CARLTON were unable to recover from a poor first half as they fell to a Casey Demons side littered with AFLW players.
The Demons kicked seven of the first eight goals before Carlton performed strongly in the second half. Eliza West put in a dominant display for the visiting side, racking up 29 possessions. For the Blues, Lily Goss was outstanding once again, finishing with 20 disposals and six clearances in a tough battle.
The loss means Carlton will have one more chance to break their winless run when they play the Bulldogs at IKON Park next week in the last round of the season.
Quarter One
The Demons demonstrated their intent to try and dominate proceedings from the outset, as the Blues’ defence was under siege. The first five minutes saw them repel repeat attacks, before Casey were able to make the first breakthrough. The match presented plenty of early warning signs for Carlton, with their forward line unable to get near the ball until the halfway mark of the quarter. Carlton hadn’t managed to get the ball inside 50 by the time Casey had their third. The Blues began to find their feet late in the quarter, with their first meaningful attack resulting in young Ella Smallacombe kicking the side’s first as she returned to the line-up. Overall, the quarter belonged to the away side, kicking five of the first six goals, and having six of the top eight possession getters.
Quarter Two
Casey kicked the first of the second term but were faced with a tougher challenge to begin with. The Blues managed to find more possession with some slow methodical play as they tried to work themselves into the contest. The change of tactic worked to good effect, with the hosts managing to keep the ball in their forward half. The Demons were able to pounce on the fast break, bursting through the Carlton press and kicking their seventh for the match. The contest entered a stalemate, with the play becoming more contested, presenting little opportunity for goals at either end.
Quarter Three
It was a measured start to the second half for both sides, with the Demons getting more opportunities but no goals to show for them. Carlton were able to grab the upper hand as the quarter progressed and were quickly able to convert two quick-fire goals from Mia Cowan and Lily Goss. Carlton looked to take control of the contest with their newfound confidence, taking charge of the tempo, and beginning to win the ball at the source. A late goal from Maddi Di Cosmo gave the Blues their third unanswered major for the term and meant they would head into the final change with all the momentum.
Quarter Four
The final quarter began much like the previous with neither side able to get an early goal. The Demons began to rediscover their rhythm as the term progressed however, and the Blues were struggling to exit their defensive 50. Casey were unable to reward themselves for their territory domination, until they finally managed to score their first goal of the half with just over six minutes remaining. After the Demons scored a second for the quarter, Serena Gibbs replied quickly, kicking truly from a 45-degree angle.
Match Summary:
Carlton 1.0.6 1.1.7 4.1.25 5.1.31
Casey 5.4.34 7.7.49 7.10.52 9.12.66
Goals: Smallacombe, Cowan, Goss, Di Cosmo, Gibbs.
Best: Goss, Lew, Klingbeil, Borg, Gurr.
Stafford says:
“Against a really quality side in Casey, I was really proud of the girls. We came in at halftime down, but we didn’t go into our shell, and we went out and played our best half of the season, especially winning that third quarter. Although we didn’t get the four points, a lot of positives came from today.”
