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The Casey Demons’ premiership defence continued its problematic end run with its third single digit figure defeat in a row on Sunday. The two-point loss to the Brisbane Lions was the more galling as it took place at the club’s home fortress after its early dominance had seen it build up a 33 point lead by early in the second term. After going down to Carlton by 8 points and losing at home to Williamstown before the bye by a single point, Casey has fallen from being in top four calculations a month ago into seventh place and a wild card playoff against tenth placed North Melbourne (details to be announced) to remain in the finals race. The Demons looked to be well on top in the early going against the Lions and appeared to have shaken off last week’s goal front yips with seven goals from eight scoring shots. Tom McDonald was putting his hand up for an early recall to the Melbourne team with two first quarter goals, Brodie Grundy was winning the ruck duels and Luke Dunstan was raking up the possessions. However, the Brisbane team regrouped and turned the game on its head after the ten minute mark of the second quarter booting 10.10 to 5.5 for the remainder of the game. By half time, the Lions had reduced the deficit to seven points and although the accurate Demons fought back in the third, they put the home team to the sword in the last on the back of a sturdy defensive effort in the last. They fought back with the only two goals of the term and edged ahead in the final desperate moments to score a couples of points that was enough to push themselves into the top four and leave their hosts lamenting. For the Demons, Luke Dunstan was again their best player amassing his usual team-high number of disposals - this time 31 - to go with his six clearances and two goals. Casey’s old hands, Jimmy Munro (23 disposals and an incredible 14 tackles) and skipper Mitch White (24 touches, 2 goals) again led the team’s charge with their customary hardness at the football. The home team was also well served by Charlie Spargo with 23 possessions, 10 marks and a goal and newly re-signed Taj Woewodin continuing with his impressive forward trajectory with 20 touches as well as his goal which looked to spark a Demon revival early in the second half. Grundy finished with 37 hitouts and a dozen disposals in a close battle with Darcy Fort while McDonald’s final tally of three goals should keep the Melbourne selectors minds engaged as they look to their best lineup coming into the finals. The player of the most interest however, might well be unlucky defender Daniel Turner who returned from a break with injury and was right in the action with 25 touches and eight marks. Young key forward Matt Jefferson was busy early but faded. Michael Hibberd went off early after a head knock. The game marked an impressive debut from young local player Ziggy Toledo-Glasman who moved well and kicked two goals. In the end, the Demons can lament about wasting opportunities late in the season, but let’s face it — if you can’t kick a goal at home in the final quarter of a do or die game, you don’t deserve to win. CASEY DEMONS 5.1.31 7.2.44 12.3.75 12.6.78 BRISBANE LIONS 1.4.10 5.7.37 9.10.64 11.14.80 GOALS CASEY DEMONS McDonald 3 Dunstan Toledo-Glasman White 2 Jefferson Spargo Woewodin BRISBANE LIONS Buzza Lohmann Reville Smith 2 Cockatoo Fullarton Tunstill BEST CASEY DEMONS Dunstan Munro Spargo D Turner Woewodin White BRISBANE LIONS Mathieson Fort Reville Sharp Prior Dunkley Statistics Jed Adams 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 3 marks 26 dream team points Matt Buntine 8 kicks 8 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 38 dream team points Luke Dunstan 2 goals 17 kicks 14 handballs 31 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 127 dream team points Kyah Farris-White 2 tackles 8 dream team points Tom Freeman kicks handballs disposals marks tackles 34 dream team points George Grey 3 kicks 8 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 38 dream team points Brodie Grundy 6 kicks 6 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 4 tackles 37 hit outs 75 dream team points Michael Hibberd 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 57 dream team points Matt Jefferson 1 goal 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 58 dream team points Tom McDonald 3 goals 12 kicks 2 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 2 hit outs 89 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 behind 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 48 dream team points James Munro 7 kicks 16 handballs 23 disposals 3 marks 14 tackles 116 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 7 tackles 48 dream team points Deaykin Smith 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 42 dream team points Charlie Spargo 1 goal 1 behind 13 kicks 10 handballs 23 disposals 10 marks 3 tackles 108 dream team points Roan Steele 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 59 dream team points Ziggy Toledo-Glasman 2 goals 1 behind 6 kicks 1 handball 7 disposals 2 marks 34 tackles dream team points Daniel Turner 19 kicks 6 handballs 25 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 98 dream team points Kye Turner 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 37 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 kick 1 handball 2 disposals 1 mark 8 dream team points Will Verrall 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 9 hit outs 35 dream team points Mitch White 2 goals 15 kicks 9 handballs 24 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 94 dream team points Taj Woewoedin 1 goal 10 kicks 10 handballs 20 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 96 dream team points