The GIANTS’ VFL side will enter this week’s bye sitting in second spot at 6-3 on the VFL table despite losing a tight battle with the Demons by 14 points at Casey Fields on Sunday.  

Played in tough and windy conditions, the sides traded blows and momentum for much of the contest until the Dees held on late to run out 12. 5 (77) to 9.9 (63) winners at home. 

While trailing for most of the second half, it was the GIANTS who landed the first few blows in Sunday’s contest as skipper Ryan Hebron finished off a nice team goal before some magic from Joey Delana found Billy Foster who kicked his first goal as a GIANT to give the visitors an early break on the road. 

The Dees were able to steady soon after however as Jake Melksham showed his class and his 250 games of AFL experience with a clever snap from the pocket for Casey’s first major of the day. 

While Hebron steadied the ship with a strong contested mark and goal for his second of the opening term, the Dees got red-hot with three quick majors in just four minutes to take their first lead of the day.  

After Riley Hamilton missed a shot from 30m out that he would normally kick, the exciting youngster made amends moments later as another beautiful inside 50 kick from Delana saw Hamilton go back and nail his second attempt from almost the exact same spot to give the GIANTS a one-point lead at the first break. 

While momentum continued to ebb and flow early in the second term, it was the deadly accurate Demons who made the most of their opportunities, kicking 4.0 to the GIANTS 1.2 to take a 15-point lead into the main break. 

It took almost 10 minutes for the first major of the second term but just then just two more minutes for the second, with the Dees grabbing back the lead through Thomas Matthews before some exciting dash and dare from Oskar Taylor found Hebron for his third to put the GIANTS back in front – and the fifth lead change of the day.  

The Dees flexed their muscles in retaliation, kicking three unanswered goals to see out the term and hold an 8.2 (50) to 5.5 (35) lead at the half.  

Despite trailing, Jack Ough was everywhere in a monster first half, tallying 20 disposals and six clearances in a huge start to his day after last week’s career-high 40 disposals.  

After giving up the opening goal of the second half the GIANTS found themselves down by as much as 22 in the third term before storming back into the contest through two goals to Riley Dillon and a classy finish from James Bell to level the scores at the last change and set up a thrilling final quarter.  

The GIANTS continued to fire to start the final term as Sam McMeeken’s major made it four straight goals for Robbie Chancellor’s side to hold a six-point lead early in the last term.  

As both sides had done all day however, Casey hit back through quick goals to Max Mapley and Luker Kentfield as the Dees snatched back the lead at the midway mark of a gripping final term.  

While the GIANTS continued to fight and give themselves numerous opportunities to score, both sides went goalless over the next 15 minutes until the Dees finally broke the drought at the 28-minute mark through a classy running goal to Ethan Stanley which proved to be the sealer as Casey held on a for a gritty 14-point win at home.  

Despite the loss the GIANTS had winners all across the park on Sunday, with Ough (32 disposals, 17 contested possessions, six clearances), Harry Rowston (28 disposals, seven marks), and Bell (25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six tackles, seven clearances, one goal) all brilliant around the ball. 

James Leake (14 disposals, 11 intercepts) also starred in his role on nullifying Melksham, limiting the super experienced Demon to just 10 disposals and one goal in a brilliant shutdown effort.  

Despite leaving some goals on the table, Hebron (12 disposals, seven marks, 3.3) was another to have a major impact, with the skipper strong in the air [three contested marks] while adding three more majors to continue his strong campaign.  

Harvey Hooper (18 disposals, nine tackles) was classy and inventive as always, while Delana (19 disposals, four tackles, six inside 50s) was a headache for Dees defenders all day as he helped create plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates.  

Louie Montgomery was another to continue his brilliant season down back, picking up 23 disposals, five marks, and an equal team-high 12 intercept possessions.  

Hamilton (18 disposals, one goal) also had a strong impact, despite ending his incredible run of multiple goals in each of the first eight games of the season.  

Finn Davis (21 disposals, five marks) and Taylor (19 disposals, six marks) were solid down back yet again, as was Nick Kelly (23 disposals) who found plenty of the footy while equalling Montgomery’s team-high 12 intercept possession.  

Now sitting at 6-3 nearing the midway point of the season, the GIANTS will enter a bye this week before taking on the Seagulls in Williamstown in round 13.  

VFL ROUND 10 

Casey 4.2 8.2 9.3 12. 5 (77) 

GIANTS   4.3 5.5 8.9 9.9 (63) 

GOALKICKERS   

Casey: Luker Kentfield 4, Jake Melksham, Kalani White, Jobe Scapin, Thomas Matthews, Louis Hodder, Max Heath, Ethan Stanley, Joel Fitzgerald 

GIANTS: Ryan Hebron 3, Riley Dillon 2, Riley Hamilton, Billy Foster, James Bell, Sam McMeeken