VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 6
By Nick Creely
With three consecutive losses and a daunting ask against the previously undefeated Port Melbourne, Casey emerged victorious in one of their best wins in years, rising up in a monumental last quarter to win by 43-points at Casey Fields on Saturday night.
In what had the intensity of a final, the opening term was frenetic, with both sides looking potent in attack.
Under the lights of Casey Fields, the crowd was treated to high quality VFL football.
The Dees started in perfect fashion, with Mitch Gent finding the goals in the opening minutes, before the excitement machine Alyosio Ferreira scored the second major to give them a handy lead.
But two fifty-metre penalties gifted the Borough its first two goals, with the momentum taking a major swing in Port’s favour, as they started to get their game up and running.
The Demons looked the better side in the second term, with an increase in tackling pressure and some class through AFL listed players Jake Melksham, Jack Trengove and Alex Neal-Bullen taking their advantage to 11-points at half time.
The game became an arm wrestle in the third term with goals becoming harder to score, but a double strike to Liam Hulett gave the Demons the break and all the momentum heading into a potentially season defining last quarter.
And despite Port getting off to a quick start and kicking the opening goal of the final term, class prevailed with goals to Alex Neal-Bullen and Jay Kennedy-Harris, before a magical cameo from Eddie Morris sealed the deal, blowing the lead out late.
Morris, who is enjoying a stellar season with the Demons, kicked three successive goals in an epic display to hand Port its first defeat of 2017.
There were plenty of winners around the ground for Casey – Jake Melksham was once again industrious with 33 disposals, Alex Neal-Bullen (35 disposals, 1 goal) had a dose of leather poisoning, Bailey Fritsch continued his rise as an AFL prospect with an exciting forward display, while Ben Kennedy accumulated 24 disposals and a goal in another classy display.
But biggest praise could perhaps go to vice-captain Jimmy Munro, who played a wonderful defensive game on ex-AFL forward Robin Nahas.
Nahas – playing in his 100th VFL match – went scoreless and had seven disposals, with Munro sticking to him like a glove and taking away his match winning ability.
After starting the season in the Development League, Munro has been in a rich vein of form, named in the best for the last four weeks.
Exciting youngster Perry Lewis-Smith made his debut for the Dees, showing some excellent signs.
Casey now heads into the VFL round bye with a 2-4 record and plenty of momentum, and will be back in action on 4 June with a clash at Piranha Park against Coburg.
The VFL state match on Saturday against WA – which will be coached by Casey’s very own Justin Plapp – will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 2pm.
Demons’ forward Bailey Fritsch will play in the team, which consists of the best VFL players from around Victoria.
CASEY DEMONS 4.4 6.6 8.9 14.12(96)
PORT MELBOURNE 5.0 5.1 7.3 8.5(53)
CASEY DEMONS
GOALS: E. Morris 3, A. Ferreira 2, J. Melksham 2, L. Hulett 2, J. Kennedy-Harris, M. Gent, A. Neal-Bullen, B. Fritsch, B. Kennedy.
BEST: J. Melksham, J. Munro, J. Hutchins, A. Neal-Bullen, M. King, E. Morris.
PORT MELBOURNE
GOALS: D. Conway 4, J. Lisle 2, A. Krakauer, B. Pearson.
BEST: D. Mascitti, A. Krakauer, D. Conway, T. Gordon, B. Murdoch, L. Cook.
