The Casey Demons faced a tough first up task taking on reigning VFL premiers Footscray at Mission Whitten Oval. The Bulldogs, who unfurled their premiership flag pre-game, had 15 AFL-listed players and their top VFL talent available, setting them up for their 15th consecutive win.

The younger Demons stayed competitive for more than half the game but eventually tired against the experienced Bulldogs, who had stronger legs and more purpose in their attack on the football. 

The game was played in near-perfect conditions with the young squad, many of them playing together for the first time, showing great enthusiasm, particularly in the early going. 

The teams traded points in the first half of the opening term before Footscray took control, threatening to blow the game open as they burst to a lead of 22 points before Paddy Cross booted truly with a free taken after the quarter time siren. 

Footscray looked like breaking away again early in the second quarter but Casey regrouped and twice fought back to take the lead. Jesse Craven was the catalyst with two quick goals that helped generate the comeback. The Bulldogs were held back by their inaccuracy in front of goal but their midfield dominance and their three goals to one in the time-on period saw them take an eight point lead into the main break.

Casey's recent acquisition from the Dockers via Box Hill, Ethan Stanley, kicked the first goal of the second half, cutting the lead to two points. But that was the last piece of resistance that the Demons could muster. Led by Will Lewis's third quarter goal-kicking masterclass and the dominance around the ground of seasoned veterans in Adam Treloar, Nick Coffield, Lachie McNeil, and Jack Billings, the Bulldogs pounced and finally stormed home to win by 43 points.

For the Demons, Max Heath was dominant in the ruck. He collected 17 disposals to go with 36 hitouts and seven clearances and he also added a goal early in the final term. 

Andy Moniz-Wakefield, playing his first game after missing all of last season after ACL surgery was among the Demons' busiest with 30 disposals going at an outstanding 90% disposal efficiency. 

Jack Henderson also did well with 18 touches in his comeback game after an injury affected summer. Jed Adams and Oscar Berry were both put under the pump in defence and showed promise of better things to come. 

Melbourne’s top 2025 draft pick Xavier Taylor showed composure in a defence under pressure and finished with 16 disposals and eight marks. Fellow draftee Tom Matthews started slowly but worked himself into the game and looks to be an exciting prospect, kicking a nice goal late in the game. Both will benefit from their first official hit out in the colours after being given limited preseason game time.

Casey’s only true battle hardened veteran Jake Melksham managed one a signal goal after spending some time in the hands of the trainers with what appeared to be a knee concern.

Co-captain Riley Bonner was the best of the Casey contingent. He was a strong contributor around the ground with 32 disposals and nine inside 50s. 

A number of new faces brought into the team by former Gippsland Power coach Rhett McLennan who took the reins for the first time. Teenager Luke Cheffers was the most prominent among them while former Docker Stanley had an impact after half time with two goals. 

The 43-point loss was a disappointing outcome. The Demons took a hit, but at least they have the Bulldogs behind them. The bye might be a blessing in disguise, giving them time to regroup. Facing the toughest opponent early on means it's potentially smoother sailing ahead. 

CASEY DEMONS 2.2.14 7.4.46 10.7.67 13.8.86

FOOTSCRAY 4.6.30 7.12.54 14.17.101 19.21.135

GOALS

CASEY DEMONS Cross Pipicelli Stanley 2 Bonner Cheffers Cross D’Angelo Heath Laurie Matthews Melksham

FOOTSCRAY Lewis 6 Billings Jones McNeil Smith 2 Craig-Peters Crofts Dolan Kennedy Saunders

BEST

CASEY DEMONS Heath Moniz-Wakefield Bonner Taylor Cross Mentha Jr

FOOTSCRAY Treloar Coffield Lewis Orgill McNeil Dolan

Does anyone think Onley will become a star for Casey this year? No doubt the Casey side will improve , can see them playing finals.

1 hour ago, Coolx2 said:

Does anyone think Onley will become a star for Casey this year? No doubt the Casey side will improve , can see them playing finals.

no

he looks like a plodder who is a poor user by foot

This is truly a barebones Casey team that has been thrown together with a bunch of locals from the new coaches league. Never have I spent so long at a game looking at the team list, whos that player wearing 60 something? whos that 70 something? Given these circumstances I thought the endeavour and team pressure was very impressive. They were never going to match it for experience and skills vs this Dogs side, and thought the coach gave good messages at both huddles I got to (I love this about attending VFL matches, you can get right up and amongst the quarter breaks, watching Campbell give Moose rucking advice etc).

From the Dees side of things, its concerning that our current lengthy injury list means that there will be very little selection pressure coming from the listed players from this game, as none of them stood out as 'ready for AFL'.

