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From various reports the 5-6 probably were: Fritsch (knee), Max (back), Petracca (broken leg), Oliver (thumb/hand), Langdon (ribs), Brown (knee). Maybe Lever? All very difficult to replace with someone from Casey. To go into a final with 3-4 injuries is risky. Imv with 5-7 is downright foolhardy and inviting trouble. Perhaps we compounded the injuries by also selecting players that weren't necessarily best 22. Would Bowey/JVR have been a better choice than Melksham/Hunt/Rivers (and change some positions). Would we have not got value bringing on our sub: Joel Smith (whose selection had to be cover for one of the injured). Momentum swung early in the last when the injured were spent; no Joel! No idea why we almost never use our sub!! Oh, and btw, it would have been helpful if Jackson had played a half decent game to help Max. A very poor effort by him in a vital game for his team. Not whitewashing the result but imv we beat ourselves in that semi mainly from poor player management decisions before and during the game. Sorry to bring up some 'old chestnuts' but hopefully it doesn't encourage 'whipping boy' posts. 🥺

Ben brown is copping a bit and whilst stats wise he may not have had an incredible practice match, one view, for what it’s worth, is that he will take the best or second best tall defender every week….and like today that may just allow our other tall forwards (think Max, TMac, Grundy) to outplay the oppositions third or fourth best tall defender they have….. food for thought 💭 🤷🏼‍♂️

Happy to take the 0 points.

I don't reckon Im going out on a limb here but geez I like the look of Sparrow. He appears to have developed/matured and I'm tipping a monster season from him.

AFL news: Max Gawn on playing injured in finals, Brodie Grundy and what Lachie Hunter will add to Melbourne Article in today’s Herald Sun tells the story of how Max Gawn was initially ruled out of last year’s semi final vs Brisbane due to a painful hip injury – only to win a last-minute reprieve. A couple of scans on the day before the game earned him a reprieve just as Jacob Van Rooyen was poised to make a shock finals debut against the Lions in his place. After feeling good and playing well in the first half (the Dees led by 22 points at the main break), it all “came caving in during the second half” and Max struggled to see out the game. “It was certainly in my head space as the game wore on. But I tried to stay in the moment as much as I could,” Gawn said. “I was doing quite well to stay in the moment in that game to make sure our team didn’t know there was anything wrong. We had five or six guys in the same position that game.” We knew that the Demons were in dire straits on the night and it’s been debated and discussed before but we knew we were going into a cut throat final at way under full rat power. We rolled the dice and lost.

I love Bowza!

Good to see another Woey running around in the red and blue. Looked very clean in his brief appearance.

We're primed and ready to go! The teamwork was great and we ran hard all day. 2 wings (Langdon & Hunter) to be a driving force as well as the run out of half back (Salem, Rivers, Brayshaw) The other teams are possibly going to be forced to play 2 ruckmen against us with 1 of them a probable liability as the match goes into the 2nd half. 2 x All Australian ruckmen versus what? There's a lot to like and it looks like we'll he playing 3 talls forward (rotating about within the forward line) And we looked quite mobile despite playing a tall forward line We're going to be awfully difficult for the other teams to match-up on. More of a nightmare for the opposition match committee's And we looked very fit

Is Goodwin the right guy = what have the Roman's ever done for us

Mind blowing the sub wasn’t used. Great summation. To be fair, Goodwin has amended his faults every season, consistently improves. Player management will be prime… so the big question must be: what will be the issue this year?

I always like to see Melbourne win but, if I have a choice, I’d rather the team finish the game injury free.

Grundy's impact around the clearances looks to be an upgrade from Jackson last year. Seeing as we're in win it now mode...bodes well for us.

And yet we had a dominant Casey team full of competent AFL players that our coach had no faith in. Sydney also failed dismally at selection by selecting players on one leg for a grand final.

We look like a finely tuned outfit ready for round 1. Players fit as fiddles and running in top of the ground. Let's hope we still look like that in 6 months, we will be very hard to knock off. Can't wait for the season to start.

