25 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

You are joking aren’t you? The AFL side has to be the number 1 priority 

I guess the argument is the lack of match fitness guys like Hibberd, Tomlinson, Jordon, Spargo etc will have if they are required to play in the afl team.

We make prelim and those guys won't have had a real game in over a month. We can do intraclubs but there's an element of dancing with your cousin there while injury risk still remains high.

I can see arguments both ways.

Edited September 1, 20232 yr by Nascent

Collingwood's ins and outs:

IN: Dean, Longmire, Mulvogue
OUT: Ashwin, McInnes, Carmichael

From the CFC website:

The side is littered with AFL listed talent, with Ash Johnson and Nathan Kreuger the spearheads up forward, while Trent Bianco and Trey Ruscoe have been consistent ball-winners across the back half.

Edited September 1, 20232 yr by Diamond_Jim

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

The following players are being held back in case they get called up to play for the Dees 5 days later.

B. Grundy, J. Jordon, T. McDonald, J. Schache, C. Spargo, T. Woewodin (AFL)

Can't have them play a full game, a final no less, against the Bulldogs on Saturday and then expect them to potentially play in a massive final on Thursday.

As to the rules, I always thought that as long as the senior side was still in you could play anyone no matter how many games they had played.

Someone else will be able to elaborate on what the amount of games that you have to have played if your senior side is out.

All were eligible to play.

31 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Collingwood's ins and outs:

IN: Dean, Longmire, Mulvogue
OUT: Ashwin, McInnes, Carmichael

From the CFC website:

The side is littered with AFL listed talent, with Ash Johnson and Nathan Kreuger the spearheads up forward, while Trent Bianco and Trey Ruscoe have been consistent ball-winners across the back half.

Collingwood also have Moore, Murphy and McCreery to come in and 3 coming out for them who are not named in the VFL side.

If we are being charitable:

McDonald comes in for Melk.

Perhaps Grundy and Schache are held over for Fritsch or for Gawn.

Hibberd in case we need a defender.

JJ if we need an on ball. Woey for the wing.

Spargo if we need a small forward.

But 6 hold overs is a lot. Barring a couple of unknown or late injuries that’s more than the emergencies.

Grundy, Hibbo and one of the mid/forwards would’ve been enough. 

White flag here. 

Bulldogs by 6+ goals 

 

19 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

If we are being charitable:

McDonald comes in for Melk.

Perhaps Grundy and Schache are held over for Fritsch or for Gawn.

Hibberd in case we need a defender.

JJ if we need an on ball. Woey for the wing.

Spargo if we need a small forward.

But 6 hold overs is a lot. Barring a couple of unknown or late injuries that’s more than the emergencies.

Grundy, Hibbo and one of the mid/forwards would’ve been enough. 

Tomlinson Hibbo Schache Grundy Spargo Woey JJ Tmcd … that’s 8 eligible that are held out.   Retired for the season. 
 

Harmesy must be really on the outer !!! 

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

IN Bell, Valentine, McRae, Briggs, Emile-Brennan, Toledo, Farris-White

OUT Grundy, Spargo, Schache, Jordon, McDonald, Woewodin, Dunstan (ACL).

According to the Melbourne Football Club website:

“As Melbourne have the pre-finals bye, some AFL listed players become ineligible to play this week in the VFL.

“Melbourne have also decided to rest some of the AFL listed players due to the sahort break between the VFL match and the AFL final on Thursday night”.

So, with the exception of the injured Luke Dunstan, the players coming out of the side are either ineligible to play according to the guidelines (whatever they are) or have been held back in case they are required. 

One can probably assume that if Ben Brown or Michael Hibberd have been ruled fit to play, the  same thing applies to them. 

We’ve all been scratching our heads this week about the guidelines but it’s fairly clear that they’re irrelevant to Melbourne. However, what is clear is that the club has plenty of depth going into the finals with at least 6 players in contention for selection on top of the 22 fit players from the Sydney game plus Adam Tomlinson. Then there are BBB and Hibbo possibly for later on and James Harmes still a chance if he can join Mitch White, Jimmy Munro and Matt Buntine as an on ground leader and show us the form he’s capable of as an MFC premiership player. Good luck Harmesy!

As to the guidelines, I think it’s worthwhile someone calling Channel 7 and requesting that their commentators explain how players become eligible to play in the finals series they are covering.

No need to go to Box Hill now.

27 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Harmesy must be really on the outer !!! 

Harmsey has had an up and down season and yes, with the current team set up, he probably is aware that he’s only an outside chance of fighting his way back into the side for the finals. So what better way to do so than by taking responsibility and showing his best form for Casey tomorrow? I wish him good luck!