For mine, our best was AMW, he shows composure beyond his years, but I'm not sure there's a spot for him in our current backline, maybe move Lindsay higher up the ground? That would be his only logical spot.

Moose was also pretty good, his workrate is excellent, field kicking is questionable, but his enthusiasm and ability to hit contests means he's the most likely replacement we've had for Gawn for some time. He was also ably supported by Pippicelli who seems to have a good eye for goals too.

Adams was again fairly anonymous, if Turner is out injured, I cant see Jed getting the call up, baffling that they gave him an extension.

Taylor I had high hopes for, but he didnt get much chance to show the much vaunted dash off half back until later in the game. He'll certainly need a bit more time at Casey to find comfort with the pace and style of VFL before hes ready for AFL.

Matthews certainly bounced around a lot without threatening the statisticians ink early on, he needs to get the habit of trying to fling handballs over his head in traffic out of his system, but certainly shows promise.

Of the rest, we got very typical 'nothing' games from Laurie, Mentha and Henderson. And it was absurd that they left Melksham out there when he couldnt even kick on his right leg after half time. Cross, Onley and whoever I missed were fairly anonymous.

Its going to be a pretty long year for very slim rewards for Casey you'd think. The return from injury of 3 key forwards in Johnson, Jeffo and Luker will straighten up the attack, but there arent many re-inforcements due for the midfield.

19 hours ago, DemonDave said:

This is truly a barebones Casey team that has been thrown together with a bunch of locals from the new coaches league. Never have I spent so long at a game looking at the team list, whos that player wearing 60 something? whos that 70 something? Given these circumstances I thought the endeavour and team pressure was very impressive. They were never going to match it for experience and skills vs this Dogs side, and thought the coach gave good messages at both huddles I got to (I love this about attending VFL matches, you can get right up and amongst the quarter breaks, watching Campbell give Moose rucking advice etc).

From the Dees side of things, its concerning that our current lengthy injury list means that there will be very little selection pressure coming from the listed players from this game, as none of them stood out as 'ready for AFL'.

For mine, our best was AMW, he shows composure beyond his years, but I'm not sure there's a spot for him in our current backline, maybe move Lindsay higher up the ground? That would be his only logical spot.

Moose was also pretty good, his workrate is excellent, field kicking is questionable, but his enthusiasm and ability to hit contests means he's the most likely replacement we've had for Gawn for some time. He was also ably supported by Pippicelli who seems to have a good eye for goals too.

Adams was again fairly anonymous, if Turner is out injured, I cant see Jed getting the call up, baffling that they gave him an extension.

Taylor I had high hopes for, but he didnt get much chance to show the much vaunted dash off half back until later in the game. He'll certainly need a bit more time at Casey to find comfort with the pace and style of VFL before hes ready for AFL.

Matthews certainly bounced around a lot without threatening the statisticians ink early on, he needs to get the habit of trying to fling handballs over his head in traffic out of his system, but certainly shows promise.

Of the rest, we got very typical 'nothing' games from Laurie, Mentha and Henderson. And it was absurd that they left Melksham out there when he couldnt even kick on his right leg after half time. Cross, Onley and whoever I missed were fairly anonymous.

Its going to be a pretty long year for very slim rewards for Casey you'd think. The return from injury of 3 key forwards in Johnson, Jeffo and Luker will straighten up the attack, but there arent many re-inforcements due for the midfield.

Dd will have to bow to your ‘Being There’ v the ABC TV ‘cast. Pleased to read Tom Campbell was ringside and mentoring the younger Max. Some definite positives there already, the post-Gawn ascension plan appears to be tentatively in place.

I’m not buying the line by some posters that Big Max is ‘tiring’ or about to fade away anytime soon. Meanwhile Max jnr can address his disposal improvements at Casey.

Xavier Taylor will debut sooner than later this season IMO. The newly arrived skeptics can keep their blinkers on, kid has just kicked the dew off the grass round 1.

Oscar Berry also caught my eye, for category B rookie who hasn’t played since U/16’s some positive cameo plays too. Skills are not shabby at all.

Paddy Cross not his best game by any means but tackles 1%’s etc gave him a respectable profile to build on.

AWC would have to be in selection consideration. Seniors are crying out for a combative body who sees ball gets ball and does something with it.

Foundations are being built by these guys and improvement can be linear, exponential, asymmetrical or inverse to the hypotenuse. Shall await developments with much interest.

Does anyone know what happened to Tairon Ah-Mu?

He's a big boy and I think Casey would have benefitted from having a big bodied key forward in this game.

There are those who say he's too slow etc. but there have been plenty of instances of players of that type who can improve themselves with the right sort of training and hard work on fitness and diet over a couple of seasons.