Wasn't he great, especially from the start. Sent the message, this is "my court" "Petty letting Sampson get off the leash". Looks like he had trouble with a tall, 206 cm I think. Needs to get body on him, or come in from the side with a fly at the ball. I think he didn't show him much respect, and was out timed and muscled.

Great to see a strong win against good oppo. The Tap Brothers dominant. Our midfield and half back spread excellent and our speed of ball movement and execution frightening for this time of year. The only concerns for me were Brown (who should come out for Fritsch) and Harmes constant ability to turn the ball over after doing all the hard work to win it. Great to see McVee get the chance to take Dusty and Taj get a look in in the last (and look up to the pace). And of course the most important thing no injuries. Could not have asked for much more from the hit out.

Judd McVee played on him a bit

In 2021 we had a great side and a good run with injuries. Unfortunately in 2022 we had a poor run with injuries. It takes a good fit side to win a premiership which means that there is always an element of luck involved…..unfortunately. Fingers crossed for 2023.

Yes we did!!! PLAYED WIN LOSS FOR AGAINST % POINTS MELBOURNE 2 2 0 226 117 193.16 8 BRISBANE 2 2 0 190 99 191.92 8 ADELAIDE 2 2 2 188 118 159.32 8 WESTERN BULLDOGS 1 1 0 143 85 168.24 4 GWS 1 1 0 122 77 158.44 4 GEELONG 2 1 1 183 144 127.08 4 FREMANTLE 2 1 1 158 138 114.49 4 ESSENDON 2 1 1 80 75 106.67 4 SYDNEY 2 1 1 151 153 98.69 4 COLLINGWOOD 2 1 1 180 184 97.83 4 ST. KILDA 2 1 1 113 137 82.48 4 CARLTON 2 1 1 138 171 80.70 4 RICHMOND 2 1 1 146 194 75.26 4 WEST COAST 2 1 1 136 187 72.73 4 GOLD COAST 2 0 2 75 80 93.75 0 PORT ADELAIDE 2 0 2 137 176 77.84 0 NORTH MELBOURNE 2 0 2 158 218 72.48 0 HAWTHORN 2 0 2 153 244 62.70 0

Our ball movement has definitely quickened and improved. We actually cut the tigers up quite a few times when attacking. That is a great sign. The unselfish play has returned and that is also great. Lastly we have improved our best 22-23 and have more depth.

Lynch has to be permanently listed in the [censored] category surely . Never been able to stand him.

What a lot of people don't seem to understand. This is depth 101... - Depth only covers your bottom 6 players - Depth will never cover champions - You do play champions when they are injured because in most cases they will give you more than what your depth can - All clubs play injured players - When the amount of (%) injuries mount up in your top10 players you are stuffed Last years GF (and you will find stories in all GF's) gives us some great case studies. The Swans played Reid, it was a gamble that failed...they played him as they had no one else that could do what he could. For them to win it was crucial for Reid to play his role which in part freed up Buddy to do his magic. It wasn't a great bet on past history, a very long odds gamble that didn't pay off. Geelong played Hawkins, going into the finals series with a foot injury that has since been operated on. This bet payed off as they won the whole thing, Hawkins was instrumental in setting up the game and taking away the Swans belief...it might put an early end to his career yet but they gambled and won. They also had no one that could do what Hawkins can do.

I remember talking about this last year and a few on here were lambasting me for suggesting that the club would be playing injured players. Happens all the time and we had too many of them and should have looked at who could be replaced. I hope the FD sees the depth in a better light this year.

Unfortunately if there were 5 or 6 guys in the same position we didn't have the dice to roll.

