Casey Demons VFLW

[Whispering_Jack 30,580]

It’s been a tough start for the Casey Demons in their 2024 VFLW campaign. They improved last week after an opening round thrashing but today it was a W.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,271]

We think there's fixture distortion in the mens' comps! What about this in the VFLW?! Check out the games played and the percentages.

May as well book the Showgrounds, put the orange and charcoal and red and white ribbons on the cup, and engrave it with 'Greater Western Sydney' now.

 

[Meggs 597]

20 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

We think there's fixture distortion in the mens' comps! What about this in the VFLW?! Check out the games played and the percentages.

May as well book the Showgrounds, put the orange and charcoal and red and white ribbons on the cup, and engrave it with 'Greater Western Sydney' now.

 

Hey Tim

Fixture distortion indeed.

The VFLW Season 2024 fixture featured Sydney and GWS for the very first time.

It gave these teams the opportunity to play some competitive footy heading into the AFLW season.

The 5 game ‘experiment’ took place against AFLW-aligned clubs from Rounds 3-7.

The Victorian-based VFLW opposition sides fielded just a handful of AFLW players and unsurprisingly 80-point thrashings resulted.  

One exception was Collingwood who won by 2 points as they played 15 AFLW players v 19 from Sydney.

The two NSW coaches were disappointed that the opposition clubs did not field more AFLW-listed players. 

The tragedy is that percentage counted in these ‘incursion’ matches which hurts Casey who lost to the Swans by 85 points.

On the bright side the Swans and GWS AFLW teams won’t be playing any more VFLW games and no finals appearances for them either. 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,271]

I gave you the 'Thanks' emoji, @Meggs, but here's some more fulsome thanks, too.

That percentage aspect is a crock! I presume the Giants and Swans played in 2 separate pools, so that all the other teams played one of them, otherwise it's a supercrock!

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,271]

Clutching. Straws. Yeah, I know.

Nonetheless, a small smile is allowed...

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1570243/vflw-dees-nab-thrilling-win

[Meggs 597]

6 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Clutching. Straws. Yeah, I know.

Nonetheless, a small smile is allowed...

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1570243/vflw-dees-nab-thrilling-win

Hi Tim,

Meggs ventured to Ikon Park on a perfect Saturday afternoon for the important VFLW clash. 

It was an entertaining match especially while simultaneously listening to a vocal group of injured Casey players trading banter with their playing teammates. 

The language of the Irish players was as colourful as their football.  Sheerin (5) playing her last game before heading home and O’Neill (19) kicked 3 goals between them and were influential all day.  Midfielders McDonald (18) and Mitchell (21) were stand outs too.  

In the end it was a great win by a close-knit group.

Casey is currently 6^th on the ladder with 5 and half wins.  There are 3 games remaining (14-game season) and we play 2 teams below us on the ladder at Casey Fields (Collingwood and St Kilda). The other game is against the second-placed Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.

Hopefully 2 wins sees Casey make finals.

No Melbourne AFLW players played in the VFLW match given preseason starts in full swing this week. 

Melbourne’s AFLW season starts with Round 1 on Saturday night, 31 August 2024 at the upgraded Mordor (GMHBA) Stadium. 

So, lots of work to do between now and then.   

One week at a time ... 😊 

[Meggs 597]

VFLW Season 2024 Review

MFC has posted a Casey Media article on Season 2024:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1609918/vflw-2024-season-review

By the numbers

• VFLW Season 2024 was a 14-game season.
• Casey ended the season in 8th place (out of 14 teams). 
• With 5 wins, one draw and a percentage of 62.4%, Casey ended up just 1 game but a whopping 51.2% outside the Top-6.
• An experimental fixture included a ‘5-game incursion’ by GWS and Sydney against the other teams playing 14 games.
• Stacked with AFLW-listed players GWS (415.3%) and Sydney (345.5%) won (mostly) by huge margins which distorted every team’s percentage.
• Casey lost to Sydney by 85 points in Round 5.

