Casey has all but sewn up the VFL minor premiership with a nearly perfect round of results.
On Saturday the Demons rolled on their merry way, defeating Footscray 9.12 (66) to 6.7 (43) at Whitten Oval, before Essendon paid the Casey outfit a favour, defeating second-placed Southport by just two points.
The pair of results now leaves the Dees three wins and a nudge under 23 per cent ahead of the Sharks with four rounds – but just three matches apiece – remaining.
Saturday’s win didn’t come cheaply for the Demons, who lost both the first and third terms.
Leading by just nine points at the final change, the Dees put the foot down – kicking two majors while keeping the Dogs to one minor score in the final quarter.
Kade Chandler was sensational yet again with four goals, while Oskar Baker accumulated 33 disposals including a whopping 29 kicks.
Jimmy Munro and Luke Dunstan fought hard on the inside, applying 22 of the Demons 68 tackles between them.
For Frankston, meanwhile, it was an ugly morning for football at Tramway Reserve in Sydney.
The Dolphins braved the horrendous conditions in New South Wales, but failed to keep up with the Swans on the scoreboard.
The Swans won each of the four quarters on their way to the 12.17 (89) to 6.9 (45) win.
AFL superstar Josh Kennedy played for the Swans and gathered a game-high 36 disposals.
Casey will return home next Saturday to take on the Northern Bullants and Frankston has the bye.
In some other local highlights of the round: Mitch Johnson kicked three for Southport in its aforementioned loss, while Mitch Cox grabbed 15 disposals and a goal for the Lions. Juddy Clarke hit the scoreboard for Richmond, now making it nine from 12 VFL appearances in which he has kicked one or more goals.
