17 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Anyone tell me why Bailey Laurie is still on the list.  I know we have to give youngsters chances to shine but he’s had chances & is going backwards.  I saw him in the under 18s and he had a yard of pace, was smart and could hit a target in left or right foot.  Seriously has not developed at all and I couldn’t see why we extended his contract.  Given what he shows, this has to be his last year.  

Laurie only played a half on the weekend and he was near BOG alongside Baldi for that matter.

The bloke has been unfairly treated at selection while guys like Sparrow, Spargo and the likes continue to get royal treatment each time.

DRAW by KC from Casey

The Casey Demons squandered a perfect opportunity to draw first blood with some wayward kicking for goal in their opening round of the Smithy’s VFL competition for 2025. 

They managed just two goals from eleven scoring shots, not all under pressure, in the opening term which was an indictment on the overall team effort and a recipe for disaster.

As a consequence, North Melbourne was able to remain involved in an arm wrestle with Casey throughout the rest of their match and threatened to take all the premiership points on offer when they kicked four straight unanswered goals from time on in the third quarter until five minutes into the last.

Fortunately for Casey, it was not done yet and the team courageously fought its way back into the game with goals to youngsters Chance Doultree and Noah Yze before Tyler Edwards levelled things up. North responded with a goal but Tom Fullarton kicked his second goal with a minute or so to go to give the home side a 1 point lead. The Kangaroos surged forward for a point and a late snap went out of bounds on the full. Siren. Draw.

The Demons’ best player was Riley Baldi who was at the club a few years ago and went to play with Moe where he won the Gippsland League medal and was acknowledged at No 5 in a list of last year's best 50 country footballers. He has come back a much stronger player and was instrumental with 32 disposals, ten clearances and six tackles. Along with former St Kilda and Port Adelaide defender Riley Bonner (35 disposals, seven marks and four clearances) they have added a point of difference to the Casey that languished so badly last year. Tall forward Caleb Lewis who was seldom seen last year showed improvement up forward with two goals.

It's been a long time since Casey had a winning ruck and the acquisition by Melbourne of Tom Campbell marked a substantial change for this game with his 28 hit outs to go with his 23 disposals (5 marks). He worked well with the club’s number six AFL Draft selection Harvey Langford who got better as the game went on and his impressive figures of 23 disposals and a goal (five clearances) including some strong work to set up attack should give him a look in at senior selection this week. Another who might come close to selection is Fullarton who was dangerous around goal and should have kicked more than his two for the day. Bailey Laurie played well given his limited time on the ground, presumably due to being on call for the main game.

Playing a draw in your first game is a neither here nor there start to a season but Casey does have a lot of talent to come into the side, especially if the AFL injury list can be contained and also with the return of Mitch Hardie and Roy George who missed this week.

Next week presents an early Saturday morning challenge when the Demons return to Casey Fields to take on the Gold Coast Suns who have been strong in recent years and should provide another test of the team’s improvement.

CASEY DEMONS 2.9.21 3.11.29 6.13.49 10.16.76

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 2.2.14 4.4.28 7.7.49 11.10.76

GOALS

CASEY DEMONS Fullarton Lewis 2 Campbell Craven Doultree Edwards Langford Yze

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Duursma Maley 2 Butler Downie Ford Harvey Stevens Tarrant Teakle

BEST

CASEY DEMONS Baldi Fullarton Bonner Campbell Gregory Windsor

NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Fisher Tomlinson Butler Macpherson Maley Whitlock

STATISTICS

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Laurie only played a half on the weekend and he was near BOG alongside Baldi for that matter.

The bloke has been unfairly treated at selection while guys like Sparrow, Spargo and the likes continue to get royal treatment each time.

I agree with this. Has never got a good run at it and has been the sub many times.

We did the same with Bedford and Jordon, now neither are world beaters but should they have be in our side over others? Perhaps.

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Laurie only played a half on the weekend and he was near BOG alongside Baldi for that matter.

The bloke has been unfairly treated at selection while guys like Sparrow, Spargo and the likes continue to get royal treatment each time.

Anyone know why he only played a half, has he been injured?

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Anyone know why he only played a half, has he been injured?

Carry over emergency. 

I don't expect other posters to remember my views on players but let's just say I'm a Harvey Langford fan.

But I was quite underwhelmed with him on Sunday.  I don't know whether it's just his manner but for me he lacked urgency and intensity around the contest (obviously not late in the last quarter near the boundary), he dropped marks he should have taken, including a 15 metre sitter kicked by Campbell, he has a weakness with ground-balls, no better epitomised than when a rolling ball clean bowled him through his legs, and he fumbled numerous times in tight at stoppages, including CBAs.

He's a first year player, so you accept he's got a lot to learn, but it wasn't a performance that would elevate him to the senior team for me.

Edited March 25Mar 25 by Gator

With 10 players on the injury list, there is not much left at Casey to bring in

Laurie the obvious one to give a chance

Id be happy to have one of Viney/Petracca to be shifted for 80% forward time so we can have a Langford or Laurie take the minutes.

Riv would be best suited to take on the role but he not in great form either.

Laurie plays as a full time mid or not at all. He cannot play any other position.

Fullerton looks bigger and stronger compared to last year . 

17 hours ago, zoe1617 said:

Fullerton looks bigger and stronger compared to last year . 

Agree. Assume Johnson will replace Jefferson but I wouldn’t mind seeing what Fullerton might offer as tall forward/2nd ruck relief.  Need to see why he was traded in and what he has to offer.  

Also wanted to call out young Mitch Kirkwood-Scott.  He was at Sandy Dragons last year and I mentioned him several times as a young player with elite disposal and ability to kick 50m+ easily. Plays as a small defender.  Captained Haileybury last year and excelled in the APS.  Great to see him at Casey and see how he develops. 

3 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Also wanted to call out young Mitch Kirkwood-Scott.  He was at Sandy Dragons last year and I mentioned him several times as a young player with elite disposal and ability to kick 50m+ easily. Plays as a small defender.  Captained Haileybury last year and excelled in the APS.  Great to see him at Casey and see how he develops. 

Our small defender stocks (or lack thereof) are a major issue. It is one of the reasons I was so annoyed that we sent so many picks to Essendon in the Lindsay deal. Finding a quality small defender with a late pick this year is an absolute must, even if McVee signs a long term extension.

3 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Also wanted to call out young Mitch Kirkwood-Scott.  He was at Sandy Dragons last year and I mentioned him several times as a young player with elite disposal and ability to kick 50m+ easily. Plays as a small defender.  Captained Haileybury last year and excelled in the APS.  Great to see him at Casey and see how he develops. 

Haileybury not unlike Assumption back in the day. Has become a bit of a ‘football factory’ with many established and aspiring young footballers graduating from the college’s football program.

Having high profile football identity, Matthew Lloyd as head coach indubitably helps.

Edited March 26Mar 26 by Tarax Club

What’s the Kai Windsor story? Moves similar to his bro?