WILDCARDS by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,101]

Casey’s season continued to drift into helplessness on Sunday when they lost another home game by a narrow margin, this time six points, in their Round 13 clash with North Melbourne’s VFL combination.

The game was in stunning contrast to their last meeting at the same venue when Casey won the VFL Wildcard Match by 101 points. Back then, their standout players were Brodie Grundy and James Jordon who are starring in the AFL with ladder leaders, the Sydney Swans (it turned out to be their last game in the red and blue). Tom McDonald was in fine fettle as was Jimmy Munro who was closing in on retirement.

When the tables were turned on Sunday, there were very few constants for the Casey Demons. One was Mitch White, still the skipper, the workhorse with 27 disposals and a well-earned goal: the man who pushed himself to his fullest capacity but who sadly missed his partner-in-crime Munro. The other was former NGA draftee Andy Moniz-Wakefield  who kicked four goals in that game but has since been moved down back with the odd run through the middle where he has been dominating but mysteriously, he rarely gets a mention for AFL honours. He did it again this time with his 35 disposals, four marks and three tackles, giving the team every opportunity to score a win. His time must come soon.

One improver from that final is forward Matt Jefferson, a youngster whose body was tiring at the end of a long season and who managed a few behinds in the Wildcard Match. This time around, he slotted through four goals, showed up more around the ground and took eight marks. I wouldn’t rush him into the fray at AFL just yet but he’s pushing forward with every week. Will Verrall is much in the same category but also very much a work in progress as an aspiring ruckman. He finished this game concussed. Watch out for both in 2025 with extra weight and another preseason under their belts.

North Melbourne had only six AFL listers on that fateful day last year but this time around, the Kangaroos were far better prepared. Apart from the fact that they had greater AFL representation, they were far more rounded on Sunday. And they had two of the first four 2023 AFL draft selections in their ranks and a couple more first rounders to boot. Along with a handy Deakyn Smith who was at Casey last year.

The game was close in the first half with the lead changing hands but the Kangaroos gained the momentum in the third term. Casey made a few serious lunges in the final quarter but North was able to hold on strongly and deserved the victory. One of their aces was Dylan Stephens who was subbed on late in the third term at the MCG on Saturday night and picked up 14 possessions in his team’s late revival. He returned to play VFL on Sunday, collected 24 touches and played a key role in ensuring that his team would prevail and prevent a Casey victory.

With Melbourne in the running for an AFL finals berth, its substitute was not considered for a similar role at Casey Fields even though he had minimal time on the ground on Saturday night. Kynan Brown must be a certainty to play in Brisbane this week. We can also expect Melbourne will bring a couple of carry over players up north with them so who knows whether the VFL side will be a fullest possible when the team takes on the stand alone Northern Bullants at Genis Street Oval, Preston on Saturday afternoon? 

It probably doesn’t matter because the finals are now out of reach, as are the Wildcard Matches.

CASEY DEMONS 2.5.17 5.8.38 8.8.56 11.11.77

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 3.5.23 8.6.54 10.10.70 12.11.83

GOALS 

CASEY DEMONS Jefferson 4 Fullarton Kentfield King Laurie McAdam Szybkowski White

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Hansen Jr 4 Maley Sellers 2 Free Hardeman Harvey Payne 

BEST

MELBOURNE White Moniz-Wakefield Edwards Jefferson Billings Laurie

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Lazzaro Stephenson McKercher Hardeman Stephens Hansen Jr

Statistics

Jed Adams 5 kicks 5 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 21 dream team points
Jack Billings 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 69 dream team points
Tyler Edwards 13 kicks 6 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 82 dream team points
Tom Freeman 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 65 dream team points
Tom Fullarton 1 goal 1 behind 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 8 hitouts 48 dream team points
Max Gregory 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 55 dream team points
Matt Jefferson 4 goals 9 kicks 1 handball 10 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 81 dream team points
Luker Kentfield 1 goal 2 kicks 1 handballs 3 disposals 1 mark 1 tackles 21 dream team points
Eddie King 1 goal 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 31 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 1 goal 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 2 marks 5 tackles 67 dream team points
Shane McAdam 1 goal 1 behind 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 35 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 behind 22 kicks 13 handballs 35 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 115 dream team points
Ned Moodie 3 kicks 6 handballs 9 disposals 2 tackles 31 dream team points
Charlie Peters 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 38 dream team points
Josh Schache 1 behind 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 20 dream team points
Ollie Sestan 1 kick 5 handballs 6 disposals 4 tackles 29 dream team points
Roan Steele 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 61 dream team points
Mitch Szybkowski 1 goal 4 kicks 10 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 53 dream team points
Ryan Valentine 4 kicks 1 handball 5 disposals 2 marks 17 dream team points
Will Verrall 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 16 hitouts 49 dream team points
Mitch White 1 goal 2 behinds 19 kicks 8 handballs 27 disposals 4 marks 9 tackles 131 dream team points
Kai Windsor 1 behind 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 3 marks 27 dream team points
Taj Woewodin 2 kicks 5 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 22 dream team points