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The Casey Demons have been left languishing near the bottom of the VFL table after suffering a 32-point defeat at the hands of stand alone club Williamstown at Casey Fields on Sunday. The Demons suffered a major setback before the game even started when AFL listed players Ben Brown, Marty Hore and Josh Schache were withdrawn from the selected side. Only Schache was confirmed as an injury replacement, the other two held over as possible injury replacements for Melbourne’s Thursday night fixture against Carlton. The replacements didn’t end there as forward Shane McAdam left the field early with concussion. Lachie Hunter, who was quiet up to half time, saw no further action after the main break, suggesting that he was also being held back. With the continuing absence of injured centreman Campbell Hustwaite and the resting (management) of defender Leo Connolly, the home side was almost bereft of strong bodies with experienced heads. Against ladder heavyweights Williamstown, Casey was left flat footed. They managed the opening goal from Harvey Neocleous in the first minute or so of the game but then struggled to score when slightly favoured by a cross wind for the remainder of the term and their next goal took a while coming. By that time the Seagulls were in command. Adam Tomlinson was getting plenty of touches in the early going but one or two errors proved costly and his influence waned after a dominant opening term. The second quarter saw Willy quickly skip away to a 23 point lead, at which time a sudden and unexpected change came over the game. Enter Roy George, unheralded debutant and former Peel Thunder player who kicked the first of his three goals to stem the tide in mid term and contributed to another by chipping the ball to Kynan Brown before the buzzer to see the team only 15 points adrift at half time. Fans around the ground were asking “who is this effervescent small forward Roy George?” The answer is that the 179cm tall, 87kg journeyman originally named as an emergency who got his call up when Melbourne withdrew three of its players from the team before the game, hails from Bunbury WA. He has played for Peel Thunder in the WAFL and over the past couple of years, his name has bobbed up in country Victoria and in the Northern Territory in the off season. George remained in the thick of things in the third quarter, kicking two quick goals and assisting in others. Against the odds, Casey was now back in the game thanks to his brilliance coupled with the strong defensive play of Andy Moniz-Wakefield who finished with a game-high 30 disposals and seven marks. The team’s younger guns Matt Jefferson, Koltyn Tholstrup and Ollie Sestan all contributed to the team’s sudden reversal of fortunes. Jefferson in particular, had a strong second half after a quiet start and was another who led a third quarter charge that saw Casey incredibly holding a six point lead at the final break. The Seagulls still had the ace card as they had the advantage of the wind at their backs in the final term but when Jefferson goaled five minutes into the quarter, an upset seemed a possibility. Not to be deterred, Willy plugged away and fought back to again wrest the lead in mid quarter. Casey’s cause was not helped by the fact that two of their Melbourne listers were off for all of the second half. George’s influence faded at the end, as did one or two others who had carried a heavy load through the game’s difficult conditions. Once Williamstown got their noses in front, the floodgates opened. With experienced, ex GWS Giant 203cm ruckman Tom Downie, dominant and ex Casey player Corey Ellison booting four goals, the visitors romped home with six of the last seven majors of the game. Although beaten in the ruck, Will Verrall had 17 disposals and 23 hitouts while Kynan Brown finished with 15 touches, 10 tackles and a goal. Mitch White (21 disposals) and Tyler Edwards (20 possessions) battled hard all day for Casey. The Casey Demons are now a shadow of the team that won the flag less than two years ago and will remain under the pump as long as the VFL fixture makes it difficult for the club to play its strongest team with players held back to potentially remain fresh to face off against opponents on short breaks. Their next game is against Carlton at Ikon Park on Friday. CASEY DEMONS 1.0.6 3.3.21 8.6.54 10.8.68 WILLIAMSTOWN 1.4.10 5.6.36 7.6.54 15.10.100 GOALS CASEY DEMONS George Jefferson 3 Brown Edwards Neocleous White WILLIAMSTOWN Ellison 4 McLoughlin Petric 3 Brown Ebinger Gadsby Henderson Toner BEST CASEY DEMONS Moniz-Wakefield White Edwards Verrall George Tomlinson Brown WILLIAMSTOWN Downie Ellison Toner McLaughlin Fitzgerald Triffett Disposals Jed Adams 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 36 dream team points Jake Bell 1 behind 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 34 dream team points Kynan Brown 1 goal 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 10 tackles 88 dream team points Tyler Edwards 1 goal 16 kicks 4 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 100 dream team points Tom Freeman 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 50 dream team points Tom Fullarton 1 behind 9 kicks 2 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 10 hitouts 51 dream team points Roy George 3 goals 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 64 dream team points Max Gregory 3 kicks 6 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 24 dream team points Lachie Hunter 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 3 marks 17 dream team points Matt Jefferson 3 goals 2 behinds 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 74 dream team points Brayden Laplanche 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 34 dream team points Shane McAdam 1 kicks 2 