After this weekend’s break for the representative match vs the SANFL, the Casey Demons will return to their home base for a clash with the Brisbane Lions Reserves.

Sunday 19 April 2026 at 11.05am at Casey Fields

The state of the VFL ladder after Round 3:

The Brisbane Lions have been a strong team in recent seasons but they have struggled to date. Casey need the win to get among the early contenders.

I'll go providing the tuck shop doesn't run outa food before half time like they did last Sunday! DEESGRACE

In the Collard homophobic slur case the AFL are asking for a ten week suspension rather than a ten match ban. Reporter says he doesn't understand why the distinction.

Obviously never heard of the VFL excessive bye policy.

AFL arguing for 10-week not a 10-match sanction for Collard if guilty

By Peter Ryan

It is unclear why that distinction is being made.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/lance-collard-tribunal-hearing-live-updates-saint-alleged-to-have-used-homophobic-slur-20260409-p5zmeh.html

Edited Thursday at 08:193 days by Diamond_Jim

In the Gather Round representative match, the VFL 15.13.103 held on to defeat the SANFL 14.14.98 after a terrific last quarter at Glenelg Oval. Former MFC player Jack Billings kicked the winning goal for the Vics.

Casey Demons skipper Riley Bonner took out the Frank Johnson Medal as the VFL's best player.

There was a match simulation arranged between Casey and the Essendon Reserves which was won by the Bombers.

VFL Match Simulation Report

Taking part in the hit-out were:

16. Bailey Laurie 

19. Xavier Taylor 

20. Tom Matthews 

21. Matthew Jefferson

24. Trent Rivers

26. Jed Adams

27. Max Heath

34. Kalani White

38. Oscar Berry 

39. Ricky Mentha Jnr

40. Riley Onley

42. Aidan Johnson 

43. Jack Henderson 

44. Luker Kentfield 

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these players are in the Melbourne team vs Brisbane next week.

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

There was a match simulation arranged between Casey and the Essendon Reserves which was won by the Bombers.

VFL Match Simulation Report

Taking part in the hit-out were:

16. Bailey Laurie 

19. Xavier Taylor 

20. Tom Matthews 

21. Matthew Jefferson

24. Trent Rivers

26. Jed Adams

27. Max Heath

34. Kalani White

38. Oscar Berry 

39. Ricky Mentha Jnr

40. Riley Onley

42. Aidan Johnson 

43. Jack Henderson 

44. Luker Kentfield 

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these players are in the Melbourne team vs Brisbane next week.

Who would you suggest gets the call up?

Surprising Rivers was there if he was injured. Could have used him yesterday.

Trent Rivers showed encouraging signs rotating through the midfield and half-back, providing glimpses of his impact in both roles.

Down back, Xavier Taylor was a standout, combining strong defensive efforts with an ability to launch attacks from the back half. The 19-year-old read the play well, intercepted with confidence and used the ball effectively, continuing to build impressive form as a key piece of the defence.

Andy Moniz-Wakefield brought strong pressure around the contest and used his attacking kicking to good effect.

In the shortened match simulation, the main standout performances came from Max Heath, Matthew Jefferson, Luker Kentfield and Xavier Taylor.

The final score read 10.3.63 for Essendon and 6.6.42 for the Dees. 

JEFFO CMON DOWN!

Just now, picket fence said:

JEFFO CMON DOWN!

In fact ALL Five of Jeffo, Moose, Luker,Taylor and AMW, should get call ups! I hope King aint all BLUFF AND BLUSTER, MAKE A STAND COACH!

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by picket fence

Nice bit of XT propaganda, probably isn't ready but would be exciting to see him after such a deflating performance from the seniors

Our backline is going to look very different in the 2nd half of the season...Bowey, Riv, XT, maybe an AMW cameo too.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by adonski

JVR might be in trouble here and rightly so.

Tmac, Melk and a couple others might be in the gun.

Melksham is not in the gun… he’s injured! Big difference!

27 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

JVR might be in trouble here and rightly so.

Tmac, Melk and a couple others might be in the gun.

I Feel like someone should put up some defence for TMac. He has been serviceable this season in our wins. Yes he struggled on Saturday but from what I saw the backline was left exposed repeatedly by a midfield that all but went MIA when the heat was on in the last quarters and allowed the bombers mids to deliver repeated balls to their targets under zero pressure. On Saturday he played in front of his man but was penalised for holding his ground under the ball, while his opponent climbed all over his back, then later gave up a mark when given the classic shove in the back. The entire backline looked slow under intense pressure. Yes let’s drop TMac but who comes in?

40 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

JVR might be in trouble here and rightly so.

Tmac, Melk and a couple others might be in the gun.

We shouldn’t be giving games to guys that aren’t going to be here next year anyway.

So Rivers was fit enough to play this game?

What the [censored] is going on with him? Dropped, but apparently injured, but not on the injury list, but spoken of as injured, but then played a VFL scratch match.

Rivers was one of our better players v Freo, gets dropped for whatever reasons … then had an injury explanation with no confirmation… misses 3 weeks … plays in scratch match !!?! He’s a key part of our future and must be back in this week “if fit”.

2 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Melksham is not in the gun… he’s injured!

Everyone is on notice, no time for favourites, non existent pressure all over the ground.

Back to front, mids to coaches totally unacceptable all club round.

A result and performance like that has cost potential memberships and sponsorships.