Summary:
Saturday night was a significant occasion for the Werribee Football Club, as the Tigers unveiled a brand new grand stand following an $11.75 million make-over at Avalon Airport Oval last year. Despite wet and windy conditions throughout the afternoon, the ground was in perfect condition for footy under lights, and both teams came out to play.

Werribee made the early running with ferocious pressure on every Casey disposal, as the home side took an 11-point lead into the half-time break. But just when it looked as though the Tigers would run away with victory, Casey found a way to put four consecutive goals on the board and pinch a gutsy 16-point win. It was a highly-congested match, full of stoppages and heavy hits, with just 18 goals kicked for the night.  

Telling stat:
There was an incredible tally of 195 tackles laid, with Werribee leading the count 107 to Casey’s 88. Although the Tigers had the edge in these figures, Casey applied 10 more tackles inside 50 – a sign of great forward pressure from the Demons, which led to plenty of scoring opportunities.

Disposals:
Maynard 20, Stretch 19, Balic 18, Kennedy-Harris, T. Smith 17, Munro, White 16.

Goals:
Pedersen, Scott 2, Balic, Hunt, King, Maynard, T. Smith, Weideman.

3 votes: Mitch White
With skipper Jack Hutchins injured on the sidelines, vice-captain Mitch White was left in charge, and thrived as the leader of the Demons. The ex-Melbourne player was excellent at half-back, consistently winning one-on-one contests and helping out his teammates when Werribee attacked. White had nine disposals in the opening quarter, keeping Casey alive early and showing resistance to the fast-starting Tigers. It was a great captain’s effort, leading with his actions.

2 votes: Jayden Hunt
Jayden Hunt played his second game in a row at VFL level, and was a significant factor in Casey’s victory. Despite just the 14 disposals, Hunt showed an ability to impact the game, driving the Demon’s forward with 13 kicks, and attempting to provide some run in a stagnant match. When the game was in the balance, in the third term, Hunt slotted a brilliant goal from the boundary to swing the momentum of the contest.

1 vote: Tim Smith
Saturday night’s match wasn’t made for key-forwards, but Tim Smith showed his versatility, gathering 17 disposals, laying nine tackles and spending time in the centre. Senior coach Jade Rawlings threw the 192cm tall on-ball in the third quarter in a move, which helped Casey find its groove. Smith had eight touches and kicked a crucial goal in the term, as the Demons clawed back an 18-point deficit to hit the lead by the final change.

Apologies to:
Ruckman Mitch King, who played one of his best games for the club, with 38 hit outs, 10 disposals and Casey’s first goal of the game. After an ACL injury in 2016, the 200cm tall Demon has been developing well, and showed great signs on Saturday night. King’s tap work was good, but it was his effort at ground level, which was most impressive for a man of his size.

Joel Smith was also a strong contributor in defence, providing the highlight of the match with a high-flying mark in the second-term.

Good to see:
Casey’s VFL-listed players were an important part of the victory on Saturday night, standing up and playing their role. In round one, it was predominantly the Melbourne players who shone through, but against Werribee it was White, who led from the front, with the support of his Casey teammates. Jay Lockhart – a recruit from Tasmania this season – was classy at half-back, while the reliable James Munro laid 12 tackles, in a match suited to his tough style of play. Small-forward Angus Scott also delivered, making the most of limited opportunities early with two first-half goals to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Coaches say:
“I think it was a terrific win. For us to be able to be behind, just hang in and grind away and get our nose in front, I’m really proud of the group. I don’t think anyone would ever say they are playing perfect footy … so we just keep looking forward and take learnings out of the game that are going to make us better for the next game, that’s how we approach it.” – Jade Rawlings

Looking ahead:
Casey will play its third consecutive away game to start the season, venturing to the Swinburne Centre to take on Richmond next Sunday from 2pm. The Tigers cruised to victory in round one against Port Melbourne, but will be fresh off the bye for this week’s semi-final rematch.