THE CASEY Demons have made their mark in Round 1 with a decisive 37-point win over the Footscray Bulldogs at Casey Fields on a windy Saturday afternoon.  

The day was a tightly contested one, that saw several key Demons take the game to the Dogs with the likes of James Jordon, Michael Hibberd, Luke Dunstan and Bailey Laurie setting the game alight. 

AFL/VFL premiership player Hibberd was as solid as ever, racking up the most disposals of the game with 36 to his name and helping hold the Dogs to only 57 points for the day.  

Jordon was outstanding earning himself 28 disposals, many of which contested and doing so with a bullish style to his game, whilst also collecting two goals to put the Dees ahead.  

Although the game started slowly with only a goal apiece by quarter time, the intensity went up with the Dogs matching the second term before the Dees fully took control of the game.  

Ollie Sestan finished as the leading goal kicker after a couple of crumbs and a sweet set shot from 40 out. Recruit Josh Schache also collected a couple of big goals whilst splitting his time in the ruck to help get the Dees the four points.  

Tall forward Jacob van Rooyen had solid hands all day with 11 marks, covering the ground well and ending the day with 19 disposals.  

The third term saw the Demons close the game with back-to-back goals from Sestan to put the nail in the coffin on a deflated Dogs.   

After facing off in a practice match hit-out with the same opponents less than a week before, which the Dogs won conformably, today’s result set high standards for the Demons. 

The reigning premiers stood up and flexed their muscles to get the win in Round 1 and start the 2023 season of perfectly.  

CASEY DEMONS          1.7      4.10      10.11      13.16 (94) 
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS          1.1       4.2        7.5          8.9 (57) 

GOALS 
Casey Demons: O.Sestan (3), J.Schache (2), A.Moniz-Wakefield (2), J.Jordon (2), J.van Rooyen, J.Smith, L.Dunstan, G.Grey 

Footscray Bulldogs: M.Hannan (2), L.Goater (2), E.Macpherson, B.Khamis, J.Johannisen, C.Clark.