Two things I loved today: Players taking time to assess their options, and not always handballing to the open player. Last year teams learnt to roll off their opponent to cover our outnumber. Today several players feigned to handball and then turned to open up the field. It was great to see. Pressuring ball carrier - last year we folded back a lot and let teams run the ball downfield. Today the team made sure to pressure whoever had or was about to take possession. The perfect example being when May made that huge tackle on the wing to halt a rebound by the Tiges. It was the result of 5 other players rolling off their man to pressure the next in line to receive possession. if was so good to see these adjustments 😁

Not worried whatsoever, he’s fine and got better as the game went on. He ended up with 20 odd possessions.

Fantastically balanced footballer.

The big change from last season for me was quick ball movement and ball use. Both were very much improved on last year.

Ball movement impressed me the most. Hit targets by foot and once again looked composed by hand in close, to get out of trouble like we did in 2021. Backline formidable.

Things I liked. Junior Woey showed a bit. May, best player in the comp. Six goals between the ruckmen. McVee looks a likely type. Hunter's left foot. ANB wracking up the kms. Dislikes. Kicking at goal (Chandler, BBB, etc) Petty letting Sampson get off the leash. Harmes' disposal. Trent Cotchin

KNOCK ON WOOD YOUNG SIR

Pretty Good effort, that Hunter will be the bargain of the Year Grundy is getting better

Good result. Bring on the real stuff.

Oskar Baker gets Dogs first goal. Played a very good first quarter and is Bevo’s standout pre season performer.

With respect rjay, I’d prefer a fit average quality player to an unfit top 22 player for a crucial final any day of the week. At least they will run out the whole game, instead of collapsing in a heap after half time. If we did in fact have 5-6 injured players then that is incredibly bad luck. Playing those injured players in a final is incredibly poor management imv.

Are we repeating history? Seems no need to play and risk Lever and his dodgy ankles today. Get him cherry ripe for Round 1.

The Demons were far too strong for a near full strength Richmond and easily accounted for the Tigers at Casey Fields by 50 points ... Did we win the Preseason?

And where are the flunkies telling the world no-one wants to go out to Casey. Pretty good turnout out there in that interdimensional wasteland and scene from a post-apocalyptic movie (if it’s critics are to be believed).

Glad I made the trip out, great atmosphere, weather good (not for the players…), and even though the decent beer had sold out, and we parked 15 kms away, it was a very satisfying afternoon. apart from the usual suspects, bowey , sparrow, chandler, nibbler, spargo and particularly Rivers, all impressed. Thanks doggies for lachie hunter! Did some very clever things, just hope he can stay on the straight and narrow

Little things I loved perched on the fence today: The confidence the players have in each other. Clarey working off half back on occasion Lachie Hunter- so wonderful to have two damaging and solid wings Grawndy positioning on either side of the ground for the kick down the line. Had Richmond second guessing on numerous occasions Bowey. Nailed the little things and was creative. fluid , creative mid field rotations (thought ANB and Kozzie really added to this, as did Rivers)- Harmes let himself down with the turnovers second half forward structure had, at times, two talks deep and all smalls on the half forward line. BBB haircut, but think with the rucks floating forward and Fritsch to come in, the forward line might be better running a little smaller. JVR could also provide a different focus, will be interesting to see.

Petracca may just destroy the comp this year

Collingwood, O dear.....

18.10 is good kicking at casey - 3 rushed the team looks relaxed focused fit with plenty of depth. bring on the season!!

We look so composed with the ball - I love it 💙♥️

Good win.plenty of positives. Gawn dominant, hunter & Grundy are going to be awesome recruits & will definitely play a massive role& good to see T Mac leading, marking & kicking goals

I am unsure how much effort the Tiges are potting up at times, but our system between wing and inside F50 is looking as good as it has ever in Goodwin's time as coach. Nibbler, Sparrow, Harmes and Spargo are all showing serious gut running. Surely the Tiges are not this rubbish? Our backline is epic.

I like this…

texting so many Pies supporters right now the early crow, what could go wrong?!

Half Time: Casey Demons 6.6.42 lead Richmond VFL 2.5.17

Quarter Time: Casey Demons 2.3.15 trail Richmond 2.4.16 (relayed score - no details available)