ANOTHER slow start from the Casey Demons has seen them fail to get over the line despite a late charge against the reigning premiers, Essendon, the final score sealed at 4.13 (37) to 5.5 (35).
The Bombers launched out of the blocks early and seemed to have caught the Casey side off guard as they swamped the contest early on.
The Demons repeatedly struggled to get the ball removed from their defensive half and couldn’t make any progression up the field.
Essendon’s pressure was enormous, starting from their forwards, through to their midfielders setting up behind the ball, the Demons simply couldn’t find a way out.
Casey captain Ally Kirkwood tried her best to lift the team, working back defensively on numerous occasions to help her struggling defenders and try to get the ball moving the opposite direction.
The scoreboard was still favourable for Casey, with the home side not making the most of their plentiful chances, kicking 2.6 for the term.
The second quarter was much improved by the away team. Kicking into gear, the roles of the match were almost reversed as the Demons were able to lock the Bombers in their forward line for significant periods.
Kirkwood continued to lift the team and led by example, while Claire Keohane was attached to the ball and was the source of everything good that came from Casey.
It was a great momentum shift by the Demons as they went into half time only seven points down after a two-goal quarter.
The second half began in a similar fashion to that of the start of the game, Essendon locking the ball in their forward line, but the Casey defence was much more prepared and were able to prevent scoring. This set up for a tight-fought last quarter.
Casey had all the momentum in the last period, and they looked like they could be the only team to win the game at stages.
Winning the ball at the contest, spreading, using the width of the field and playing more to the wet slippery conditions, it was the experienced players that looked to pull the away side to victory.
Alyssa Bannan and Megan Fitzsimon were the two players that stood out, racking up possessions and getting it to the likes of Ciara Burke to finish the opportunities.
As much as the charge continued to come, the Demons ran out of time, falling short by two points.
After a spilt start to the season, the Demons will look to swing their form around next week as they take on the Southern Saints on Sunday 23rd April.
ESSENDON: 2.6 (18) 3.9 (27) 4.12 (36) 4.13 (37)
CASEY: 0.0 (0) 3.2 (20) 3.4 (22) 5.5 (35)
BEST: Fairchild, Bannan, Fitzsimon, Kinnane, Keohane, Kirkwood
GOALS: 1 Woolcock, O’Niell, Keohane, Burke
DISPOSALS: 23 Fitzsimon, 20 Bannan, 15 Wilson, 14 Keohane
