On the face of it the game against the bottom team in the competition should be a win … but never take anything for granted. The rest of the fixture is reasonable with a tough final game against the Lions. The Casey Demons have to win all four remaining games if they want to make the top four.

Might be televised?

14 hours ago, KC from Casey said:

On the face of it the game against the bottom team in the competition should be a win … but never take anything for granted. The rest of the fixture is reasonable with a tough final game against the Lions. The Casey Demons have to win all four remaining games if they want to make the top four.

I agree that Casey need to win all 4 games to finish Top 4. Am re-posting my post from Casey Round 17 Bye thread:

The VFL is a strange beast with 21 teams playing (basically because Aspley dropped out of the comp before the 2022 season even started). The VFL was re-configured that year and included 6 teams (which became 5) from the former NEAFL (Aspley, Southport, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney & GWS). Basically it covers the entire East Coast. Port & Adelaide Reserves playing in the SANFL & West Coast & Fremantle (actually their affiiiate Peel Thunder) play in the WAFL:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Football_League_reserves_affiliations

I don't understand why there needs to be 4 byes (Casey's are/were in Rounds 8, 13, 17 & 20). Each team plays 18 rounds so they don't even get to play each other once. Obviously it would be preferable for everything to line up with the AFL but I guess that's impossible with 7 standalone VFL teams. As VFL players aren't full-timers it wouldn't be feasible for them to travel to SA & WA to play. As it is I don't know how you could be on a VFL list in NSW or Queensland and travel interstate nearly every 2nd week (a similar problem in the other direction but there's 16 teams in Melbourne/Geelong, 2 in Sydney and 3 in Brisbane/Gold Coast).

This year there's a Wildcard Round. Accordingly, finishing Top 4 or definitely Top 6 at worst is especially important. It could come down to the last round for Casey against Brisbane to get that 4th spot.   


 

The best chance of finishing Top 4 is to get ahead of Brisbane. B have a massively better percentage than C but have drawn a game so their percentage is irrelevant. They play Gold Coast away R19 and GC would be favoured as the top team. They then play Casey in the last round at Casey, so if Casey win all their games and Brisbane lose to Gold Coast Casey finish 4th, Brisbane 5th.

Casey are likely to finish Top 6 at worst and then would get a week's rest and play a Wildcard winner. The 5th & 6th teams have a big advantage over the WC teams in my view, even if all sides playing are likely to be Victorian (assuming Casey's one of them).

The VFL & AFL Finals are out-of-sync with the VFL running a week earlier but on the positive side Casey should be playing a Final on the weekend of the AFL pre-finals bye which may help with tuning up players  & finalising selections for AFL Finals.

Anyway, let's start the process with a big win over Coburg 😀     

Edited July 20, 20232 yr by Sydney_Demon
Typos

2 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

Might be televised?

you can watch them all through the AFL app and you can cast them to your tv if you have the means. for free

2 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

Might be televised?

Not sure.

I do know the revolution won't be.

(Note: jokes aside, all vfl games streamed on afl.com)

2 hours ago, biggestred said:

you can watch them all through the AFL app and you can cast them to your tv if you have the means. for free

Yes, I know. I normally watch the AFL live stream, but televised is preferred as you get much better coverage and replays of goals, tackles etc

On 7/20/2023 at 11:01 AM, Sydney_Demon said:

I agree that Casey need to win all 4 games to finish Top 4. Am re-posting my post from Casey Round 17 Bye thread:

The VFL is a strange beast with 21 teams playing (basically because Aspley dropped out of the comp before the 2022 season even started). The VFL was re-configured that year and included 6 teams (which became 5) from the former NEAFL (Aspley, Southport, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney & GWS). Basically it covers the entire East Coast. Port & Adelaide Reserves playing in the SANFL & West Coast & Fremantle (actually their affiiiate Peel Thunder) play in the WAFL:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Football_League_reserves_affiliations

I don't understand why there needs to be 4 byes (Casey's are/were in Rounds 8, 13, 17 & 20). Each team plays 18 rounds so they don't even get to play each other once. Obviously it would be preferable for everything to line up with the AFL but I guess that's impossible with 7 standalone VFL teams. As VFL players aren't full-timers it wouldn't be feasible for them to travel to SA & WA to play. As it is I don't know how you could be on a VFL list in NSW or Queensland and travel interstate nearly every 2nd week (a similar problem in the other direction but there's 16 teams in Melbourne/Geelong, 2 in Sydney and 3 in Brisbane/Gold Coast).

This year there's a Wildcard Round. Accordingly, finishing Top 4 or definitely Top 6 at worst is especially important. It could come down to the last round for Casey against Brisbane to get that 4th spot.   

The biggest drawback is the fact that the clubs don’t play each other once during the season. In Casey’s case, that means they miss out on a couple of potentially easy games against Northern Bullants and Porr Melbourne. Fingers crossed that they’re in a winning frame for the rest of the season.

