Casey has overcome some late outs and a blustery evening at Casey Fields to emerge three-point winners over Essendon.
It completes the perfect weekend for Melbourne after its AFL side continued its undefeated run to start the weekend while the AFLW side booked a Grand Final berth on Saturday afternoon.
With the VFLW Demons also continuing their unbeaten run in the morning, Casey VFL completed the quadruple in a gripping 13.13 (91) to 13.10 (88) victory over the Bombers.
Without tall forwards Jacob van Rooyen and Sam Weideman, as well as coach Mark Corrigan, the Demons overcame a slow start and settled into the contest.
Mitch Brown kicked the Demons back into life, following up his seven-goal haul last week with Casey’s opening major following a snap from the pocket.
Kade Chandler made up for Casey’s lack of tall forwards in attack all day, starting with a lovely dribble goal that capped off Casey’s willingness to run hard and play fast-flowing footy over all four quarters.
Needing some maturity to step up, first-year AFL-listed player Blake Howes came to the fore, snapping from 50-metres out to give the Demons three goals to quarter time.
With Majak Daw competing well in the ruck, Casey came out in the second term and found some momentum off the back of an early Toby Bedford goal.
Casey stalwart Mitch White (three goals) was spectacular up forward in a contest that was begging for a key forward with substance, booting his opening goal for the match when he marked and goaled from a tough angle.
Despite Essendon’s best challenges, Casey’s defence solidified and their attacking play off half-back began to flourish, resulting in a second major to Chandler.
When debutant Roan Steele ran onto a scintillating chain of handballs to snap through his first goal for Casey, the Demons went into the main break with a handy 15-point lead.
The defence never relented in the second half, with Fraser Rosman, Oskar Baker (24 touches) and Corey Ellison all superb down back.
Deakyn Smith was terrific on the dangerous Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, keeping him goalless in the second half.
It meant Casey’s young talent could flourish up forward, with Howes floating back to take a stunning mark and stroll into his second major for the day.
White slotted another with a remarkable dribble goal from the boundary, while the returning George Grey snapped through a party-trick goal to blow the lead out.
When White converted for his third major of the day, the Demons went into the final change confident of making it two from two.
But the Bombers hit back hard, slamming through two goals in as many minutes to start the last term.
With the Casey Fields crowd up and about, Melbourne recruit Luke Dunstan showed a touch of class when he converted a 50-metre penalty from range.
Frantic footy followed, with young Roan Steele breaking the deadlock when he ran into his second major and brought the crowd to their feet.
Chandler, Baker and the ever-reliable Jimmy Munro (23 touches) led the way all day for the Dees, with Chandler, Howes and White all leading a new-look forward line with aplomb.
Having survived Essendon’s challenge, Casey will look to remain undefeated when it takes on Williamstown next Saturday night.
CASEY 3.4 7.9 11.12 13.13 (91)
ESSENDON 4.4 5.6 9.7 13.10 (88)
Best: White, Baker, Chandler, Munro, Howes, Rosman, Ellison, Howes, Daw
Goals: White 3, Chandler, Howes, Steele 2, Bedford, Brown, Dunstan, Grey
Disposals: Baker 24, Munro 23, Chandler 22, Dunstan 15
