AN IN-FORM Casey travelled to Victoria Park on Saturday to take on equal ladder leaders Collingwood in Round 5 of the rebel VFLW premiership season.
The Demons had won their last two games and would have felt confident going into the game with the wet conditions against the reigning premiers.
“The feeling was good today,” senior coach Peter Mercoulia told Melbourne Media post-game.
“The reality was that we were playing the top team today, with the messaging based around learnings from the previous two weeks, and what we look like at our best.”
Casey had a strong start to the opening quarter with the first two scoring shots but was unable to capitalise and put scoreboard pressure on the Magpies.
Collingwood was then able to assert themselves into the game, to take a 12-point lead into quarter time.
“Collingwood had a really good ability to stifle what we discussed before the game,” Mercoulia said.
“Our inability to take the chances we had when we had momentum and we were playing really nice patches of forward half football – it just didn’t give us that run on that I thought we could have got.
“To Collingwood’s credit, when they had the game on their terms, they were more clinical in front of goals.”
The first goal for the Demons came from Imogen Milford early in the second quarter. Casey took it up to Collingwood in what would have been considered a more even contest for the term.
The third quarter was easily the Demons’ best with two goals to Collingwood’s one. Casey was able to bring its intensity and physicality matching with the Magpies but just wasn’t able to take full advantage of its chances when they were presented.
“After half time again, we started the quarter really well, and had some really nice looks in front of goal,” Mercoulia said.
“Unfortunately though, we just couldn’t capitalise when we had that momentum,
“And to Collingwood’s credit, in what good sides do, they took that momentum from us and were more accurate in front of goal.”
Unfortunately for Casey, the class of Collingwood was too good in the last quarter. The Magpies stepped up a gear slamming on three goals to none to run away with the win and the four points.
“It was just our inability to finish when we had the game on our terms that hurt us,” Mercoulia said.
“And our contest layering decisions and methods throughout the game were quite poor.”
Imogen Milford was a highlight on a dismal day, relishing in the opportunities up forward when they were presented and was the Demons’ only goal scorer with three goals to her name.
“We gave Imogen a new look up forward to give her opportunities to play to her strengths keeping here a bit deeper,” Mercoulia said.
“And she took that challenge on really well, finishing with three goals, also adding great value defensively and hopefully something she can build on.”
Nicole Hales was solid in defence, reading the play and intercepting many of the Magpies forward entries.
Skipper Sammie Johnson lead from the front all day, showing her teammates how it was done, trying to change the momentum of the game when all looked lost for the Demons.
Easter weekend sees a break in the fixture for the girls to refresh and regroup.
The next game will have the Demons return home to Casey Fields to take on Geelong in another big match of fourth versus fifth on Saturday 10th April at 3pm.
Collingwood 2.2 4.3 5.4 8.4.52
Casey Demons 0.2 1.4 3.5 3.6.24
Goals: Imogen Milford 3
Best: Imogen Milford, Nicole Hales, Samantha Johnson, Maggie Caris, Sharee Fairchild, Niamh McEvoy
