Despite a spirited late-game surge, the Casey Demons fell just short at Kinetic Stadium, going down to Frankston by 11 points in a hard-fought semi-final clash.

The contest was an arm wrestle, with large swings of momentum. While Casey showed grit and determination to stay in the fight, it was the Dolphins who found their rhythm at the crucial moments and made their chances count.

Casey began brightly, matching Frankston’s intensity in a hotly contested opening term. Pressure was fierce around the ball, with both sides refusing to give an inch, and only one goal separating the teams at the first break.

But as the game wore on, Frankston began to gain the ascendancy, controlling large passages of play across the second and third quarters. Their run and spread through the midfield repeatedly stretched the Dees’ defence, and a flurry of goals gave them the edge heading into the final term.

To their credit, Casey refused to roll over. The Demons lifted in the last quarter, ramping up their pressure and forcing turnovers to claw their way back into the contest. A string of late goals breathed life into the match and had the travelling fans on their feet, but time ultimately became the enemy, with Frankston holding their nerve to seal the win and progress.

In the final quarter, it was Jai Culley who stood tall when the Dees needed a spark. He proved a constant threat inside 50, clunking multiple marks and converting two vital goals. Culley also set up another major with a clever assist, almost single-handedly dragging Casey back into the contest during the closing stages.

Bailey Laurie was immense across the four quarters, anchoring the midfield with his work rate and class. He racked up 30 disposals, six clearances and eight inside 50s, continually driving the ball forward. His biggest moment came late in the game when he slotted a clutch goal that brought Casey within five points and gave the Demons a genuine chance.

Playing predominantly on the wing, Jack Billings was a steady contributor, accumulating 26 disposals and linking play through transition. He worked tirelessly both ways, ensuring Casey had an outlet on the spread and continuing his consistent run of form.

Youngster Koltyn Tholstrup showcased his pressure and pace, laying nine tackles – four of them inside 50 – to keep Frankston defenders under constant heat. He also added a goal to his name, highlighting his ability to impact on both sides of the contest.

In the ruck, Tom Campbell was a dominant figure, collecting 24 disposals, 10 clearances and an impressive 47 hit-outs. He provided first use to his midfielders and was influential around the ground, clunking strong marks and imposing himself physically in contests.

Versatile big man Aidan Johnson also made his presence felt, kicking a brilliant goal from a tight angle and impacting across the ground. When given time in the ruck, he competed strongly and ensured the Demons maintained pressure around stoppages.

Casey-listed player Mitch Hardie delivered another strong game, finishing with three goals to go alongside 23 disposals and nine tackles. His two-way effort was crucial, working hard to hit the scoreboard while also halting Frankston’s ball movement with defensive pressure.

Another Casey-listed player, Riley Baldi, was a driving force in the midfield. His ability to break tackles and burst away from congestion gave the Demons valuable forward momentum. Using both pace and strength, Baldi repeatedly launched Casey inside 50 and kept the Dolphins’ midfielders on edge.

It was an unfortunate way to end the Dees’ season, falling short by a slim margin. Turning their campaign around mid-year, Casey produced some exhilarating football in the back half of the season, showing resilience and fight to push into September.

While the result at Kinetic Stadium wasn’t the fairy-tale finish they hoped for, the Demons can take plenty of positives from their finals charge. Emerging talent stepped up on the big stage, experienced heads led from the front, and the group laid a strong foundation to build on heading into 2026.

FRANKSTON DOLPHINS                                      2.2     8.4    13.5     16.5 (101)
CASEY DEMONS                                                    3.2     4.5    8.9      13.12 (90)

GOALS
Frankston Dolphins: Mynott (4), Ellison (4), Jones (2), Lambert (1), Johnson (1), Hipwell (1), Hamill (1), Grant (1), Blamires (1) 
Casey Demons: Hardie (3), Culley (3), Kentfield (2), Yze (1), Tholstrup (1), Laurie (1), Johnson (1), Cross (1) 

DISPOSALS
Frankston Dolphins: Voss (34), Hipwell (33), Blamires (33), Milne (22), Riley (20)
Casey Demons: Laurie (30), Billings (26), Campbell (24), Hardie (23), Bonner (23)