CASEY has kept its unblemished run at home in tact with a 24-point win over ladder-leaders Williamstown at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
Casey Demons 11.12 (78) defeated Williamstown 7.12 (54).
The Demons fifth win on the trot sees them sitting inside the top four for the first time this season, just one week out from finals.
After Casey held a comprehensive 21-point lead at the final change, the Seagulls came storming home in the early stages of the last quarter, applying enormous pressure to the under-siege Demons.
But Angus Scott became Casey’s tenth individual goal scorer to stem the flow and seal the win.
“To our player’s credit, they found some composure and got the game back going on their terms again,” senior coach Justin Plapp told melbournefc.com.au.
“It’s probably one of the better win’s I’ve been involved in, and we’ve had a few of those over the last couple of weeks.”
A midst a frantic final term, Jack Watts had his number taken by the umpire for a collision with Nick Sing, which was labelled “insignificant” by Plapp.
On the back of pre-game rain, the ball was wet and the two in-form teams of the competition were forced to fight out a tough, scrappy affair.
Watts had the dream start slotting the first goal of the game, with a battle for territory proving to be the story early.
With Ben Kennedy sitting the game out as Melbourne’s emergency, Corey Maynard returned to the side to pick up the slack in the centre. Maynard gathered 22 disposals in a strong contested game to help drive the Demons forward.
It took 15 minutes of attack in the second-term before Liam Hulett got the scoreboard ticking and helped Casey gain some ascendancy in the match.
Despite a strong response from the Seagulls, Casey booted three goals in the last five minutes of the quarter, with Jay Kennedy-Harris’ major on the siren handing them a 12-point buffer at the main break.
In a game made for the toughest of onballers, Casey’s James Munro shone brightest with 27 disposals and 11 tackles, standing up in an almighty scrap.
“They were not easy (conditions), but we were happy with how the game looked,” Plapp said.
“We’ve out tackled them, we made a really big focus around that … and we beat them in contested possession.
“We felt we were better in that area of the game.”
Albeit a shaky beginning to the fourth-term, it was crucial for Casey to even the ledger against Williamstown after a 23-point loss in round one, as the two teams may face-off again in the latter part of the season.
Watts was one of Casey’s cleanest players in testing conditions, with 11 marks and 19 disposals.
“I can’t fault Jack Watts and his preparation and what he brings to this club and this team,” Plapp said.
“I thought Watts’ role today around the composure part of the game was really significant.”
Fresh off a one-year contract extension, Declan Keilty was manful down back and received valuable assistance from the inclusion of Sam Frost who also impressed.
Tomas Bugg had 24 disposals upon return from a six-week suspension sustained in the AFL, coming to the forefront late in the game.
Mitch Gent was the only casualty from the fierce contest, leaving the field late with concussion.
Casey pulled on the pink guernsey in round 18 for the annual Pink Ribbon Match, raising money and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Next week marks the final fixture of the VFL season, with Casey to face Werribee at home on Saturday night.
The Demons have cemented their spot in September, but will be searching for the double-chance, hoping to carry some momentum into finals with a twelfth win for the year.
CASEY DEMONS 2.3 6.6 9.7 11.12 (78)
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.4 4.6 5.9 7.12 (54)
CASEY GOALS
Hulett 2, Watts, Ferreira, Fritsch, Morris, Kennedy-Harris, Maynard, Zijai, Weideman, Scott
CASEY BEST
Munro, Maynard, Watts, Bugg, Kennedy-Harris