I am certainly perplexed as to why Josh Schache isn't playing for the Casey Demons this weekend?!

The likelihood of him playing AFL finals is extremely low. It would of been more beneficial to play him in the VFL finals against Footscray.

Anyway, it will be interesting how Matt Jefferson and some of the other young draftees go for Casey over the weekend.

19 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

I am certainly perplexed as to why Josh Schache isn't playing for the Casey Demons this weekend?!

The likelihood of him playing AFL finals is extremely low. It would of been more beneficial to play him in the VFL finals against Footscray.

Anyway, it will be interesting how Matt Jefferson and some of the other young draftees go for Casey over the weekend.

Perplexed … I’m amazed !!! I’m stunned !!!

I think the AFL decision for a Thursday game is the problem.

If either game was Friday night instead, these players could probably get a run.

That would improve the quality of the AFL finals and the VFL product too (obviously less important to them)

Ye of little faith, we’ll win anyway!!!

Going in with a fistful of optimism and looking forward to Jefferson getting a forward line to himself. Hoping he plays with presence and we get to see how he likes to operate without a bunch of trundling champs taking his lanes. Kick a bag son! 

Elimination Final Gameday 

Its backs against the wall. The selectors have spoken and while it’s disappointing that the best available team will not take the field today at Box Hill and the Casey Demons will now start as rank underdog against a team that on a 10 game winning streak, there’s a saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. 

The team out there today will still be led by experienced hands in Mitch White, James Munro and Matt Buntine along with AFL Premiership player and local hero James Harmes. George Grey, Roan Steele, Jack Bell, Ryan Valentine, Tyler Edwards and Tom Freeman lead the Casey charge and the young future Demons on the Club’s AFL list have their opportunity to show their wares today. The likes of Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Deaykin Smith, Matt Jefferson, Jed Adams, Will Verrall, Kye Turner and beanpole Kyah Farris-White (who signed a contract extension this week) all have their opportunity to shine today. It won’t be easy but let’s not forget that stand alone Werribee, without any AFL listed players, finished second on the VFL ladder and comfortably accounted for the Bulldogs earlier this season.

So get down to Box Hill City Oval and support the team.

All the odds are against us but we are the Casey Demons.

The forecast suggests Melk’s replacement should be a medium or small (preferably Laurie). But if Melk is replaced by Tom Mac, Laurie stays the sub, Grundy, Jordon and Woewodin the emergencies.

Schache is nowhere near it. Give Schache and Spargo a full game for Casey. Jordon and Woewodin play half games for Casey, surely they’ll be fine five days after a half game, if one of them happens to be needed.

I wonder if the selection committee has been spooked by losing two players to ACLs on the same day? But that was an incredibly unlucky day. How often has that happened?

Edited September 1, 20232 yr by napster

BROADCAST DETAILS

All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App. Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast both elimination finals live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. The coverage begins with Footscray Bulldogs vs Casey Demons at 12:00pm, followed by Williamstown vs Collingwood at 3:00pm. You can also stream the game live and free on 𝐀𝐅𝐋.𝐜𝐨𝐦.𝐚𝐮 and 𝐀𝐅𝐋 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐩𝐩!

Whether you’re at the game or watching on screen, I please encourage posters to post scores and their thoughts during the game to keep Demonland apprised on the game. I’ll be there as well to provide scores from time to time as well.

39 minutes ago, napster said:

Schache is nowhere near it. Give Schache and Spargo a full game for Casey. Jordon and Woewodin play half games for Casey, surely they’ll be fine five days after a half game, if one of them happens to be needed.

I’m only guessing, but they are probably  using a squad mentality when it comes to not playing any of the players you’ve mentioned napster.

Monday is the main training session, probably want around 28 fresh bodies for it. 

Does anyone know, what has happened to Baldi?

Anything about Burgoyne?

Edited September 2, 20232 yr by kev martin

On 8/28/2023 at 7:39 PM, Blistering said:

Major advantage to the Bulldogs who had a rest at the weekend playing against a team coming off a six-day break. Typical VFL - no consideration for a fair competition.

You picked it, Blister (as they say "I'll show myself out"). Include the timing for the AFL game, and the VFL H&A fixture, this comp is compromised. 

Go Dees.

Edited September 2, 20232 yr by kev martin

1 hour ago, kev martin said:

Does anyone know, what has happened to Baldi?

Anything about Burgoyne?

Yes l wondered about Burgoyne a while ago too.l presume he went home to Adelaide?

Heath Briggs first game for Casey since 2019

Doing a trade show today, you guys will have to keep me up to date.

What's happened to Baldi guys?