Score:
Casey Demons 28.12 (180) d Coburg 11.7 (73).

Summary:
The sun was out at Piranha Park on Sunday afternoon, and with 18-AFL listed players pulling on the Casey guernsey, the Demons went into their round one clash with Coburg as warm favourites. It didn’t take Casey long to find its groove, kicking eight second quarter goals before opening-up a 55-point lead at half-time. 

A free-flowing third term saw the margin blow out to 82 points at the final change, before a monstrous nine-goal last quarter saw the Demons record a blitzing 107-point win, with an incredible 28 goals on the scoreboard.

Dion Johnstone suffered cramp late in the game, as the heat proved testing for numerous players. Charlie Spargo found his way into the umpire’s book, reported for contact with Nick Mellington in the first term. 

Telling stat:
A discrepancy of 40 uncontested marks in Casey’s favour displayed the Demons dominance throughout the match. Casey won the ball at the contest and gained control of the game, marking the ball on the outside and denying Coburg of any chance to stem the flow of goals.

Disposals:
Pedersen 26, Hannan 25, Maynard, Brayshaw 22, Baker 21, Balic, T. Smith, Stretch 20.

Goals:
Balic 6, Weideman 5, Hannan 3, Kennedy-Harris, Scott, T. Smith, Spargo 2, Brayshaw, Johnstone, Lockhart, Maynard, Pedersen, Stretch

3 Votes: Harley Balic
Melbourne recruited Balic over the off-season, and the ex-Docker made an immediate statement for his new club. Balic started the game as a forward, looking dangerous around the goals, before pushing up the field to gather 20 disposals along with 10 marks. But it was the 21-year-old’s ability to create scoring opportunities inside 50, which was a highlight. Balic booted an incredible six goals, and was able to get out the back, scoring all of his goals from within 20 metres. He hit the scoreboard in every quarter and assisted others in front of goal in a best-on-ground effort.

2 Votes: Sam Weideman
Weideman was an imposing figure on Sunday, playing an instrumental role in setting up Casey’s victory. The 195cm forward took five contested marks as he presented around the ground and was a focal point inside 50. He kicked four first-half goals, doing all the damage for Casey, and ended with five majors. Weideman also assisted in the ruck with nine hit-outs, adding another dimension to his game. After a limited pre-season, following ankle surgery, Weideman is now at full fitness, covering the ground well with 17 disposals and appears ready to stake a senior recall.

1 Vote: Cameron Pedersen
After being omitted from the Melbourne side, Pedersen’s attitude towards the VFL match was sensational. With a ‘team-first’ mindset, the 31-year-old brought his teammates into the game, looking to distribute the ball from his game-high 26 disposals. Pedersen worked hard around the ground laying six tackles and clunking 15 marks. The scoreboard was unreflective of his hard work, as he finished with one goal, but it was his complete performance, which was worthy of a vote in this game.

Apologies to:
Angus Brayshaw and Mitch Hannan, who were both impressive in the centre with 22 and 25 disposals respectively. Hannan drifted forward to kick three goals, but it was the even spread of contributors in the centre, which was most impressive.

Good to see:
Melbourne’s three recruits from the 2017 NAB AFL Draft – Charlie Spargo (pick No.29), Harrison Petty (No.37) and Oskar Baker (No.48) – made their VFL-season debut for Casey on Sunday and it didn’t take long for them to settle in. Spargo kicked two goals from his 16 touches, while Baker gathered 21 disposals and provided run along the wing.

But it was Petty, the 197cm defender, who was among the best. Despite his stats reading just 12 disposals and three marks, Petty’s influence in marking contests and ability to read the ball in defence was elite. At just 18 years of age, Petty looked comfortable at VFL level and is certainly one to watch this season.

Coaches say:
“I just like how they’re playing for each other – that’s the biggest thing, I want to make sure they compete and play our style, and in particular, really enjoy playing with each other. Clearly when you win by that margin you’re pleased, but it’s more about the consistency of how we want to play and how we go about our footy that we’re really after.” – Jade Rawlings

Looking ahead:
Casey will remain on the road in round two, taking on Werribee under lights at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday night. This will be the first VFL match played at the new-look venue, after recently undergoing an $11.75 million redevelopment. Werribee suffered a four-point loss to Geelong in round one, and a tight battle is expected for the Demons on the weekend. The game will kick-off at 7pm.