Sestan 4 goals 1 behind 13 kicks 2 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 82 dream team points Kobe Shipp 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 1 tackle 25 dream team points Roan Steele 17 kicks 8 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 95 dream team points Mitch Szybkowski 6 kicks 10 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 59 dream team points Ryan Valentine 7 kicks 1 handball 8 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 33 dream team points Will Verrall 7 kicks 9 handballs 16 disposals 1 mark 19 hitouts 58 dream team points Mitch White 1 behinds 13 kicks 11 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 94 dream team points Kai Windsor 1 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 63 dream team points