The Casey Demons suffered a narrow six-point defeat at the hands of Essendon in a hard-fought VFLW contest on Saturday, despite an eye-catching debut from Ella Morris.
The Demons led for the entire first half and looked in control early, but were unable to convert forward entries in the second half, falling 5.6 (36) to 6.6 (42) in a match defined by momentum shifts and missed opportunities.
Morris made a memorable first impression in the red and blue, booting three goals and providing spark and composure inside 50. Her early impact was pivotal in helping the Demons build a 14-point lead at the main break.
Casey’s midfield set the tone in the opening half, with Zoe Mitchell and Meg Macdonald both collecting 19 disposals, and strong support from Ella Morris (15 disposals), Sophie Casey and Tylah Burn (13 each). Their efforts helped control the tempo and keep Essendon on the back foot early.
However, after half-time, the Demons were unable to break through a tightened Essendon defence. Despite generating repeat inside 50s, they could not find a goal after the second quarter, allowing the Bombers to gradually reel them in and take the lead in the final term.
Alicia Robinson and Jo Lin were the other goal scorers for Casey, both finding the scoreboard in the opening half. The team’s inability to capitalise on forward momentum in the second half ultimately cost them a win.
While the loss is disappointing, the performance of debutant Morris and the consistent midfield output provide plenty of positives moving forward. The Demons will look to regroup quickly and turn their strong early-game performances into four-quarter efforts as the season progresses.
CASEY 4.3 5.5 5.6 5.6 (36)
ESSENDON 1.0 3.3 4.4 6.6 (42)
GOALS
Casey: Ella Morris (3), Alicie Robinson (1), Jo Lin (1)
Essendon: Davidge (2), Thompson, Richardson, Plummer & Albrecht (1)
DISPOSALS
Casey: Zoe Mitchell & Meg Macdonald (19), Ella Morris (15), Sophie Casey & Tylah Burn (13)
Essendon: McDonald (24), Chaston (21), Plummer & Albrecht (15), Harrison (14)
