By Tyler Lewis
It took just two quarters of Casey football for the Demons to defeat Geelong on Friday night.
And it quite literally was two terms, as the Demons booted 11.3 in the first and last quarters collectively, opposed to just six behinds in the periods between.
After heading into the first change with a 6.1 to just three behind buffer over the Cats at GMHBA Stadium, the Demons would fail to kick another goal for a half.
The no-show second and third stanzas from the Demons not only allowed the Cats back into the contest but delivered a five-point lead for the home side heading into the final term.
The now 14-0 Demons rattled home five goals to two in the final stanza to come away 11.9 (75) to 9.10 (64) winners.
Of the five majors in the final term, Bailey Laurie booted two of them, capping off his superb night with 30 disposals and three goals.
In a Casey Demons social media release after the game, Laurie explained the basics the Demons went back to after a poor second and third term.
“Those wins are always much sweeter, the first quarter went our way but the next two didn’t,” he said.
“The strength of this group is to respond to challenges and come back to how we play, and I thought we did that incredibly well tonight.
“I think we just really cracked in, honed in on what we want to do and that’s contest and defence – I thought we did that brilliantly and we were able to hold up in the last quarter and come away with a win which is always nice.”
Frankston, meanwhile, suffered the first of two heartbreaks at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Dolphins led at every change and held a two-point lead over the Gold Coast Suns at the 27-minute mark of the final term.
But as it soon appeared to be the beginning of the theme of the day, the Suns found a late winner – this one off the boot of Jez McLennan.
The siren soon sounded, leaving the Dolphins in 10.16 (76) to 12.8 (80) agony.
Will Fordham was yet again excellent for the Dollies, accumulating 27 disposals and two majors, while Noble Park small forward Blake O’Leary had his best game at VFL level with 20 disposals and a goal.
VFL LADDER: Casey 56, Southport 44, Brisbane 36, GWS 34, Sydney 32, Werribee 32, Carlton 32, Collingwood 32 – Box Hill 28, Richmond 28, Gold Coast 28, Sandringham 26, Footscray 24, Geelong 24, Frankston 20, Port Melbourne 20, Essendon 16, Coburg 12, North Melbourne 12, Williamstown 8, Northern Bullants 4.
