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Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group consisting of Chandler, BBB, Lever & Spargo. The boys started on their own. Then Choco joined the fray, initially as an observer. He wasn't happy with their frivolity & banter and told them so ..."stop talking you blokes & watch what you're doing!" They were initially doing HB drills then 15 - 20 meter stab passes where Choco asked them to place their kicking foot down after the kick and toward the target. Everyone followed instructions except Chandler (knee issue? Or just didn't listen lol). The main group (as listed by Kev earlier) went off too the boundary to do their bungy stretchy thingies before blowing some webs out with some half oval runs They then split into approx 3 diff forward focussed drills. Much of it connection boased with kicks coming inside and / or shooting for goal on the run after transversing obstacles etc. Choco was overseeing much of it including the short 30 meter (ish) passing drills into 50. His main emphasis was on accuracy with one instruction "Perfect kicks! Every one of them is a potential goal assist. Perfect kicks!" Choco always driving and asking for high standards never grows old 👏🏼 All in all, outside the light duties group and Bowey (on his own program), all involved in the main group looked to be in tip top shape albeit some were no doubt carrying the usual bumps / bruises from previous encounters. Smacca looks super fit to me and suggested such mentioning he is roughly two weeks away. First time i've seen him live and looks alot rangier than i figured. His reels suggest he can play tall on the lead which makes sense. How is he at ground level i wonder? Hunter is one more week away and then a likely starter for Casey the following week apparently (all going well). Melk is in fine shape and very happy with his progress so far and according to WCW on track for a second half appearance (touch wood) As already noted, BBB while obviously on a light program, appeared to be moving / kicking (short passes) without hindrance. Lever same and no way he is continuing through the high knee lift stepping drills if he was uncomfortable in any way imho. Spargo & Chandler restricted to light stuff and probably safe to assume Chin may not make the cut although there's another four full days before Saturday so who knows. Sestan doing alot of work both with the main group, then the lap work after plus additional stuff after everyone except Bowey had left. The FD must have high hopes for the young fella and see something special here. Sparrow very happy with Saturday and playing back in the middle. Lovely fella to speak to is Tom. Windsor said he pulled up fine after Saturday also and is right to go. Had the pleasure of meeting WCW (bonus hugs!). Great gal who i'm sure has red & blue running through her veins. Fingers crossed for Saturday. Carn the Mighty Demons!

Anyone a little confused by comments coming out of Sydney (Tom Papley in particular) about Essendon and their behind the ball hits on their players? I'm confused by some in the media discussing this too. Two words. "Max Gawn" If you are so concerned Tom, call out the players that took hits at Max behind the play as he's going from contest to contest. Knocking him over, bumping off the ball 30-40m away from play. Sydney and Port Adelaide constantly bump, and knock Gawn to the ground. Some media condone it, and saying that because Max is such a good player that every team should do it, even calling out MFC players for not doing to opposition teams or defending Gawn. Can't remember who it was, but someone actually called out the Dogs, and why they didn't do it, yet others are saying it should be stamped out, and I agree. Umpires need to be aware of it, and call frees. Tom Papley, you can't have it both ways, either you are happy with bumping players off the ball, or the tummy taps, or you aren't, but then don't do it to other teams, or target players like Gawn.

Because you have to give the players time to adjust to the time difference. Adelaide is 30 minutes, and 25 years, behind Melbourne.

Flying blind tho, Jaded. Either way, here’s the thing … I’m presuming the vertebral ‘crack’ is however ‘non-structural’, meaning not part of the weight-bearing vertebral body, or the arch protecting the spinal cord. If so, recovery and game-readiness is determined by pain. If pain allows = play. With the rib fractures, assuming they are ‘non-displaced’, meaning not mis-aligned, he’ll miss the next 3 games, then look to first game after the bye. Doesn’t really matter how many ribs (excepting the acute pain factor - OWWW!), but is affected by the fracture position on the rib. If it’s easily exposed to knocks and/or movement, means longer to recovery, and risk of aggravation.

She also does that job at home ... in the garden of Eden. sorry

Sounds like one of his ribs has healed already

Maybe 20 years ago. But in our post truth, post knowledge, post covid world, Webber would be one of the first eaten. Sure he studied for years and has continued to develop his expertise through his career, but does he do his own research?

This is a ridiculous take. Even if you have high expectations, being this critical of an 18 year old after his first VFL match ever is completely insane.

Fairly light run today, as it is the recovery session. Mainly grid work, large and small, with goal kicking to finish. Some of those who didn't play Saturday and have now integrated back into training did extra laps at the end. Tracc and Sparrow also joined them. Hunter hitting up beautiful kicks. Turner looks fit. Melky into everything. Viney looked like he has a small niggle. In the run throughs was behind the pack, which is unusual. Petty without restrictions, was kicking goals 50 meters out with accuracy and ease. McAdam and Sparrow joined in as well. Chandler in the rehab has some light strapping on left knee. TMac didn't do much with the group, mainly running laps. Bowey working hard, running sprints, then laps.

