SUMMARY
CASEY has delivered a resounding performance to dominate the Williamstown Seagulls by 35 points at Downer Oval on Sunday afternoon.
After a tightly contested opening stanza, the Demons were dazzling for the rest of the match holding the home team to only two goals in another outstanding defensive masterclass.
A number of Demons starred in the tremendous performance, but Chantel Emonson pipped Libby Birch for best on ground honours.
THE NUMBERS
DISPOSALS: Birch 17, Emonson, Lampard, Sherriff 15
GOALS: Tatterson 2, Birch, Smith, Davies, Archer, Zanker
A rock-solid defence and a firing forward line makes for an exciting team
Casey appears to be a team that has everything in season 2019.
A star-studded and rock-solid back line, who when challenged were able to confidentially repel any Seagulls attack, holding Williamstown to two goals for the match, and reducing the average Casey opponent score to now a stunning 21.3 points per game.
While the forward line continues to trap the ball in the Casey half behind the relentless pressure of players like Tayla Tatterson and Kiana Oates forcing the opposition into costly turnovers which the Demons are converting into scoring opportunities.
It’s been an outstanding start to the season and the Demons are far from done.
Chantel Emonson was the star of the day
The AFL-listed star has been tremendous in first three matches for Casey this season but elevated her game to another level on Sunday.
Patrolling the midfield, Emonson racked up 15 touches, laid 11 tackles, but it was her poise and command of the flow of the game which was the most impressive in her best on ground performance.
Defensive pressure is forcing opponent mistakes
One of the major driving forces of the Casey Demons early season domination has been the relentless pressure around the ball, and against Williamstown, the trend continued.
The Demons did not allow the Seagulls to settle into their game plan, and the constant pressure of laying 97 tackles resulted in Williamstown turning the ball over and gifting Casey an additional 50 possessions for the match.
Casey were able to convert the extra possessions finishing with an extra 10 scoring shots for the match.
The collective is bigger than the individuals
After an undefeated start to the season, head coach Damien Keeping is in an envious position where he can continue to experiment and tinker with his squad.
With a number of changes in the team for Round 3, the undefeated Demons are showcasing their season motto of ‘stronger together’, where the sum is greater than the individual parts.
Keeping can continue to experiment with his team and rotate from a roster of talented players all striving towards the collective goal.
“Collectively the group has come together really well,” Keeping told Melbourne Media.
“We will continue to change the team around… But the team understands when they come in they have a role to play.
“So various players will come in from week to week. But we are really focused on those team outcomes and you see it with our results.”
A word from the coach
“What is really show showing is when the team tap into that confidence, they’ve got the trust in one another then they get the outcomes like that on the field,” Keeping told Melbourne Media.
“There have been some real lessons from the three rounds of the season, not just today.
“That when they trust each other and commit to each other, they get the outcomes we are looking for.”
Looking forward
Next week the Demons welcome the Southern Saints to Casey Fields on Sunday June 2, at 12 noon, as Casey looks to remain undefeated in season 2019.
