CASEY’S women’s team has braved the cold, wet and windy Craigieburn conditions to register a commanding 26-point victory over Essendon at RAMS Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Casey Demons 6.11 (47) defeated Essendon 3.3 (21).
The Demons played a strong contested game to put themselves in the box seat at three quarter-time, leading the Dons by nine points with 20 minutes remaining.
And when the game was there to be won in the final term, Casey stood up.
In a dominant display, Casey denied the Bombers of a single inside 50 and piled on two goals to run away with its second win of the season.
Kate Hore was the first to capitalise on the Demons last quarter momentum with a great snap on goal, before Kalia Bentvelzen sealed the win with a clever dribble kick from the pocket.
Rain had tumbled prior to the game making for a scrappy opening term, with the match being played out between the arcs.
It was a game of territory early, with little attack on goal, and while Essendon pushed the ball forward, the Demons defence held up well with just one behind to each side in the first period.
From that point on, Casey was the superior side.
Just moments into the second term, new Demon Shae Sloane slotted the first goal of the match, and her first in red and blue. Sloane – sister of Rory Sloane from Adelaide – played her first game for Casey last week after signing with Melbourne for the 2019 AFLW season, and showed her class with a flying snap through the sticks.
Key forward Eden Zanker used the outside of her boot to add a second major as Casey began to dominate.
It took 13 minutes for the Bombers to go forward of centre in the second term, where Valerie Moreau toe-poked one through and cut the margin to 10 points at the break.
Danielle Ponter gave Essendon life in the third quarter slotting two goals, but the Demons matched that output with consecutive scores through Harriet Cordiner and Hore to maintain control.
There was plenty of feeling in the game with small spot fires breaking out across the field and bodies desperately diving after the ball.
Aliesha Newman came off second best from a heavy hit in the first term but was able to remerge and impact the game at half-back.
Essendon will remain on the bottom of the VFLW table as its yet to register a win, while the Demons have now got eight points from their six matches.
Casey will look to keep its momentum going when it ventures back to Casey Fields next Saturday for a second clash with the Southern Saints.
CASEY DEMONS 0.1 2.6 4.6 6.11 (47)
ESSENDON 0.1 1.2 3.3 3.3 (21)
CASEY GOALS
Hore 2, Bentvelzen, Cordner, Sloane, Zanker
