CASEY has continued its undefeated run at home this season with a 16-point victory over Essendon at Casey Fields on Saturday night.
An incredibly strong wind swirled under lights, with the Demons using it to their advantage in a three-goal to none final term to record a come from behind win.
Casey Demons 10.12 (72) defeated Essendon 7.14 (56).
Casey’s Bayley Fritsch continues to stake his claims for AFL recruitment in 2018, and was at his prolific best against the Dons. He created scoring opportunities for teammates up forward, as well as converting two of his three crucial goals in the last quarter to steer his side home.
“What I see is a young player who knows his way around a footy ground and has got a huge amount of talent,” senior coach Justin Plapp told melbournefc.com.au.
“He is competing in a really strong environment … so if clubs aren’t looking at him, they are crazy.
“He has been extraordinary.”
In a highly-anticipated return from concussion, Angus Brayshaw successfully played out the game, fashioning a protective helmet.
Brayshaw had sat out the previous eight weeks, due to a head knock against the Northern Blues in round five. It was Brayshaw’s fourth concussion in the space of two seasons at VFL level.
But the former No.3 draft pick finally received some luck, having a run for four quarters in an impressive performance at half-back. The 21-year-old had 23 disposals settling straight back into football.
“He probably exceeded what we felt he was going to give us tonight, so full credit to him,” Plapp said.
“He is certainly a player we need playing and being healthy, so it was a good return from him.”
For the Bombers, father-son prodigy Jake Long peppered the sticks unsuccessfully early, but Brent Stanton kicked truly after the quarter-time siren to give Essendon an early 16-point lead.
Fortunately for the Demons, the assistance of a growing breeze saw a momentum shift, as the red and blue did all the attacking in the second term.
Despite being wasteful inside 50, in a goalless 20 minutes to start the quarter, Angus Scott and Cameron Pedersen finally got the scoreboard ticking to take a one-point lead into half-time.
After playing the last 11 AFL games this season, Pedersen bolstered Casey’s forward line with five marks and two goals on a tricky night for tall forwards.
The Demons fought out a tight third term before storming home with a howling wind to run away with the four points.
Late in the game, the Bombers were unable to penetrate forward, with the breeze shaking the goal posts and trapping the ball inside the Casey forward line.
Midfielders Ben Kennedy and Corey Maynard were busy in a contested clash with 26 and 27 touches respectively, but it was the even spread of contributors which Plapp found most impressive.
“We had a lot more mature team in this week and we had a bunch of players who played their roles and competed,” he said.
“There was nothing pretty about it, but it was pretty effective.
“We had a lot of buy-in from our players, so I thought it was a really strong team result.”
Skipper Jack Hutchins has been reliable down back all season, and intercepted well again, reading the ball in the air and providing a wall in defence.
On a sour note, Mitch White limped off the field in the third term clutching his left hamstring and failed to reappear.
“I think there was some tightness or some indication that he’s done some damage,” Plapp said.
“Those things you really don’t know until you get them scanned … but fingers crossed it’s not too bad.”
Casey embraced Melbourne’s Indigenous theme this round, wearing the red and blue Indigenous guernsey with pride in the tight win.
The Demons will look to continue their stunning run at home when they take on the second-bottom placed Coburg at Casey Fields next Sunday afternoon.
“Every game becomes really important to us now,” Plapp said.
“We’ve had some challenges as a club … but it (the win) keeps us on track.”
CASEY DEMONS 2.1 4.7 7.8 10.12 (72)
ESSENDON 4.5 4.6 7.12 7.14 (56)
CASEY GOALS
Fritsch 3, Pedersen 2, Ferreira 2, Gent, Scott, Smith
CASEY BEST
Fritsch, Scott, Hutchins, Maynard
