THE Casey Demons produced their most complete performance of the season in Round 16, dismantling Werribee by 76 points under lights at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday night.
From a hotly contested opening to a dominant second half, the Demons clicked into gear in all areas of the ground, with Jack Billings, Mitch Hardie, and Harry Sharp leading the charge in a clinical team effort that keeps Casey’s finals hopes firmly alive.
The first quarter opened with fast-paced, contested football as both teams traded repeat entries between arcs. Werribee drew first blood on the scoreboard, but the Demons responded with a composed goal from Ricky Mentha, following a clean transition from defence.
The forward pressure lifted, leading to more entries inside 50. A sharp pass from Harry Sharp found Mitch Hardie in the square for his first, as the Demons began to settle into their rhythm. Werribee managed a late goal to close the margin, but Casey held a slender lead at the first change.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, but it was Casey who struck first, again through the Sharp-to-Hardie combination. The Demons were cleaner and more composed in transition, with Patrick Ireland capping off a coast-to-coast play for Casey’s fourth.
The Tigers remained in the fight and scored a goal from a free kick. But Casey pressed on, and when Will Verrall converted after being awarded a 50m penalty, the Demons pushed the margin out to 16 points at the main break.
Casey shifted into another gear after halftime, producing a six-goal-to-one third term that blew the game wide open. Mentha nailed his second with a classy snap, before Bailey Laurie lit up the night with a long-awaited goal that brought the side, and supporters to life.
Noah Yze added one from the pocket, before a pressured turnover allowed Jack Billings to capitalise directly in front. Hardie’s third before the break gave Casey a commanding 50-point lead, with midfield dominance setting the tone and the defence rock-solid behind the ball.
If the third quarter gave Casey control, the final term was all about asserting dominance. Billings added his second before Sharp kicked back-to-back goals, underlining his elite running and ability to impact the scoreboard.
Hardie added his fourth for the night while Mentha capped off a superb game with his third, as the Demons surged towards a triple-figure total. The midfield group continued to dominate around the ground, while the defence locked down every Werribee push.
Casey kept their foot down, outscoring the Tigers 5.4 to 1.2 in the final quarter and sealing a comprehensive 76-point win, a true team performance built on pressure, ball movement, and clean conversion.
From start to finish, the Casey Demons looked composed, connected, and determined to make a statement, and they did just that. With Hardie’s four-goal haul, Sharp’s two-way brilliance, and Billings’ 30-touch masterclass, the Demons reminded the competition of their firepower and depth.
With four games left for the Demons in the regular season, momentum is building, and if this performance is anything to go by, the red and blue are peaking at just the right time.
TIGERS 2.0 3.1 4.3 5.5.35
DEMONS 2.4 5.5 11.11 16.15.111
GOALS Hardie (4), Mentha (3), Sharp (2), Billings (2), Yze, Laurie, Ireland, Verrall, Kentfield
DISPOSALS Billings 30, Howes 26, Culley 26, Sharp 23, Brown 22, Bonner 22
