Cranbourne’s Corey Ellison has kicked three majors to steer Casey Demons to its ninth successive victory.
Casey applied 89 tackles and the Frankston Dolphins 80, in a game that truly demonstrated what a week off can do to two sides.
The pressure around the footy – particularly early – left the two sides locked on 2.1 apiece at the first change.
But the Dees – led by Ellison – kicked away in the second term, setting up the 10.6 (66) to 6.12 (48) victory.
Casey kicked six goals to one in the second term to take a 52-21 lead into the main break.
Ellison had two of the Demons eight majors at half-time and managed to add one of the Demons remaining two goals in the match.
Mitch Brown also kicked two, while the Demons had singles from four players.
The tackle-fest suited both Brown and Jimmy Munro, as the duo applied a whopping 25 tackles between them (Munro 14, Brown 11).
In his first game back from Adelaide in the SANFL, former St Kilda and Collingwood midfielder Nathan Freeman collected 27 disposals.
The Demons sit two wins clear of Southport atop of the VFL ladder, while Frankston are 4-4, just a win and percentage out of the eight.
The Dolphins will be looking to boost that percentage this weekend, when it travels to take on cellar-dwellars Coburg, while the Demons will play Sydney at the MCG as a curtain raiser to the AFL.
Former Dandenong Stingray and Berwick product Judson Clarke hit the scoreboard once again for Richmond, improving his consistent record to goals in seven of his first nine VFL games.
Mitch Cox collected 20 disposals for Brisbane against Southport and Sam Fowler (Collingwood) kicked another three majors as he prepares for a potential Mid-Season Draft selection.
