Keep your eye on the red and the blue is what the rest of the VFLW competition will be thinking after the Demons had an assertive win over Williamstown 9.5.59 to 0.0.0.

The Demons were looking to make it four wins in a row when facing Williamstown at Downer Oval on Saturday night, while the Seagulls, who have only won two games for the season so far, we're aiming to improve with a few AFLW player inclusions from GWS and Gold Coast. 

For Casey, the injection of AFLW listed players has meant the Demons have been able to take their game to the next level.

The first quarter, however, was a sheer battle of who could control the ball the best. On a clear night with minimal wind, a rarity at Williamstown, the ground was very greasy, which saw both sides struggling to have clean possessions. 

The Demons were able to score early on in the quarter, thanks to Maddi Gay’s quick thinking - after a spoil in the goals, she stuck her foot out to push the ball through for the only goal of the quarter. 

Williamstown was up and about early with multiple forward 50 entries, only for Casey’s defence to hold strong and deny the Seagulls a score.

Williamstown continued its pressure in the second quarter, continually testing the Demons defenders who fought hard to keep control of the ball. 

It wasn’t until later in the term that Casey lifted its intensity and looked to have more control when both Ally Kirkwood and Meg MacDonald scored goals to take Casey out to a 19-point lead at the main break.

At halftime, Casey Demons coach Peter Mercoulia noticed his players weren’t completely switched on and challenged them to lift their intensity around the contest. 

The Demons responded with their best quarter of the game. Casey Sherriff had a brilliant third term with her consistent driving the ball forward, resulting in two goals, while Jackie Parry also joined in with her first major from a shot at the top of the goal square.

The Demons were in prime position to take the game further away from Williamstown as they held a 40-point lead at three-quarter time.

Enter Gay. The Melbourne AFLW star rose to the occasion with two consecutive goals within the first five minutes of the final quarter, putting to bed any comeback that Williamstown may have thought about. 

The Seagulls continued to drive the ball forward, with repeat entries into their forward 50 only for the Casey defence to withstand and then absorb the pressure that was being applied. 

The Demons finished off the game with another goal to Parry. 

In the end, Casey ran away with a strong 59-point win and helped its chances of securing a place in the 2021 VFLW finals series.

“As a staff and a coaching group, we were very proud of their performance today,” senior coach Peter Mercoulia said when speaking with Melbourne Media post-game. 

“In that second half, they brought that really strong contest work that they were challenged on at half time, which allowed us to play some more aesthetically pleasing offence.

“Williamstown, to their credit, throughout the game continued their willingness (to apply pressure) and their contest was quite strong.

“However, I thought we matched them and bettered them in that area in the second half, which drove that offence that we wanted to see.”

Mercoulia was not only happy with the win, but with some of the performances from his team, including 18-year-old Grace Matsen from the Gippsland Power, who was playing her debut game supporting Bridie Winbanks in the ruck.

“For Grace to come in on a Saturday night match and play and compete the way she did in the ruck was a real stand out.

What I’ve taken away (from the game) is a sense of pride as a coach to see the amount of development and growth through some of our players to respond the way they did.

“The girls really enjoyed the win, as they should have.”

The Demons, who are now seven wins and three losses after 10 rounds, are on track to secure themselves a spot in the final six, for the first time in the club’s history. 

Casey’s remaining matches will be against Port Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Darebin, with Carlton at home next week. The Demons first encountered the Blues way back in round one where Casey capped off a six-goal win over a young Carlton side at Princess Park.

Casey Demons           1.0       3.1       6.4       9.5.59
Williamstown               0.0       0.0       0.0       0.0.0

Goals: 3 Maddi Gay, 2 Casey Sherriff, Jackie Parry, 1 Ally Kirkwood, Meg MacDonald

Best: Casey Sherriff, Emma Humphries, Meg MacDonald, Alison Brown, Grace Matser, Maddi Gay

Injuries: Nicole Hales (Ankle)

Next Game: V Carlton, Saturday 15th May 2021 10:30 @ Casey Fields