The GIANTS’ VFL side has stamped itself as an early-season premiership contender after a red-hot start and a monster third term saw them remain undefeated with a comfortable 53-point win over the Demons at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Coming off impressive wins over Williamstown and Sandringham prior to the league-wide VFL bye last week, the GIANTS scorched the Demons with a ruthless six goal to one opening quarter before taking it to another level after half-time with a clinical eight goal to one third term to see them run out 19.6 (120) to 9.13 (67) winners in hot conditions.

Up against a Casey side fielding the likes of regular AFL duo Jacob Van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch, the GIANTS’ pressure and ability to make the Demons pay for costly turnovers was too much for the home side to overcome as the GIANTS registered their third win from three starts thus far in 2025. 

Led early by another strong showing from emerging ruck Nick Madden (26 touches, 33 hit-outs, 12 clearances, one goal), the orange tsunami surged with a favourable wind in the opening term and despite some slight resistance from the Demons in the second stanza, were far too much for Casey to match over the four quarters.

Holding a 30-point lead at quarter time and a 26-point lead at the main break, the GIANTS incredible accuracy and ability to punish the Demons on counterattack was a sight to see as they outscored Casey 8.2 to 1.3 in the premiership quarter alone to take an unsurmountable 67-point lead into the final change.

The GIANTS were ruthless and incredibly efficient to start the clash, with Wayne Cripps’ men turning everything into gold as they kicked 5.1 from their first six inside 50s to race out to a five-goal lead only 15 minutes into the clash.

While the Demons showed some resistance in the second and final terms with the wind at their backs, the GIANTS’ clinical first and third terms saw them easily account for the Demons to firmly entrench themselves inside the top four after a 3-0 start to the season.

While Madden was dominant in the ruck – in which he had 18 touches, 18 hit-outs and seven clearances in an outstanding first half – it was exciting young goal-kicking duo Max Gruzewski (five goals) and Nathan Wardius (four goals) who starred up forward to continually cause headaches for Demons defenders on Saturday afternoon.

Continuing on their brilliant VFL form, Gruzewski was a beacon in attack all day and had four goals to his name by the half, while Wardius backed up his career-best eight-goal haul from two weeks ago with another brilliant performance as he pushes for an AFL debut.

VFL-listed GIANT James Lugsdin chimed in with three goals of his own in a brilliant VFL debut in GIANTS colours.

While the forwards were getting the rewards on the scoreboard it was the brilliance of the GIANTS’ backline which also played a huge role in Saturday’s big win, with James Leake, Wade Derksen and Leek Aleer in particular shining against the Demons.

Derksen (22 touches, eight marks) and Aleer (17 touches, seven marks) starred early as they repelled everything from the Demons to combine for 14 touches and eight marks in a brilliant opening term to help set the tone for a powerful performance from the GIANTS’ back six.

Often matched up against AFL regular Van Rooyen (one goal), Derksen won crucial one-on- one contests early and blanketed the young key forward while he was also able to help turn defence into attack on numerous occasions in a standout performance.

Matched up against Fritsch (one goal) for most of the day, Leake (27 touches, 11 marks) was similarly as impressive as he nullified Fritsch’ influence throughout the day, while also finding plenty of the footy himself to lead the GIANTS in both disposals and marks.

Leake’s performance down back highlights the youngster’s versatility after playing both up forward and through the middle so far this season in both the GIANTS’ AFL and VFL sides.

A host of fellow youngsters also carried on their strong starts to 2025 on Saturday, with Cody Angove (21 touches, seven marks, a goal), Harry Oliver (18 touches, seven marks), and Jack Ough (19 touches, five clearances) all solid contributors in victory.

Saturday’s win also saw the successful return of a trio of AFL-listed GIANTS, with Josh Fahey (20 touches), Ryan Angwin (13 touches), and Phoenix Gothard (10 touches, five tackles) all getting through unscathed and showing positive signs in their first games of the season following their respective recoveries from injury. 

Exciting Western Sydney draftee Josaia Delana (10 touches, one goal) also had his moments against the Demons as he continues to excite in his first year at the club.

Leading the way for the VFL-listed GIANTS alongside Lugsdin was midfielder Marc Sheather (16 touches, nine tackles, a goal) and brothers Louie and Harper Montgomery who combined for 30 touches and eight marks out of defence.

The GIANTS will look to remain undefeated in the VFL when they host Footscray in Blacktown next Sunday at midday.

VFL Round 4

GIANTS                     6.1   9.1 17.3 19.6 (120)
Casey Demons           1.1   4.5 5.8   9.13 (67) 

Goalkickers

GIANTS:  Gruzewski 5, Wardius 4, Lugsdin 3, Keeffe, Angove, Butson, Delana Hughes, Madden, Sheather
Casey Demons:  Laurie 2, Bonner, Cross, Fritsch, Johnson, Van Rooyen, Baldi, Sebstan