The Ant bully’s: Dees land minor glory

Joel Smith climbs to new heights. 291888 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By Tyler Lewis

Casey’s 16th VFL win on the bounce has sewn up top spot for the Demons.

It was boys against men on Saturday, as the Demons thrashed the refurbished Northern Bullants.

The home side opened up the game with a scintillating opening 20 minutes, kicking six unanswered goals in the first stanza.

With the wind in the second term, the Ants hit back with four goals to two, but they were soon squashed as the premiership quarter mirrored the first.

The Dees kicked 10.10 to the Ants 1.1 in the second half, cantering to the 18.18 (125) to 5.4 (34) victory.

Luke Dunstan stuffed the stat sheet with 42 disposals and two goals and Toby Bedford ran rampant, while Melbourne rookie Jacob Van Rooyen kicked five straight goals from eight kicks.

“It was really good, I was over in Perth last night and had to fly over last night,” Van Rooyen said in a Casey Demons post-game media release.

“I got a few lucky ones out the back, I’ve kind of just got to be there and play my role and if I kick the goals, that’s how it is, so I was happy with that.

“I think at the start of the season I was a bit inconsistent, but this back end of the season I have really become more consistent and (have) started to play some better footy I reckon.

“It’s really good having Browny (Mitch Brown) and also Weids (Sam Weideman) when he’s back, it’s really good having experienced forwards that have been playing good footy.

“The team’s been really strong this year and I’ve been quite lucky to come in in my first year and be in such a good team.”

The Demons have the bye, Carlton and Brisbane in the final three rounds of the home and away season.