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The conditions were perfect as the reigning VFL premiers played host to the Sydney Swans under sunny skies at Casey Fields and the Demons continued their perfect start to the season with a comprehensive 41-point victory on Sunday. On a day when the winds eluded the vicinity of the ground, Casey were quick out of the blocks with the opening two goals of the game but Sydney fought back and were more than competitive for most of the opening term. They kicked three quick goals to take a seven point lead as time on ticked by before a couple of late goals gave the home team a six point lead at the break. From then on however, it was a dominant Casey which took complete control of proceedings. They were untroubled as they squeezed the life out of the visitors who were allowed just two late goals in junk time after a barren hour of goalless toil. It was a satisfying victory for new Casey coach Taylor Whitford because his team this week was a far cry from the experienced combination that his predecessor took the club to a premiership in 2022. With veteran skipper Mitch White still out with injury and the number of AFL listed players available down to eleven, expectations before the start were tempered. Only four of the Melbourne aligned players had any AFL experience. One of the four, Bailey Laurie, has only one AFL game under his belt and he was out of this game in the second half. The pleasing side of the equation was the outstanding efforts of the team’s youth. Newly recruited forwards Matt Jefferson (4 goals) and Oliver Sestan (2) were impressive with their ability to score goals themselves as well as assist others while utility Blake Howes had his biggest afternoon yet, playing all over the ground amassing 33 disposals and taking 16 marks. Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Deakyn Smith continue to impress and rookie defender Kye Turner had some promising moments. The young brigade was not limited to the AFL youngsters. The likes of Max Gregory, Miles Shepherd and Tom Sheridan (two goals on debut) contributed to the overall effort. Casey was well served by its experienced players. Adam Tomlinson (33 disposals 13 marks) was rock solid in defence while Tom McDonald (20 touches, 11 marks and 2 goals) did his chances of a quick return to the AFL no harm and Luke Dunstan was also prolific in the middle. He was capably assisted by evergreen Jimmy Munro who was his hard tackling mean self. George Grey was busy all day and Matt Buntine was solid in defence. The Demons remain undefeated at this early stage of the season and play host to Frankston in the local derby next Sunday afternoon. Here’s hoping for another perfect afternoon. CASEY DEMONS 4.2.26 8.3.51 10.5.65 13.10.88 SYDNEY SWANS 3.2.20 4.6.30 4.9.33 6.11.47 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Jefferson 4 McDonald Sestan Sheridan 2 Grey Laurie Munro SYDNEY SWANS Haley 3 Francis McLean Magor BEST CASEY DEMONS Tomlinson Howes Munro McDonald Grey Dunstan SYDNEY SWANS Collis Sheldrick Shipley Warner Rankin Bartholemaues Statistics Jed Adams 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 1 tackle 23 dream team points Ryan Baldi kicks handballs disposals marks tackles dream team points Jack Bell 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 22 hit outs 64 dream team points Matt Buntine 1 behind 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 84 dream team points Paddy Cross 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 3 marks 25 dream team points Luke Dunstan 16 kicks 14 handballs 30 disposals 5 marks 85 dream team points Max Gregory 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 43 dream team points George Grey 1 goal 1 behind 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 90 dream team points Blake Howes 17 kicks 16 handballs 33 disposals 16 marks 1 tackle 135 dream team points Matt Jefferson 4 goals 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 68 dream team points Bailey Laurie 1 goals 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 39 dream team points Tom McDonald 2 goals 2 behinds 12 kicks 8 handballs 20 disposals 11 marks 1 hit out 94 dream team points Tom McRae 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 39 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 behind 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 69 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 1 behind 12 kicks 14 handballs 26 disposals 5 marks 8 tackles 104 dream team points Oliver Sestan 2 goals 7 kicks 1 handball 8 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 46 dream team points Miles Shepherd 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 74 dream team points Tom Sheridan 2 goals 5 kicks 1 handball 6 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 45 dream team points Deaykin Smith 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 70 dream team points Roan Steele 11 kicks 2 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 60 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 27 kicks 6 handballs 33 disposals 13 marks 3 tackles 142 dream team points Kye Turner 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 50 dream team points Ryan Valentine 2 kicks 3 handballs 5 disposals 1 marks 7 hit outs 18 dream team points

The slippery surface of the MCG was a minor detail for the Casey Demons as they waltzed away from the Sydney Swans to record their tenth win on end in their Saturday afternoon curtain raiser. The Demons conceded the first goal of the game before recording the next three (two to Sam Weideman) to hold a 16 point lead at the first break before the Swans pegged that back to a mere three points at half time. Casey dominated the third term with four goals to nil and thereafter the Swans’ resistance dropped off with the Demons home in a canter to win by 39-points. Weideman is proving enigmatic. In between his six goals a few weeks ago against North Melbourne VFL and yesterday’s three-goal and 10-mark performance, he failed to have any impact at AFL level against Fremantle and yet Ben Brown’s poor form and the doubt on Tom McDonald’s ankle mandates that he be given another chance at the higher level. That would also be a consideration for Jacob Van Rooyen but he failed to trouble the scorers on his return from illness. Yet he used his body well and provided Majak Daw with a chop out in ruck duels. And of course, who ever heard of selecting a blond rookie key forward to play Collingwood on Queens Birthday? One player who would be a certainty to play against the Magpies is Trent Rivers (25 disposals, six marks) who was strong in defence all day. Both Oskar Baker and Luke Dunstan picked up 24 touches. Kade Chandler, Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd were handy. Daniel Turner underlined his improvement - he is marking strongly and learning to ply the backman’s trade. Of the Casey listed players George Grey showed some touches of brilliance and kicked three goals. Jimmy Munro (23 disposals, 10 clearances) and defender Corey Ellison also continued his recent strong form of late. CASEY DEMONS 3.4.22 4.8.32 8.10.58 12.11.83 SYDNEY SWANS 1.0.6 4.5.29 4.8.32 6.8.44 Goals Casey Demons Grey Weideman 3 Buntine Chandler Laurie Moniz-Wakefield Steele White Sydney Swans Bell Collis Maguire McLean Roberts Warner Best Casey Demons Rivers Weideman Dunstan Ellison Grey Hibberd Turner Smith Munro Sydney Swans Clarke Taylor Sinclair Gould Bell McLean Statistics Oskar Baker 1 behind 13 kicks 11 handballs 24 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 88 dream team points Matt Buntine 1 goal 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 43 dream team points Jack Bell 1 behind 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 3 hit outs 36 dream team points Kade Chandler 1 goal 10 kicks 8 handballs 18 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 85 dream team points Majak Daw 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 34 hit outs 63 dream team points Luke Dunstan 12 kicks 12 handballs 28 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 73 dream team points Corey Ellison 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 59 dream team points George Grey 3 goals 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 66 dream team points Michael Hibberd 13 kicks 4 handballs 17 disposals 8 marks 69 dream team points Ryan Koo 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 1 tackles 21 dream team points Bailey Laurie 1 goal 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 70 dream team points Judd McVee 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 59 dream team points Jake Melksham 2 behinds 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 64 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 1 behinds 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points James Munro 10 kicks 13 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 73 dream team points Trent Rivers 18 kicks 7 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 2 handballs 94 dream team points Deakyn Smith 8 kicks 4 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 35 dream team points Roan Steele 1 goal 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 43 dream team points Daniel Turner 11 kicks 2 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 2 kicks 3 handballs 5 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 4 hit outs 32 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 2 behinds 15 kicks 4 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 93 dream team points Sam Weideman 3 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 1 handball 12 disposals 10 marks 2 tackles 1 hit out 90 dream team points Taj Woewodin 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 37 dream team points