Numbers are down, 24 in the main group. none who played yesterday at Casey are with them. Light duties include, BBB, Lever, Chandler, Spargo. McAdam is in the main squad, as is Melky, Turner, and Hunter. TMac in runners, though full training. No May

McAdam mustn't be far off. Kicking snags from 50

Incredible training innovation by the Dees. Leaving no blade of grass unturned to get an edge.

Smacca (McAdam), Melk & Sestan with the main group

Steven May

I had broken ribs and a damaged vertebrae back in 2018 after a motorbike accident. Fortunately for me I had a broken collarbone and shoulder blade among others to take the focus off my ribs.. He will definitely need 6 weeks before he is confident in them being hit. I still remember my first sneeze, it still troubled me to think about it. One funny story, I went and watched the Melbourne v Hawks final and was still very much beaten up and on pain killers. I couldn’t sit in my seat I was that sore, I stood at ground level behind the goals at the punt road end. When Melksham kicked his goal, a bloke picked me up and bear hugged me. Single greatest/worst moment ever!!

Mcadam and WCW is a chookkeeper in the north subs

Light? I’ve seen mummies with lighter strapping. 😜

Perhaps so that the players are more settled and in a normal routine for Game Day than a regular interstate game. Happy to recreate the hub atmosphere that won us a flag if it means we aren't unsettled in these next two weeks.

I’m on annual leave so have ridden the bike down for a look today. Eden Zanker was mowing the grass when I got here. BBB has gone back to the rooms but no strapping on the left knee this morning and no limp.

Carlton would argue Weitering, Marchbank and Docherty is a massive hit to their defensive set up It’s a blow yes, but I’m very much about don’t worry about who you haven’t got worry about who you have got. Just get through it as best we can and get May back when he’s ready

If Demonland ever went down in a plane crash on a remote deserted island, you'd probably be one of the last ones to be eaten.

HIBERNATING by KC from Casey When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a season opener at their home ground, this was a major disappointment for the Casey Demons who were uncompetitive for so much of the game. It began in the middle where the Hawks dominated in the ruck as well as at the stoppages. There were times when the home side worked to regain the momentum such as was the case in the latter half of the second term but the Hawks were always in control and their pressure game constantly forced turnovers that were uncharacteristic of any Casey team of the past decade. Adding to the disappointment was the fact that some key injuries and an upcoming heavy schedule for Melbourne have opened up places at a higher level which demand standout performances that simply didn’t eventuate. I mentioned the dominance of the Box Hill engine room and the Demons would be lamenting the loss of regulars such as Luke Dunstan, James Harms, Jimmy Munro and co. who previously gave the midfield such a hard edge. The vacuum left by their will take a while to be adequately filled. Of the players in contention for higher places, Adam Tomlinson would have been close to the front of the line given that a couple of key defenders at AFL level are in doubt for the month ahead. As it was, Tomlinson’s game in Melbourne’s season opener wasn’t all that shabby. He certainly put his hand up to fill a key defensive spot with his 24-disposal display. Former Brisbane Lions big man cum forward, Tom Fullarton was also under consideration for a chance to be called up. He had some moments with his 12 disposals and ten hit outs but he paled in the shadows of the more dynamic Box Hill ruck lineup. One youngster with big wraps about him is Koltyn Tholstrup, a teenager with senior state league experience at Subiaco in the West. He impressed with his 18 disposals and a cool head under pressure and shouldn’t take long to make the step up to another level. Kynan Brown worked hard in the tough environment of a team that simply failed to gel further afield. Others who had their moments were Bailey Laurie who kicked a goal and had 21 touches and Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Taj Woewodin, each with 19 disposals. The standout among Casey listers was former Magpie VFL team leader Campbell Hustwaite who was the best of the team’s midfielders and promises to be a big feature at Casey in the future. Another newcomer, Caleb Lewis looked promising early but faded after half time after kicking a nice goal in the second term. All in all however, it was a nightmare of a game in which the Hawks were a class above making it an occasion to forget. It is expected that Melbourne will take an expanded squad to Adelaide and remain in the city between its next two games so the Casey Demons can expect to have much less than the dozen Demon listed players they had available for the season opener when they take on Footscray next Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields. Let’s hope they don’t miss their wake up call for that assignment. CASEY DEMONS 1.3.9 3.5.23 4.6.30 6.10.46 BOX HILL HAWKS 5.6.36 6.9.45 10.13.73 12.15.87 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Cross Hustwaite Laurie Lewis Schache Steele BOX HILL HAWKS Butler 3 Meek 2 Hall Parsons Ramsden Rule Stefanakis Tucker Wood BEST CASEY DEMONS Hustwaite Woewodin Tomlinson Fullarton Moniz-Wakefield Laurie BOX HILL HAWKS Meek Hustwaite Morrison Serong Butler C Brown Statistics Jed Adams 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 26 dream team points Kynan Brown 5 kicks 9 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 53 dream team points Leo Connolly 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 28 dream team points Paddy Cross 1 goal 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 32 dream team points Tyler Edwards 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 60 dream team points Kyah Farris-White 1 handball 2 dream team points Tom Freeman 5 kicks 7 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 44 dream team points Tom Fullarton 9 kicks 3 handballs 12 disposals 1 mark 3 tackles 10 hitouts 55 dream team points Andrew Green 4 kicks 2 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 30 dream team points Campbell Husthwaite 1 goal 5 kicks 18 handballs 23 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 82 dream team points Matt Jefferson 7 kicks 1 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 32 dream team points Bailey Laurie 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 67 dream team points Caleb Lewis 1 goal 1 behind 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 1 mark 22 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 1 hitout 80 dream team points Ned Moodie 2 kicks 10 handballs 12 disposals 1 marks 2 tackles 38 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 1 marks 25 dream team points Josh Schache 1 goal 3 behinds 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 53 dream team points Roan Steele 1 goal 2 behinds 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 63 dream team points Koltyn Tholstrup 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 81 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 20 kicks 4 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 86 dream team points Will Verrall 1 behind 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 10 hitouts 37 dream team points Mitch White 1 behind 12 kicks 6 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 71 dream team points Taj Woewodin 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 76 dream team points