Left for overseas yesterday so will miss this one

Pirhana Park, Coburg is a lovely well located ground. If nearby get along. The local craft brewer used to have a tent there for those who like a beer. Parking should not be hard either in the car park or in the side streets and a short walk to the ground.

IN Z. Duursma K. Farris-White G. Grey B. Grundy M. Hibberd C. Spargo J.Smith

OUT R. Baldi K. Chandler B. Howes N. Moodie A. Tomlinson J. van Rooyen

Is Blake Howes this week's mystery injury?

7 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Is Blake Howes this week's mystery injury?

IIRC, he went off late in the last game with what appeared to be a hammy.  It was later ‘diagnosed’ as a severe cramp, and nothing to be concerned about.  Maybe it was something to be concerned about.

49 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Is Blake Howes this week's mystery injury?

As predicted by me exclusively on Tuesday in the injury thread,  … “The scene is perfectly set for a couple of Mystery Injuries of the Week.” Harry Petty was down as a test and hasn’t come up but the real mystery is Blake Howes which is a pity because he was coming close to earning an AFL game.

44 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

IIRC, he went off late in the last game with what appeared to be a hammy.  It was later ‘diagnosed’ as a severe cramp, and nothing to be concerned about.  Maybe it was something to be concerned about.

Hopefully it’s not a slight hammy like Oliver’s 🙄

Good chance to watch potential recruit Zane Duursma in action again for Casey.

5 minutes ago, Nascent said:

Good chance to watch potential recruit Zane Duursma in action again for Casey.

We don't want him to play too well. We need to be able to get him at 4 of 5 (go Swannies). The problem is this should be a demolition job and everyone's going to look good 😀.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

IN Z. Duursma K. Farris-White G. Grey B. Grundy M. Hibberd C. Spargo J.Smith

OUT R. Baldi K. Chandler B. Howes N. Moodie A. Tomlinson J. van Rooyen

Playing Faris White with Verall suggests Grundy will play a lot key forward.

Edited July 21, 20232 yr by Redleg

I wonder if Grundy will ruck when it’s a forward stoppage? I guess grabbing out of the ruck and kicking goals is good practice as well? 

4 hours ago, KC from Casey said:

The biggest drawback is the fact that the clubs don’t play each other once during the season. In Casey’s case, that means they miss out on a couple of potentially easy games against Northern Bullants and Port Melbourne. Fingers crossed that they’re in a winning frame for the rest of the season.

I hadn't looked that closely at Casey's fixture this year. I know Casey are defending premiers and lost only one game last year but to not play the 16th & 21st teams seems particularly harsh. I can understand not playing the Bullants but surely the other team should have been mid-table at worst. After copping that draw finishing 5th will be particularly hard to take.

I know that a 21-team comp must be hard to fixture, but surely it would have been possible to do 20 games 2 byes, or 20 games 3 byes and start a week earlier (VFL started a week later than AFL). 4 byes when only 2 more games are needed to play everyone once is nonsensical.

Edited July 21, 20232 yr by Sydney_Demon
typo

I fully understand there’s no alternative, but I am a tad concerned that Brodie’s inclusion may hinder Jefferson’s progress.

i hark back to the days of James Cook and Fevola. BTW not only was I at the ‘186 game’ but I sat through the pre-match (VFL) where the result was similar. The two aforementioned players ‘featured’ in that game.

40 minutes ago, M_9 said:

I fully understand there’s no alternative, but I am a tad concerned that Brodie’s inclusion may hinder Jefferson’s progress.

i hark back to the days of James Cook and Fevola. BTW not only was I at the ‘186 game’ but I sat through the pre-match (VFL) where the result was similar. The two aforementioned players ‘featured’ in that game.

Sharing forward duties with brodie for 2 or 3 games wont do much harm to the airplane's progress.

1 hour ago, M_9 said:

I fully understand there’s no alternative, but I am a tad concerned that Brodie’s inclusion may hinder Jefferson’s progress.

i hark back to the days of James Cook and Fevola. BTW not only was I at the ‘186 game’ but I sat through the pre-match (VFL) where the result was similar. The two aforementioned players ‘featured’ in that game.

Jefferson plays a much more mobile TF role a bit like the Duke.  Completely different forward craft here so should be fine.

He might actually find Grundy handy as a bit of a launching pad.

@KC from Casey  Just inquiring whether there was any consultation with the VFL Clubs before introducing the Wildcard Round this year?

Imagine being a player for Coburg and seeing the ins for Casey. 

I hate the way the VFL has been merged with the Reserves.

Tomorrow I get to watch the Demons Reserves (aka Casey) play a torpedo punt* from my home. But I'll feel like a goddamn traitor when my Coburg drinking buddies see me in red and blue. Any other week I support the Lions.

Coburg Lions are really struggling this year. It's hard to compete against AFL clubs and professional athletes. 

All Demon fans going to Coburg, please eat as many snags and chips as you can, and drink the Coburg Lager. Help keep the Lions viable. 

* I'm probably talking 5 x Malcolm Blight torps if I'm honest