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark 10 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 23 kicks 7 handballs 30 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 114 dream team points Ned Moodie 6 kicks 10 handballs 16 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 49 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 1 goal 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 22 dream team points Ollie Sestan 1 behind 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 59 dream team points Roan Steele 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 2 tackles 22 dream team points Mitch Szybkowski 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 42 dream team points Koltyn Tholstrup 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 6 tackles 66 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 16 kicks 4 handballs 20 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 86 dream team points Will Verrall 8 kicks 9 handballs 17 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 23 hitouts 92 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 98 dream team points Kai Windsor 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 10 dream team points

The Casey Demons missed out on the minor premiership when they were overpowered after half time by Williamstown to go down by 29 points in the last game of the VFL regular season at Casey Fields on Saturday. The injury-depleted Demons have limped through their last two games after 12 wins in a row and only managed to keep the right to a home final after a come-from-behind victory saw the Box Hill Hawks upset Geelong’s VFL side at City Oval Box Hill. The sun shone and the air was crisp with signs of an early coming of spring as the home side relished the conditions and dominated the early going scoring three of the game’s opening four goals. Cam Pederson was on fire booting the first two and Jeff Garlett shrugged of the criticism of his recent lethargic performances with a great chase, running down an opponent and converting to give his team a 13 point lead deep into the opening term. The Demons should have been further in front at this stage with Pedersen, Tim Smith and Declan Keilty winning handsomely in the air and the Wagner brothers mopping up the ball at ground level. A late goal to the Seagulls gave them a glimmer of hope as the scoreboard which showed them 7 points in arrears at the main break really flattered them. Tim Smith, who has been off target in recent times, finally found the target with a snap on goal but the dogged Williamstown runners suddenly found their feet to pile on three quick goals to grab the lead. Garlett struck a purple patch and responded with two of his trademark opportunist goals and an arm wrestle followed that saw the visitors benefit from some lucky umpiring decisions to take a one point lead into half time. With the game evenly poised in the early stages of the third quarter, the Seagull runners gradually got on top and took control of the midfield with the result that they broke through for three goals to take a grip on the game. They were helped by some questionable umpiring decisions that frustrated the Demons and, despite a goal to Goy Lok against the run of play, they looked beaten at three quarter time when another goal on the siren restored a 20 point lead in favour of the visitors who then booted four in quick succession to nail the game. The Demons were definitely feeling the effects of a long list of injuries at Melbourne and lacked the depth necessary to hold sway over a top line an in-form opposition but notwithstanding, the efforts of their leading VFL listed players like Jay Lockhart, Corey Wagner and, to a lesser extent Jimmy Munro, were outstanding while youngsters Cory Stockdale and Tom Freeman (in his second game) were also impressive. Demon listed players Dion Johnstone and Pat McKenna showed some good signs playing their best football at the club so far. The Casey Demons move on to the qualifying final at Casey Fields against Geelong VFL next Saturday and should be strengthened by the return to the fold of a few eligible Melbourne players during the AFL bye weekend. Peter Jackson VFL 2018 Casey Demons 3.3.21 7.4.46 8.8.56 12.13.85 Williamstown 2.2.14 7.5.47 11.10.76 17.12.114 Goals Casey Demons Garlett 4 Pedersen 3 Hutchins 2 Lockhart Lok T Smith Williamstown Rodda 4 Cavarra 3 Dunell George Gibbons Thorpe 2 Norton Schultz Best Casey Demons Lockhart Garlett C Wagner Johnstone Pedersen Freeman Williamstown Gibbons Bewley Cavarra Meese Rodda Masters Statistics  Jaxon Briggs 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 20 dream team points Wayne Collis 2 kicks 2 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 24 dream team points Tom Freeman 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points Jeffrey Garlett 4 goals 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 90 dream team points Mitch Gent 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 42 dream team points Jack Hutchins 2 goals 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 55 dream team points Dion Johnstone 1 behind 18 kicks 2 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 79 dream team points Declan Keilty 7 kicks 7 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 48 dream team points Mitch King 1 kicks 6 handballs 7 disposals 3 tackles 17 hit outs 41 dream team points Mykelti Lefau 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 2 hit outs 38 dream team points Jay Lockhart 1 goal 3 behinds 15 kicks 8 handballs 23 disposals 6 marks 8 tackles 121 dream team points Goy Lok 1 goal 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 47 dream team points Pat McKenna 1 behind 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 73 dream team point Cory Machaya kicks handballs disposals marks tackles dream team points James