VFLW finals

• North finished 4th during home and away but won 3 straight finals games to be the 2024 VFLW premiers.
• North trounced Essendon in Week 1 and then defeated minor premiers, Williamstown, to through to the Grand Final.
• Western Bulldogs (who finished 2nd) did it the hard way, losing to Willy in Week 1, then defeating Port Melbourne in the Semi Final, then turning the tables on Willy in the Prelim.
• The Grand Final between the Kangas and the Bulldogs had both groups of supporters on edge.   North got out to 31-point lead midway through the 2nd quarter but the Doggies bit hard and drew level by ¾ time.  However North kicked 2 quick goals early in the last quarter to eventually win by 20 points. 

Casey Season highlights

Round 3: last gasp defeat of eventual premiers North at Arden Street by 3 points.

• Several AFLW-listed players helped out that day.  Lampy was simply outstanding in the midfield.
• We got to see Lily Johnson, Ryleigh Wotherspoon and Delany Madigan in action. 
• All three impressed with Wotherspoon instrumental in kicking the ball deep to Joanna Lin who marked and converted for the win.

Round 4: defeat of reigning premiers Port Melbourne at Casey Fields by 23 points.

• With 8 AFLW-listed players, Casey was super competitive on this day. 
• Sarah Lampard again starred with great support from Tahlia Gillard in the ruck and Meg McDonald busy in the midfield.

Round 7: draw against the eventual 2024 minor premiers Williamstown at Casey Fields. 

• On that day the Casey' coach's 17-year-old daughter, and Oakleigh Chargers player, Charlotte Brewer, made her VFLW debut. 
• With 18 disposals and 7 tackles she really impressed on the wing against a super physical team in Willy. 
• Charlotte is the granddaughter of Melbourne 121 game / 196 goal half-forward Ross Brewer.

Season overview

Coach Matt Brewer rued the number of injuries, lack of depth and available talent at times during the season.  He challenged the playing group with a new game style this year and says it will be a learning curve for the team over the coming years. 

Meggs was really impressed by young players, ruck Lauren Jatczak from Northern Knights and small Tylah Burn who was racking up the possession numbers prior to suffering a syndesmosis injury. 

The coach also mentioned promising youngster Alexi Kasteliotis who debuted in 2024.  Offseason recruiting targeting leg speed across the ground will help.

2023 offseason AFLW recruits, Meg McDonald (Richmond), Joanna Lin (Collingwood), Sarah D'Arcy (Richmond), were all instrumental in driving Casey forward. 

Meg McDonald would have to be a heavy Casey B&F favourite.  It’s hard to believe she is not on an AFLW list. 

Retirement

Ex AFLW Dee Sammie Johnson, who was a tower of strength all year, has announced her retirement.  She will be missed, and we wish her well.

Goalkickers

Talented Irish player Niamh O'Neill finished 6th in the VFLW goalkicking table with 15.  While dynamo small forward Jo Lin kicked 10 goals from 10 games.

AFLW-listed players at Casey

As part of their off-season management, 12 Melbourne AFLW-listed players donned the Casey jumper during season 2024 (games):

• Alyssa Bannan (2), Georgia Campbell (1), Maeve Chaplin (1), Georgia Gall (3), Tahlia Gillard (3), Grace Hill (3), Lily Johnson (5), Sarah Lampard (2), Delany Madigan (4), Jemma Rigoni (4), Saraid Taylor (2), Ryleigh Wotherspoon (4)

AFLW preseason

It’s only a month before Melbourne’s first match of the 2024 AFLW season against the Cats on Saturday, 31 August 2024, at the upgraded Mordor (GMHBA) Stadium. 

The team has been busy integrating lots of new faces at training, Goldie is back from Ireland, and it will be fascinating to see how our team lines up in the upcoming practice games (especially the backline).  

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1598499/aflw-practice-matches-announced

Practice and match simulation games have been announced

• Friday 9 August (5:00pm AEST), Melbourne returns to IKON Park to take on Carlton, the first time the teams have gone head-to-head since Round 5 in Season 7.
• Sunday 18 August (11:30am AEST) the team plays Port Adelaide at Alberton.  This will be the first interstate club trip for a number of first-year players.  This match will be live-streamed on the club’s site.

Go Demons!

[poita 3,902]

We may regret not giving some of our players more VFL games this year. In such a short season, the consequences of not being close to top form by round 1 can be significant.

Some clubs, such as Hawthorn, I believe gave their players a lot of VFL games, so it will be interesting to see their early season form.