I reckon they are really setting themselves for these 2 games and will be looking at it as a positive i.e. rather than making two trips to Adelaide throughout the year we knock them both off. Both are going to be tough games, but I'll back the boys in and think they will steal themselves to try go 2-0 in Adelaide.

As they say in the classics….’it ain’t nuthin’. Is a small bony projection off the side of the back of the vertebra that functions as a muscle attachment. The kind of thing that plenty of players in the past would crack from an impact injury, and if not scanned/xrayed (this happened a lot in the past), would just be put down to bruising. When it feels ok, play as able.

I know kev suggested Smacca would be back likely Anzac Eve, but I'd love to see him debut against the Crows and kick a bag.

This tactic could easily be eliminated by a post match review. If found to be a persistent tactic a fine against the team escalating gradually to points reduction. The commentators live in a "tough blokey" bygone world. Like faking it in soccer time to deal with these issues.

one thing that i'd like to see change is pup brown moved out of 'starvation corner' of half-forward he's not going to learn anything in the vfl trying to play the role anb plays at senior level from memory, nibbler played predominantly midfield at vfl level before he found his niche as that gut-running half-forward i get that brown is very slight but it'll benefit him being more involved in the play he played mid at underage level, and i'm confident he's smart enough in the contests to be more involved than he will be in the forward set-up at casey

Really unimpressed with the comments on the Casey Dees and our AFL contingent after the first real match. Going through The players not there and naming Harmesy Dunstan JJ as missing. Get a life they are not our AFL future any more. To keep them on our list was considered and rejected. JJ had a right to go. I reckon every one who has posted has questioned these players ability to be an AFL Player over the last 2/3 years and y to get their long term role at our Club. ONE game in and surprise surprise up bobs their names as date I say it NOT THERE ie missing!!!’ The role of Casey is to feed through players of potential for our AFL and any team success is a BONUS. Experience is the common ingredient missing from most of the 12 AListed who represented Casey from the Dees yesterday. That's why it looked a sort of a shambles plus due to our stuff up in the Finals of over estimating numbers of potential reserves needed for our AFL QF and Semi decimating the Casey team in the Finals and no doubt resulting in a walk out or two. It’s the very good Casey guys that were missed more so yesterday. Now our list of players have not weakened or strengthened their AFL careers as if losing yesterday at all. ONE swallow does not maketh a summer. Woe Kolt Pup Kynan AMW Adams Verrall Tommo Schache MJ KFW and one other are all depth at different stages and promising as well. No vhsnge from yesterday morning. All the better for the run and experience. Fat Tony and of course our resident Mr Negativity Poita have written all of the boys as above as no chance or too this or that. Cool the jets. We only need 4 or 5 to continue to show and improve to be back ups. For 2024 Woe AMW Pup and Kolt plus Tommo ( Disco Sestan as well) are legitimate depth potential who are likely to improve as the season progresses. Thsts what Casey provides. If you have a stronger list with more experience at Casey then you may have a successful team as well. It’s about the players not the team performance that is the most vital for the Dees. Yhe cticism from one poster of Kolt was disgraceful and unnecessary and MJ is a whipping boy of many. Players develop at completely differently levels in underage comps. You don’t throw your son or daughter out if they don’t walk by 10/12 mths and purchase another baby from the state authorities. Calm down snd look at the REAL objective of Casey and the inexperience of most of our depth which is exactly what’s needed st this stage. Howes Duke McVee etc are only a very good example of fast tracked AFL players contributing to our AFL success. There is no doubt thst A couple of others are there nearly as ready but we ate ridiculously impatient and overly judgemental in our expectations. The club is developing nicely at a fair pace as results are showing. It’s not s as instant so show some sense about our projected plans for recruits fgs.

