An electric first half has set the Casey VFLW Dees up at Ikon Park, as the Demons never looked troubled in the second half as it cruised to a 35-point win.

 Having welcomed back three AFLW-listed players for today’s game, the Demons shot out early and held its margin to secure a 9.12 (66) to 5.1 (31) win over Carlton.

Midfielder Eliza West was everywhere in her return to Casey, dominating in the midfield and assisting many great plays.

Her pace was on display and her thumping right boot often wreaked havoc as she amassed 29 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles in a determined effort.

West’s return meant captain Sammie Johnson (18 touches, one goal) had a friend in the midfield, and she benefited from it to have another terrific day at the office.

The pair led proceedings in the first term, winning clearances everywhere and propelling Casey to a five-goal opening quarter.

With Lucy Wales (24 hit outs) winning taps and palming it down to her elite-level midfielders, Zoe Mitchell benefitted up forward with a clever mark and goal to open the scoring.

Isabella Simmons’ pace on the wing paid off not long after, as the Demons broke an early deadlock with a tide of goals to take the lead.

When Sammie Johnson and Caitlin Conroy then quickly added superb running goals onto the scoreboard, Casey was well and truly away from the Blues.

Despite Carlton hitting back late in the quarter, a Katie Angelis mark and thumping set shot goal just before the siren ensured the Demons headed into the first break with a 28-point lead.

The second quarter was the Megan Fitzsimon show, as the star AFLW-midfielder put her versatile skills on full display at Ikon Park.

She snagged two goals in quick succession to propel Casey even further ahead in a low-scoring quarter, with her second goal coming from a terrific snap under pressure.

With fellow AFLW-listed Demon Shelley Heath ensuring that all three Melbourne inclusions flourished, Casey held a commanding 42-point lead at half-time.

But that was where Casey’s dominance stopped, as Carlton dug in and kicked three unanswered goals in the third term to reduce the deficit.

Despite conceding three majors, the defensive work of Maeve Chaplin and Rebecca Grant limited the damage for the Dees, as they still maintained a 27-point lead heading into the final break.

But the third quarter effort was enough to disgruntle Casey coach Peter Mercoulia, who fired up his players for the last term.

They responded, controlling most of the quarter without getting the reward on the scoreboard.

Following more than 10 minutes of play, Heath broke through and snapped through a deserved goal to confirm Casey’s eleventh win of the VFLW season.

Lucy Wales’ great day in the ruck got even better when she pulled in an outstanding contested mark and converted the set shot opportunity.

The ball barely left Casey’s forward-50 all quarter and the Demons worked hard to produce a strong last quarter that helped cement the 35–point win.

CASEY          5.4       7.7       7.10     9.12 (66)

CARLTON    1.0       1.1       4.1       5.1 (31)

GOALS: Fitzsimon 2, Angelis, Conroy, Heath, Johnson, Mitchell, Simmons, Wales

DISPOSALS: West 29, Johnson 18, Chaplin 16, Fitzsimon, Hogg 15, Heath, Wales 14

BEST: West, Johnson, Wales, Fitzsimon, Heath, Chaplin