CASEY Demons set up a mouth-watering battle against Footscray for VFL flag favouritism when they overwhelmed a gallant Sydney by 40 points at Casey Fields on Sunday.

The underdog Swans dominated the first quarter as they won the clearances and produced plenty of run and carry, but their forwards wasted the opportunity by kicking four behinds and two out on the full, all from relatively simple chances.

Trailing at quarter-time after Casey’s Mitch Brown kicked the only goal, Sydney stuck with its more fancied opponent and took a one-point lead into the main break after Sam Gray and boom youngster Logan McDonald goaled in the final two minutes.

Experienced pair Gray (31) and Lewis Taylor (28) were in sensational touch, winning 59 disposals and laying 10 tackles between them and carrying youngsters Malachy Carruthers (26) and James Bell (24) with them to have the Demons on the back foot.

Colin O’Riordan (29 touches, 11 marks) and Ryan Hebron (17, 10) were excellent across half back, while former Demon Will Collis was lively on the wing and ruckmen Sam Naismith and Callum Sinclair had the better of Majak Daw and debutant Jack Bell.

Kaiden Brand was also outstanding at full-back, blanketing Ben Brown (four disposals, no shots at goal) while taking eight marks and having 15 touches of his own.

But after a Harry Morrison goal put Sydney eight points up seven minutes into the third quarter, the Demons’ powerful line-up was finally stung into action and the Swans couldn’t keep pace.

Casey kicked the next eight goals to take complete control as Jimmy Munro (25, two goals) found support in the middle from Tom Sparrow, Nathan Jones and Toby Bedford. Jay Lockhart (27) cut through the Swans with precision ball use off half-back, Oskar Baker (27, one goal) proved unstoppable on his wing and Mitch Brown got on top up forward and should have done better than his 2.5.

Naismith (27 hitouts) got through a full game for Sydney in his second appearance after a knee reconstruction, while McDonald was mostly held by 100-gamer Jack Hutchins but still finished with seven marks and three goals.

The Demons travel to Whitten Oval on Sunday for a massive clash against the Bulldogs, with both teams sitting on 5-0 with percentages in excess of 200 for a match that will decide premiership favouritism a third of the way through the season.

Werribee recorded the biggest victory in its VFA/VFL history with a 160-point annihilation of a hapless Northern Bullants at Preston City Oval.

The Tigers showed their intentions with 10 goals to one in the first quarter and continued on their merry way before finishing with another eight goals to one in the last term.

Werribee beat its previous best win of 148 points against Frankston in 2002, their best away win of 136 against Coburg in 1993 and kicked its highest score since booting 31.14 (200) against Tasmania in Round 6, 2007.

Tom Gribble and Matt Hanson had 32 disposals each and Wylie Buzza (25, four goals) was unstoppable early alongside Ryan Kemp (four goals), while Harry Stubbings and Nick Hayes returned 21 and three goals each.

Shaun Mannagh kicked five second-half goals to complete the rout and lift the Tigers to 3-2 and a percentage above 200 after starting the season 0-2.

Glenn Strachan (31) and Matt King (24, 10 marks) tried hard for the Bullants.

Box Hill Hawks crushed Carlton by 84 points at Ikon Park after kicking 13 goals to three in the first half.

Jon Ceglar had 24 touches and 33 hitouts, Vincent Adduci kicked five goals, Brayden Kilpatrick had 34 possessions and Emerson Jeka took 13 marks and kicked 2.2 to lift the Hawks to 4-2 and sixth on the ladder.

Matt Kennedy compiled 28 touches and 13 marks to be the Blues’ best, while 2019 first-round pick Brodie Kemp (18 disposals) got through his VFL debut after knee and ankle injuries.

SUNDAY, MAY 23

Carlton 6.10 (46) lost to Box Hill Hawks 19.16 (130)

Casey Demons 12.13 (85) def Sydney 6.9 (45)

Northern Bullants 3.5 (23) lost to Werribee 27.21 (183)

SATURDAY, MAY 22

Brisbane Lions 12.8 (80) lost to Richmond 21.16 (142)

GWS Giants 11.9 (75) def Port Melbourne 9.12 (66)

Aspley 12.10 (82) lost to Sandringham 14.9 (93)

Essendon 11.4 (70) lost to North Melbourne 12.13 (85)

FRIDAY, MAY 21

Southport 17.14 (116) def Gold Coast 5.3 (33)

Frankston 5.17 (47) lost to Footscray 19.14 (128)

THURSDAY, MAY 20

Geelong 15.15 (105) def Coburg 7.6 (48)