By DAVID NAGEL
SUPPORTERS of the Casey Cardinia Football League can hold their heads high after their interleague side put up a magnificent performance to down a gritty Wimmera League by 12 points in their VCFL Championship clash at City Oval Horsham.
The win, built on a fierce desire by every player to win each and every contest, took the Demons to 14th on the VCFL rankings and headed for a likely match-up with the Bellarine league next year.
The Demons started well with Tooradin ruckman Rohan Hyde palming to Pakenham skipper Steve O’Bryan for the opening clearance of the match.
Pakenham’s Beau Wheeler then found Cranbourne hot-shot Marc Holt with a brilliant pass a short time later and the Demons were away.
The opening term was played at a very high tempo; big hits and courage from players like Narre Warren’s Michael Collins and Berwick’s Michael Harold kept the Demons in the contest while the efforts of Cranbourne’s Matt Thompson, ROC’s Ben Tivendale and Doveton’s Daniel Zajac gave the backline a solid feel.
The Wimmera kicked three goals in red time to take a 16-point lead to the first break.
Berwick youngster Jordy Andrews opened proceedings early in the second term before the Wimmera responded twice to take a dangerous four-goal lead.
Cranbourne’s Justin Berry sensed trouble and lifted his game, his ability to win centre clearances gave the Demons the impetus to kick four unanswered goals and take an unlikely three-point lead to half-time.
Hyde, Collins and Harold were magnificent for the Demons while the effort of Narre Warren youngster Matt Lee to win some crucial contests on centre wing was truly inspirational.
Wimmera started strongly in the third term kicking three of the first four goals to open up a 13-point lead, before Holt put on a marking clinic.
The burly full-forward had the Wimmera crowd in awe, clunking marks at will as he kicked four for the quarter to give the Demons a four-point lead at three-quarter time.
The last quarter was something special.
Wimmera took back the lead before a remarkable Collins’ goal from outside 50 saw the Demons respond.
Casey Cardinia dominated possession but couldn’t convert as Wimmera hung on for dear life.
The teams went goal for goal for the remainder of the quarter and it was only when O’Bryan kicked truly after a brilliant passage of play that took the ball from one end of the ground to the other, that the Demons looked home.
Holt was superb with his seven goals, while Andrews, Harold and Beaconsfield’s Troy McDermott all contributed two each.
Collins, not surprisingly, was a battering ram all day, while Hyde, Harold, Lee, and Thompson and Zajac down back were fantastic contributors all day.
In fact, every player contributed in a significant way on a great and proud day for Casey Cardinia football.
