Demons claw back to life

Jay Kennedy-Harris was named in Casey's best on the weekend. Picture: ROB CAREW

By Tyler Lewis

When Matty Parker dribbled home a goal in the opening minutes of the third term and extended the Sandringham lead to 29 points, Casey was staring at the curtains of its season.

But it was the kid and the captain who climbed the Demons back into the contest – not only keeping their side’s season alive but also showing ominous signs for the future.
Youngster Kyle Dunkley and Mitch White were herculean in the resuscitation of Casey in the third term.

An inspiring win by Casey started in the worst possible fashion; 30 seconds in, Sam Weideman collided with team mate Declan Kielty and was ruled out with concussion.

With Jake Melksham and Billy Stretch on limited minutes upon return and Weideman out of the game, the Demons were up against it without a score from either side on the board.

From the opening bounce, contested bull Jimmy Munro went to the side of Jack Steven in what loomed as a monumental test for the mature age draft smokey – but Munro wasn’t the only Demon facing a test as the Zebras snuck out to a two goal lead at the first interval.

Mitch White’s first goal brought the lead back marginally but the Zebras then shifted into gear, kicking four of the next five majors in the term, including a goal on the siren to go into the main break with all the momentum.

Trailing by almost five goals, Casey needed a lift and Mitch White intercepted and goaled before wheeling onto his trusty left for another major only moments later.

Kyle Dunkley then calmly kicked his second for the term in the dying moments to make it a one-point ball game going into the final term.

With it all on the line, ruckman Brayden Preuss took control, giving the Demons silver service from the ruck, which they utilised perfectly in the final term to snatch a brilliant victory from the clutches of defeat.

Sam Radford was incredibly pleased with his side’s fight and resilience to get over the line, especially Dunkley and White in the third term.

“I think both didn’t have a great start a bit like the team,” he said.

“But in the third they were both absolutely awesome – Kyle through the midfield and going forward he was running really hard and Mitch White was super.

“He (White) could’ve kicked four or five and he lead from the front.”

Jimmy Munro went to four-time Trevor Barker Medalist Jack Steven and despite Stevens’s strong number, Munro limited his impact from quarter time onwards.

“Jimmy did really well on an absolute quality AFL player,” Radford said.

“Jack finished with 20 touches and two goals but Jimmy finished with 30 touches and eight clearances for us.

“He was influential and did a great job for the team – Jack was outstanding for the first quarter and then Jimmy was able to limit his effect.”

Casey go into the final three games needing to win all three to secure September action, but this week they face the in-form Tigers at Punt Road, and Radford is hopeful the come from behind victory can build some confidence in the group.

“Hopefully they take a bit of confidence knowing things weren’t going well but hopefully it gives them a bit of confidence that when we do get it right, we can be pretty impressive,” he said.