THE DEMONS returned from the bye week and defeated the Coburg Lions by 15 points to win their second game in a row in a confidence-building performance.
It was a hard-fought and heavily contested match which saw the Demons take control in the second quarter and hold on down the stretch to secure the win.
Led by the outstanding play of Jordan Lewis, the match saw new Casey Demons head coach Sam Radford begin his VFL coaching career with a victory.
THE NUMBERS
DISPOSALS: Lewis 40, Maynard 26, Kennedy-Harris 22, Kolodjashnij 21, Wagner 20
GOALS: Dunkley, Quigley, Maynard, Bradtke, White, Preuss, Kolodjashnij, Bedford, Wagner
Jordan Lewis is a class above
For the second game in a row, Jordan Lewis displayed the elite skills which have made him one of best footballers of his generation.
Controlling the match from a muddy centre of Piranha Park, Lewis was immense for the Demons providing outstanding leadership, directing his younger teammates, calling out defensive coverages and setting up goals all leading to the victory.
View this post on InstagramWell done boys! Getting a maiden win for new head coach Sam Radford! | #caseydemons #caseyfc #vfl
Casey turning the corner
After an inconsistent first half to the season, the Demons appear to be turning the corner and rediscovering the confidence which has made them one of the most feared VFL-teams of recent seasons.
Recording a second win on the trot, the Demons are using a complete team mentality to power them to crucial mid-season victories which will bode well come the race to September.
Jack Hutchins and his band of defenders
It was another impressive performance from the Demons defenders, after allowing three opening quarter goals, veteran Jack Hutchins took charge of the young backs to keep Coburg to only five more goals for the rest of the match.
Fielding seven VFL-listed players in the backlines was always going to result in a tough task, but the younger lads more than held their own powering the Dees to the win.
Players like Tom Freeman, Will Collis and Cory Stockdale continue to play the best football of their young careers.
Melbourne players run amok
Melbourne head coach Simon Goodwin will be spoilt for choice as many of the AFL-listed players all had solid outings, Kade Kolodjashnij had 21 touches and a goal, Corey Wagner continued his stellar run of form with 20 possessions, and Kyle Dunkley continues to impress in his third game in Casey colours.
Another Melbourne-listed Demon to impact the match was Jay Kennedy-Harris.
While almost every player struggled underfoot, the smooth-running Kennedy-Harris dominated along the wing keeping on his feet, racking up possessions and providing the key transition link to the forwards.
Finishing with 22 disposals, Kennedy-Harris’ name will be amongst the selection mix come Thursday.
Corey Maynard showcases his skills
In his second game back from an extended injury period, Corey Maynard was marvellous finishing with 26 disposals and booting a goal, as he works his way back into the excellent form he showed early in the season before sustaining the injury.
Maynard has the ability to be a match-winner for Casey, and having him return to form for the second half of the season will be a massive addition to a Demons midfield which is starting to fire.
A word from the coach
“It was a pretty scrappy and tough affair, Coburg were really good around the ball,” Radford told Melbourne Media.
“We got of a lot of inside 50s… they defended well… but our boys scrapped and fought and did enough to get the win.
“It was a hard-fought win.”
Looking forward
The season doesn’t get any easier as next up for Casey in Round 13, the Demons welcome the reigning premiers Box Hill Hawks to Casey Fields.
After being manhandled by the Hawks in the opening game of the season, Casey will be looking for revenge on its home deck in the grand final rematch next Saturday at 2pm.
