IN WHAT was a stellar match at Casey Fields on Sunday, Casey’s VFL side were able to round out a four-quarter performance with a 42-point win, but it didn’t come without fight from Sydney.
A game that had almost everything a fan and player could ask for - contested footy, fast transitions, moments of brilliance and some on-field tension – the Dees sealed their second win of 2023 at 13.11 (89) to 6.11 (47).
The Demons were in form early in the match, controlling proceedings and enforcing themselves on the Swans side.
Casey’s AFL-listed players Matthew Jefferson and Oliver Sestan kicked the first two goals of the game and for a brief moment it seemed like things would come easy for the Dees.
This wasn’t the case, with Sydney midway through the first term starting to turn up the heat, putting three goals on the board via ex-AFL Bomber Aaron Francis and Charlie Haley.
It looked as if this was going to be a tight, hard-fought contest throughout the match with little to separate the two sides, however, from here on out it was all the Demons way.
The second quarter set up the rest of the game for Casey as they began to show their class and dominance around the ball. Their composure and timing in the contest created a clear spread across the ground, allowing for plenty of inside 50 opportunities.
Sydney wasn’t without its own opportunities though, with 57 inside 50’s for the match, but it was the class of Melbourne’s Adam Tomlinson that stopped the opposition from capitalising. Arguably best on ground, the defender had 34 touches with 13 marks, much of which were intercepts.
The experienced AFL player was the last line of defence but also the first source of attack for the Demons, with his on-ground leadership helping transition and rebound from the backline.
The second quarter was topped off with a beautiful end-to-end transition goal from the Demons in which Tom Sheridan finished in style, allowing the Casey side to go into the main break with a 21-point advantage.
The second half provided more of the same contest, but with a lack of scoreboard pressure in the third term. Despite only kicking two goals for the quarter, the Demons kept Sydney goalless, killing their chance of creation in the midfield and preventing the away side from any action inside 50.
In the final quarter, with the game on Casey’s terms, the home side were able to kick away to a convincing lead with goals from Jefferson, who slotted four in total, McDonald, and Sheridan.
On another day, it could have been a difficult task for the Demons after the efforts the Swans displayed early, but it was the combination of experience and youthful energy that took charge of the game and made it swing in Casey’s favour.
With two wins to start the season, the Demons will now look to continue this form into next week’s Easter Sunday clash against Frankston.
CASEY: 4.2 (26) 8.3 (51) 10.5 (65) 13.11 (89)
SYDNEY: 3.2 (20) 4.6 (30) 4.9 (33) 6.11 (47)
BEST: Tomlinson, Howes, Jefferson, Munro
GOALS: 4 Jefferson, 2 Sheridan, 2 Sestan, 2 McDonald, 1 Munro, 1 Laurie, 1 Grey
DISPOSALS: 34 Tomlinson, 34 Howes, 33 Dunstan, 28 Munro
