From start to finish the VFLW Demons dominated Port Melbourne, controlling all areas of the ground in a commanding 56-point win.
A mature four-quarter performance ensures that Casey remain near the top of the VFLW ladder, making a statement as it broke a two-game losing streak with a 9.12 (66) to 1.4 (10) victory.
Despite Port Melbourne pushing hard early, a stellar defensive effort from key pillars Maeve Chaplin and Eloise O’Connor, who both finished with 18 disposals, kept the Borough at bay.
When the pair managed to surge the ball forward, Casey’s midfield and small forward fleet capitalised in every quarter to kick a winning score.
Tahlia Fellows’ return was more than welcome, and the star forward took little time to get back to doing what she loves best in running away from defenders.
With captain Sammie Johnson (24 disposals, three clearances) putting in another virtuoso performance in the midfield alongside VFLW debutant Amber Clarke and the reliable Emma Horne (10 touches, four tackles), Johnson’s efforts gave Fellows a one-on-one contest early.
Fellows capitalised, taking a strong contested mark before running towards goal and taking three bounces before steadying to slot the game’s opening major.
It was a game where Peter Mercoulia’s side got to show their depth, as the likes of Monica Harasimiuk (14 touches, two goals), Brooke Borchard and Zoe Mitchell wreaked havoc at ground level inside forward 50.
Harasimiuk kicked the first of her two goals for the day when she crumbed a pack and hurried through a straight kick through the big sticks to give the Demons an early two-goal lead.
When Emma Horne’s perseverance in the midfield resulted in a snap from the impossible angle that dribbled through for the red and blue’s third goal, Casey had itself a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Following a superb 20-0 first term, interplay between Borchard and Mitchell gave the latter a goal, while Harasimiuk followed up with a quick snap at goal that flew through to give the Demons five goals unanswered to half time.
Casey’s midfield controlled the match consistently, with Johnson the stand-out as she stormed away with clearance after clearance.
With Clarke and Horne also working hard, Mel Hogg (20 disposals, four clearances) continued to shine as she put in another strong effort.
Isabella Simmons’ dangerous left boot kick started proceedings in the second half as she slotted a superb running goal, while a second goal to Mitchell courtesy of some quick thinking from Borchard meant the Demons headed into the final break with a 44-point lead.
But Casey refused to take the foot off the pedal in the final term, as Borchard cashed in with a well-earnt goal of her own.
Clarke capped off a fine first game at the VFLW level in style, snapping through a remarkable finish under pressure to extend the margin in a stylish victory.
The 56-point result returns Casey to the upper echelon of the ladder with only a few rounds left until the finals.
CASEY 3.2 5.7 7.9 9.12 (66)
PORT MELBOURNE 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.4 (10)
GOALS: Harasimiuk, Mitchell 2, Borchard, Clarke, Fellows, Simmons, Horne
DISPOSALS: Johnson 24, Hogg 20, Chaplin, O’Connor 18, Harasimiuk, Kirkwood 14
BEST: Johnson, Chaplin, O’Connor, Horne, Clarke, Hogg, Harasimiuk, Kirkwood, Borchard
