CASEY’S women’s team has held on to a 10-point victory against Carlton as the Blues butchered their final quarter chances at Casey Fields on Saturday morning.
Casey Demons 5.7 (37) defeated Carlton 3.9 (27).
Facing a 16-point deficit at the final change, the Blues were favoured by a blustery breeze giving them life in the fourth term.
But Carlton managed just six behinds in the last quarter, missing crucial chances in front of goal as it failed to take full toll of the wind.
The Demons defended tightly to record a significant victory which will see them slip into the top eight.
Eden Zanker was the star for the Demons, getting her side off to the dream start with two goals in the opening three minutes of the game.
The 18-year-old then handed off Casey’s third goal just moments later as Maddie Shevlin converted to give the Demons a handy break.
Casey’s dominant first term denied the Blues any chance of scoring as it locked the ball inside 50 and created plenty of opportunities in front of the sticks.
But the Demons 22-point quarter-time lead was decimated when Carlton got its chance to attack with the breeze in the second term.
Georgia Gee quickly fired for the Blues, showcasing some soccer skills to get her side on the board just 90 seconds after the first break, and in similar fashion, Darcy Vescio followed suit.
The Demons began to push forward against the wind and looked like the better side until Carlton’s Akec Chuot Makur marked and goaled after the half-time siren to cut the margin to just two points.
Casey was in desperate need of a goal just after the main break and it was Zanker who stood up again, nailing a brilliant snap for her third major.
With a loose player behind the ball, the Blues denied Casey for the majority of the third term, but Katherine Smith broke the shackles with a telling goal moments before three quarter-time, allowing the Demons to hold on for victory.
In a tough game, crunching tackles left Aliesha Newman and Bianca Jakobsson sore, with neither of the Demon duo returning to the field after heavy hits.
Casey will remain at home for its final three games of the season, taking on the lower placed Melbourne Uni next Saturday morning.
CASEY DEMONS 3.4 3.5 5.7 5.7 (37)
CARLTON 0.0 3.3 3.3 3.9 (27)
CASEY GOALS
Zanker 3, Shevlin, Smith
