The Demons needed a strong performance to overcome the Lions, and it produced it in a scintillating Preliminary Final win.

Despite a slow start, a superb performance in the final three terms helped the Demons run away with a commanding 51-point win over Brisbane.

After losing its only game of the season to date against the Lions in the final home and away round of 2022, Casey made amends, as an even performance ensured the Demons came away with a 15.9 (99) to 7.6 (48) victory.

After the Lions struck first blood, the Demons settled into their groove and put forth one of their most withering performances of the year.

Casey coach Mark Corrigan was left rapt with his players as they settled superbly to put forth another impressive four-quarter performance.

“The side has some great synergy and are clear in how we want to play,” Corrigan told Casey Media. “We’re seeing that in games in terms of the consistency we have. You’ll always be challenged and have periods in games where you won’t have ascendancy, but the most pleasing part is that we were able to take back that momentum and not let it turn into big patches of play.”

In a sign of its even depth, Casey players like Andy Moniz-Wakefield, George Grey and Blake Howes stood up to kick opening quarter majors.

With a 13-point lead at the first break, a four-goal second term ensured the Demons leapt ahead.

Tom McDonald came into his own, kicking two second term goals and showing his ability as he went from strength to strength in his second match back from his long-term injury.

With McDonald also cleared to play in next week’s Grand Final, Corrigan said the Demons were fortunate to have McDonald’s class available next week.

“McDonald’s strength is he’s strong in the air but he has an innate ability to butter up at ground level,” Corrigan said. “Then we see that and he never gets out marked. He’s setting guys up around him.

“His leadership has been invaluable. He did really well yet again today.”

With Jacob van Rooyen also continuing his terrific campaign with another three goals in the Preliminary Final, his aerial ability and speed at ground level helped him kick a vital second quarter goal.

When Ryan Valentine pounced on a free kick and 50-metre penalty, Casey was able to take a 28-point lead into half time.

It only got better in the third term, as the Demons pounced in the premiership quarter as they piled on five goals to Brisbane’s one.

Van Rooyen started the run with a strong one-on-one mark and goal from the square, before a long-range Jake Bowey set shot goal brought the Casey Fields crowd to their feet.

With a Grand Final berth on the cards, Kade Chandler, McDonald and van Rooyen all slammed through inspiring goals to give the Demons a comfortable 51-point lead at the final break.

After falling to the Lions in Round 22, Casey went to work to shut down Brisbane’s vaunted forward line.

The likes of Matt Buntine, Corey Ellison and Bowey were superb in stemming the Lions’ forward line and restricting them to just four goals at three-quarter time.

Corrigan said they once again proved they were capable of holding firm in the big games.

“They work incredibly well with Buntine and Adam Tomlinson down there, along with Bowey, who I thought was superb today,” Corrigan said. “We have great leaders down there. They understand the game and their buy-in and leadership has been outstanding.

“Then we have a great mix of young players down there who have been a great balance of enthusiasm with experience.”

Brisbane came out rolling the dice in the final term in a bid to save its season, kicking the opening two goals to cut the margin.

Yet Sam Weideman capped off a terrific ruck performance, as he kicked a goal to go with his – hit-outs and – clearances.

Goals to Mitch Brown and Toby Bedford confirmed the resounding win, as Casey’s all-round performance means it’s in the Grand Final next Sunday.

CASEY          3.3       7.6       12.7     15.9 (99)        

BRISBANE    1.2       3.2       4.3       7.6 (48)

GOALS: McDonald, van Rooyen 3, Moniz-Wakefield, Grey, Howes, Valentine, Bowey , Chandler, Weideman, Brown, Bedford

DISPOSALS: Munro 27, Chandler, Dunstan 25, Bowey 22, Tomlinson 21

BEST: Munro, Bowey, Tomlinson, McDonald, van Rooyen, Weideman