Casey Demons defeat Collingwood to make it three consecutive wins and climb into top eight

CASEY Demons’ season is gaining traction, with last season’s grand finalists defeating Collingwood by 19 points on Saturday to climb into the VFL eight.

Acknowledging their past by wearing the old Springvale Football Club strip, the Casey Demons sing the song after defeating Collingwood in the Round 8 VFL match at Casey Fields.

CASEY Demons’ season is gaining traction, with last season’s grand finalists defeating Collingwood by 19 points on Saturday to climb into the VFL eight.

The Demons kicked six consecutive goals – four of them before halftime and two straight after the break – to set up the 15.12 (102) to 13.5 (83) win at Casey Fields.

After dropping four of the first five games, the Demons have won three in a row to improve their record to 4-4.

Melbourne defender Josh Wagner, playing his first game in seven weeks, was named best-on-ground.

“He played like an AFL player,’’ Casey coach Justin Plapp said of Wagner.

“His ability to take the ball forward and hit options was very good.’’

Melbourne-listed Ben Kennedy continued his impressive form, his hardness and ability to win the contested ball setting up Demon attacks.

Ben Kennedy of the burst for the Casey Demons.

Gus Borthwick of Collingwood (left) tackles a Casey Demons opponent.

Plapp was full of praise for Casey defender Jimmy Munro, who kept Collingwood’s leading goal scorer Kayle Kirby to two goals (both in the third term).

The lowlight for the Demons was an ankle injury to Tim Smith.

“It didn’t look great, for him to come off the ground under the duress he was in suggests there was something wrong there,’’ Plapp said.

Plapp said the win was an important step forward for his side.

“It was a pretty high-pressure game,’’ he said.

“I felt we set the game up in the first half.

“At some stage in the last quarter we were looking like we were in a bit of strife but to the players’ credit we were able to hang on. You take those wins, under a bit of duress.’’

Stephen Tahana of Collingwood is tackled.

Plapp said the Demons’ next three games – against Footscray, Box Hill Hawks and Port Melbourne - are season-defining.

“They are three teams in the top five,’’ he said.

“We are getting players back at the right time, our list is getting more healthy — from a Melbourne point of view as well. We are looking forward to the next three weeks but we will have to be at our best.

“I think if we keep continually chipping away and try and get our list as healthy as we can we can have a shot at the back end of the year.’’

Casey Demons 4.4, 8.8, 13.11,,15.12 (102) d Collingwood 3.1, 5.4, 8.5, 13.5 (83).

Goals: Fritsch 3, Kent 2, Stretch 2, Weideman 2, Lewis-Smith, Johnstone, Maynard, Trengove, Wagner, Smith.

Best: Wagner, Kennedy, Stretch, White, Weideman, Munro.