Munro 1 behind 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 marks 7 tackles 56 dream team points Cameron Pedersen 3 goals 1 behind 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 6 tackles 7 hit outs 105 dream team points Harry Petty 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 26 dream team points Angus Scott 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 20 dream team points Tim Smith 1 goal 1 behind 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 4 hit outs 56 dream team points Cory Stockdale 1 behind 8 kicks 10 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 9 tackles 94 dream team points Corey Wagner 2 behinds 10 kicks 11 handballs 21 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 91 dream team points Josh Wagner 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 2 marks 11 tackles 110 dream team points Mitch White 11 kicks 5 handballs 16 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 75 dream team points

The Casey Demons moved into the VFL top four with a hard fought 24 point victory over ladder leader Williamstown at Casey Fields on Saturday. The game was a fierce battle as strong tackling and close play were the order of the day. Casey finished the game with 136 tackles, a statistic led by its smaller brigade of Jay Kennedy-Harris (19), Corey Maynard, Tomas Bugg and James Munro as the team fulfilled coach Justin Plapp's requirements by giving the Seagulls their hardest contest for the season to overturn their opening round defeat at Burbank Oval. The win was a tribute to Plapp's coaching which has seen the team lift itself off the floor with a 1-4 start to move into premiership contention, achieving this without a team chock full of experienced AFL listers as happened last year. The Demons had just 10 MFC players available this week and they were again capably backed up by the mix of experience and youth among their VFL listed players. Munro with 24 disposals was outstanding, skipper Jack Hutchins was steady in defence and Ed Morris (20 touches) was a busy and effective member of the Demons' small brigade. All eyes were on Jack Watts in his second match since he was dropped from the Melbourne team. Watts opened brightly when he marked 25 metres out and kicked the first goal of the game. He played well picking up 20 possessions and 12 marks and even provided a handout against the prolific Nick Meese in the ruck. Watts was placed on report for charging a Williamstown opponent at a marking contest. My observation is that he collided marginally late with minimal force and that the charge should be thrown out. http://m.afl.com.au/video/2017-08-19/jack-watts-reported-in-the-vfl The visitors were in control of the game for most of the first half. They led by eight points at the first break and held that lead until deep in the second term before Bayley Fritsch's goal at the 28 minute mark was immediately followed by another to Morris. A further major to Kennedy-Harris just before half time found the Demons taking a 12-point lead into the long break. It was more of the same during a dour third quarter with Casey maintaining its distance and recording two late goals to push the lead to 22 points at three quarter time before it saw off a brief Willi revival to run home a comfortable winner. The Demons remain undefeated at home for the 2017 season. Kennedy-Harris had an outstanding game and the controversial Bugg also relished the conditions after serving a six match suspension incurred against the Sydney Swans for an equal game high record of 24 disposals. The Demons could finish the round as high as third on the ladder depending on the outcome of today's game between Box Hill and Port Melbourne. Peter Jackson VFL 2017 Casey Demons 2.3.15 6.6.42 9.7.61 11.12.78 Williamstown 3.4.23 4.6.30 5.9.39 7.12.54 Goals Casey Demons Hulett 2 Ferreira Fritsch Kennedy-Harris Maynard Morris Scott Watts Weideman Zijai Williamstown Schultz 2 Cavarra Chisari Condon Dorgan Kempster Best Casey Demons Munro Morris Watts Bugg Frost Kennedy-Harris Williamstown Sing Schultz Tippett Meese Bewley Dorgan Statistics Tomas Bugg 2 behinds 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 2 marks 12 tackles 114 dream team points Sam Frost 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 46 dream team points Liam Hulett 2 goals 1 behind 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 4 tackles 46 dream team points Declan Keilty 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 3 marks 7 tackles 47 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goal 2 behinds 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 4 marks 19 tackles 155 dream team points Mitch King 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 6 tackles 22 hit outs 62 dream team points Corey Maynard 1 goal 9 kicks 11 handballs 20 disposals 1 marks 13 tackles 108 dream team points Jack Trengove 15 kicks 3 handballs 18 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 90 dream team points Jack Watts 1 goal 13 kicks 7 handballs 20 disposals 12 marks 3 tackles 2 hit outs 103 dream team points Sam Weideman 1 goal 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 6 hit outs 75 dream team points The Casey Development League team sits in second position after enjoying a picnic against Williamstown, kicking nine unanswered final quarter goals to run out winners by 123 points in a game where 18 players were among the goals. AFL Vic Development League 2017 Casey Demons 4.3.27 9.7.61 14.13.97 23.21.159 Williamstown 2.3.15 4.5.29 5.5.35 5.6.36 Goals Casey Demons D Collis Cox Foote Gardiner Machaya 2 Allsop Ambler Baker Briggs Byers Cottee Di Pasquale Dwyer Freeman Dam Johnston Lewis-Smith Moncrieff Vander Haar Williamstown Ebinger Wilkinson 2 Carr Best Casey Demons Briggs Johnston Cox Collis Byers Dwyer Williamstown Owen Wilkinson McMahon Carter Buykx-Smith Minogue