It was some edge of your seat viewing out at Casey Fields when the VFL Casey Demons defeated Geelong the hard way, 7.15 (57) to 8.8 (56).
Coming into Round 5, neither side was yet to drop a game for the 2021 season – Casey won their first three on the trot with an average winning margin of 72 points, while Geelong had won most of their games by an average of 42 points.
In the first quarter, both sides were feeling out the game with the ball moving back and forth between forward lines. Geelong struck early with the first goal, while Casey didn’t kick its first goal until later in the quarter with a nice shot from Mitch Lewis in the pocket.
The Demons started to control the game in the back end of the first quarter and took a four-point lead at the break.
Geelong started the second term off well, kicking two early goals and maintaining a 10-point lead for most of the quarter. Both Casey and the Cats fired a few more shots at goal only for minor scores.
At half time, it was Geelong who had the lead and started to look a little more dominant around the ball. Tom Sparrow was still finding the ball with 11 possessions, while Neville Jetta and Jay Lockhart had 10 each for the Demons.
The third quarter saw Geelong start well again by kicking the first goal and taking its lead out to 15 points, however, the Demons had a 10-minute period of play that saw Melbourne forward Mitch Brown have four shots on goal for a return of two goals and two behinds, bringing back the margin to just one point.
Majak Daw, who was playing his 100th VFL game, kicked an easy goal from straight in front and the Demons took back the lead before Geelong replied with back-to-back goals.
Toby Bedford bobbed up with a fantastic crumb and goal to reduce the margin with the Demons only one point down at the three-quarter time break.
The last quarter needed a big effort from the Demons, as Geelong was not just simply going to roll over. Casey’s accuracy in front of the goals was not its strong suit in this game, with 10 behinds and only five goals.
Geelong once again opened the quarter with a major, while Casey continued to pepper the goals only for minor scores. Brown kept presenting well to the Casey midfield, resulting in another two goals to his name and giving the Demons a seven-point lead.
The last five minutes had the crowd very involved as they rode every bump, including another goal to the Cats before the final siren sounded with the Demons one point in front.
“We kept getting beaten in contests, whether they (Geelong) won them or we would and nothing came from them,” Casey Demons Midfield Coach Taylor Whitford said when speaking with Melbourne Media.
“In the second half though our ability to nullify the contest a little bit more, move the ball forward and gain territory was really good.
“We won stoppages by three in the second half which proved a long way for us to go on and win the game.”
Whitford also mentioned a few stand out performances in the Demons’ thrilling win, including 100-gamer Daw.
“Charlie Constable (Geelong Midfielder) got away from us in the first half, I think he had 20 disposals at halftime. Cory Stockdale did a great job on him, limiting him (Constable) to only seven disposals in the second half.
“Tom Sparrow is also continuing his really good form inside the contest as well and was one of our better players again today.”
Brown, returning from injury, was also pivotal as a target up forward for the Demons, ending the day on four goals.
Casey will now turn its attention back to the Sydney Swans after the round four game was postponed due to a COVID outbreak in Sydney two weeks ago. The Swans had a comfortable 33-point win over Collingwood on Saturday and will certainly be a challenge for Demons.
Casey Demons 1.5 1.6 5.10 7.15.57
Geelong 1.1 3.4 6.5 8.8.56
Goals: Mitch Brown 4, Toby Bedford 1, Majak Daw 1, Mitch Lewis 1
Best: Mitch Brown, Cory Stockdale, Majak Daw, Tom Sparrow, Neville Jetta, Jay Lockhart
Inj: Jake Bowey (Ankle)
Next Game: Home v Sydney Sunday 23rd May @ 1 PM
