It’s been a few days since Casey headed up the highway to Geelong for a Friday night blockbuster with the Cats.

But the memories of that final term comeback still sit fresh in Casey coach Mark Corrigan’s mind.

The Demons started off fantastically, slamming on six straight goals to take a large lead into quarter time. But the home side quickly worked back into it and produced two quarters of footy that put the ladder-leading Demons on their heels.

Staring down the barrel of its first loss for the VFL season, Corrigan said the Cats were better than his Dees in a few key areas.

“Certainly, their intensity around the board lifted and they were really efficient using the ball when they went forward,” Corrigan told Casey Media. “We were challenged ­– to Geelong’s credit they were fantastic after quarter time, their second and third quarter really did challenge us.

“They were able to move the ball from our back half and get good looks and opportunities going forward. We need to be a little bit stiffer defensively to stop that, and we weren’t as efficient inside 50 which is something we’ll work on.”

The Cats kept Casey goalless in those two quarters, setting up a vital three-quarter-time lead that they looked likely to hold onto in freezing and wet conditions. The rain sporadically pelted down at GMHBA Stadium. Yet Casey showed its class and braved the conditions, kicking five last quarter goals to run home with an electric 11-point win and remain undefeated in 2022.

It was enough to make the Casey coach proud of his players, who once again stood up in adverse times and worked to a gritty win.

“It does make me proud,” Corrigan said. “Those wins mean a lot more than when you have everything go your way for large portions of the game.

“For the boys to respond the way they did in the last and have that belief to keep playing our way and that they can get the right result was most impressive and made me so proud of them.”

While Corrigan admitted his side was outplayed in intensity, contest and efficiency in those middle quarters, the final term was the standout half-hour for the Demons. With players like Deakyn Smith courageously throwing themselves on the ball to get the win, Casey worked hard to ensure it took the four points back down the highway.

But two players stood out for Corrigan in the final term. Bailey Laurie was comfortably best afield, amassing 29 disposals and kicking three clutch goals, including two in the final quarter onslaught.

For Corrigan, Laurie’s display was another stellar step in the right direction.

“Laurie has been building really well,” Corrigan said. “He’s been close to playing AFL, he’s been emergency a few times, but that’s as good a game as I’ve seen him play.

“In tough conditions he was clean, in both the middle of the ground and up forward. But what was more important was his strength in the contest, in the conditions he stood out because he used the ball well and was so clean.”

Although everyone at GMHBA Stadium could agree that Laurie was the standout player, Corrigan also mentioned another heart and soul member of the side as another star in the win.

“Jimmy Munro was just outstanding,” Corrigan said. “His work at a stoppage, whether it be in the clearances or tackling, shows he never deviates from being a really strong player for us every week.

“When the team is flat, you can always rely on him to bring the energy and spirit up in the group.”

After Friday’s big win over another VFL flag fancy in Geelong, Casey will recharge the batteries with a bye before returning in Round 18 to face the Western Bulldogs at the Victoria University Whitten Oval.