It was a challenging afternoon for the Casey Demons, who were unable to find their rhythm against Carlton at Ikon Park, losing to the Blues by 83 points.
The difference in experience between the two sides was evident, with the Blues able to call upon a number of ex-AFL Women's players who brought a high level of composure and strength against a young and developing Casey outfit.
From the opening bounce, Carlton were able to control possession and dictate the tempo of the game, making it difficult for the Demons to generate consistent forward opportunities. Casey battled hard around the contest but struggled to transition the ball inside 50 and create the scoring chains they were looking for.
Despite the scoreboard not reflecting their efforts, the Demons had patches throughout the afternoon where they were able to challenge Carlton and gain momentum. However, they were unable to turn those periods of control into sustained scoreboard pressure, with the Blues able to respond whenever Casey threatened.
A major highlight of the afternoon was the debut of Stella Rogers, who earnt her first VFLW appearance after a strong period of training and local football. A well-loved figure around the club, Rogers looked comfortable on the stage, showing composure and confidence in the forward line. She finished her debut with 10 disposals and provided plenty of promising signs for the future.
Lily Snow continued to showcase her versatility, moving into the midfield during the match and making an immediate impact at the contest. Snow finished with a game-high seven clearances, seven tackles and a goal, playing a key role in helping the Demons gain the ascendancy at stoppages during the third quarter after her move into the middle.
Tylah Burn once again demonstrated her tackling pressure, finishing with a game-high nine tackles as she worked tirelessly to limit Carlton’s midfield influence and create opportunities for her teammates.
Kasey Phillips was the Demons’ leading disposal winner, producing another strong performance in defence as she battled against a consistent Carlton forward attack and helped provide composure coming out of the backline.
Bonnie Williams was another standout in defence, producing several important moments and showing courage and determination as the Blues applied pressure inside 50.
Up forward, Anna Vresecky provided one of the highlights of the afternoon, converting a chance from a forward stoppage to kick a well-earned goal for the Demons.
While the result was disappointing, the young Casey side will take plenty of learnings from the contest. The experience gained against a strong Carlton outfit will be valuable as the Demons continue to develop throughout the season, with the focus now on building from this performance and improving in the weeks ahead.
CARLTON BLUES 6.2 7.7 10.9 14.12 (96)
CASEY DEMONS 0.1 0.1 1.1 2.1 (13)
GOALS
Carlton Blues: McCarthy (4), Turner Funk (2), Larkins (2), Elkington (2), Spamer (1), Plunkett (1), Morris-Dalton (1), Bowey (1)
Casey Demons: Vrsecky (1), Snow (1)
DISPOSALS
Carlton Blues: Turner Funk (25), Scott (21), Morris-Dalton (21)
Casey Demons: Phillips (19), Snow (17), McDonald (14)