How the actual [censored] does one have multiple broken ribs and maybe a broken vertebrae and only miss up to two games? 😳 If that was me I’d be out for 10-15 years.

That all depends where they live.

Some of the hits on Oliver were when he relaxed after the ball had just left the area, and unexpected. Glad he just laughs at them, and goes in again as courageous as ever.

In what world should it be legal to put a player down who is in no way contesting the ball ? Needs to be stamped out.

They used to open for Spinal Tap. They gave up when they found their material had been plagiarised, uncredited, by Bon Jovi. The guitarist now works delivering school lunches and the drummer is a plasterer. They're talking about getting the band back together. Their new material is really strong, apparently!

The year we won it Stephen May missed 3 weeks (we got lucky with the Richmond game meaning it was only 3 games when he actually missed 4 weeks) with a fractured eye socket after Tom Hawkins threw his elbow back in his face. We then lost our other form key back, Adam Tomlinson to an ACL against North when he was in career best form and had locked down the third KPD the week Maysie was ready to come back, with his replacement, young Harrison Petty causing much hand wringing at first. We were also without our then two first choice forwards Brown and Weideman for most of the first 10 weeks with injury with their replacements, TMac and a young Luke Jackson, surprising everyone by taking it by storm. We have our injury challenges this year, exacerbated by the loss of Brayshaw and Smith, but our premiership year also had its challenges and this current situation may just enable us to find a new setup that makes us even better. Fingers crossed.

The Gus “debacle” was a well planned faux prosecution designed to keep the assailant playing finals.

Yes he was, but he didn’t and got 2 weeks. That’s the very point. They are just so inconsistent. The MRO and Tribunal said Maynard did nothing wrong. He knocked an opponent out cold, ended a guy’s career and possibly cost us a flag, but the 2 bodies responsible for this said “nothing to see.” Yes the MRO and Tribunal trigger me.

Not sure if you really wanted an answer bin, but I thought I’d run some numbers. Seasons 2021-2023. 21 losses for an average losing margin of 13.4 pts Average losing margins. 2021 - 11.75 pts 2022 - 19.5 pts 2023- 8.8 pts

I thought Chandler's first goal on the weekend might have been just beyond his range, just outside 50; but he made the distance quite easily. Never happier to be wrong!

Great reports all. Hopefully Chandler does make the cut. Been impressed with his goal kicking the last 2 weeks, both from the snaps and the set shots.

I thought the Hawks targeting of Oliver was unsporting. But it was funny they gave him all their focus while Tracca had a day out.

It could be either: (a) the club got an excellent rate on hotel rooms for the week, saving money given Adelaide hotel prices for Gather Round (b) to effectively deal with jet lag (c) to allow time for a barossa valley tour (d) all of the above

Who cares when they fly to Adelaide? Are you their wives? Let the club do what they think will work best for this absolute BS of a fixture we’ve been lumped with.

Sestan last man standing doing tackling, agility, 1v1 marking & groundball drills Bowey also...laps

Lingers just kicked a torp (bpuncing through) goal for fun from 65 out

Chin left knee heavily strapped BBB, Spargs & Lever Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills

Given my (irrational) fear of flying, I would have s**t myself to death on the way down, so might be first on the barbie. But thanks anyway, Skuit.

Three broken ribs and a small cracked vertebrae requires a conservative approach. No play over the next month and the earliest we’ll see Steven May on a footy field will be at the Anzac Day Eve game vs Richmond. I also expect that Jake Lever will miss at least one game. They are the best individual assets in our defence. We have to look after them.

I've done a few ribs during my time, and once ripped off the cartilage - but never a few at once as far as I know, and in addition to a cracked vertabra. It's really hard to imagine May being back anytime within the next month at a minimum. It's not just the restriction in movement and difficulty in deep breathing, but shedding the protective mindset and regaining confidence in having the rib exposed. In the short-term he needs to be paired up with Spargo on rehab sidelines, such that he isn't caught out in painful laughter.