Demonland

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

Would you hold Steven May against his will?

Not official official

Melbourne star defender Steven May has multiple broken ribs and minor vertebrae damage after the brutal hit that has kept him in hospital overnight on Saturday. The Demons said on Sunday only that May had suspected broken ribs after Hawthorn forward Mabior Chol flew high to mark and instead put his knee into the All Australian defender’s back. It is understood May has as many as three broken ribs and also a small crack in his vertebrae that will see him sidelined in coming weeks given the extent of the damage. While players have on rare occasions played on with bruised or cracked ribs, May will need to heal his ribs in coming weeks. Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron cracked his ribs in a friendly fire collision with teammate Gary Rohan last year and missed the next two matches. May could be joined by fellow defensive star Jake Lever after scans on Sunday on his injured knee. He said post-match he had soreness behind his knee cap, with coach Simon Goodwin hopeful the injury is only minor. Melbourne believes it has the depth to cover for its star defensive duo if both miss the road trip to take on both South Australian sides in the next fortnight. The Demons take on Port Adelaide on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, then Adelaide at the game venue on the Thursday of Gather Round five days later. They will take an expanded squad to Adelaide and remain in the city between those games. Harry Petty was switched into defence in their absence and second-chance hero Marty Hore stood up as a defensive all. Adam Tomlinson, desperately unlucky to be dropped for Tom McDonald last week, played VFL on Sunday and is another option. Demons defender Trent Rivers told SEN on Sunday the club had enough depth. “Maysey was still in hospital this morning getting scans and Jake is having scans today,” he said. “But I am hoping for the best for both of them. We have a next man in mentality and whoever will come in if they do miss weeks is going to do the job.”

Melbourne star defender Steven May has multiple broken ribs and minor vertebrae damage after the brutal hit that has kept him in hospital overnight on Saturday. The Demons said on Sunday only that May had suspected broken ribs after Hawthorn forward Mabior Chol flew high to mark and instead put his knee into the All Australian defender’s back. It is understood May has as many as three broken ribs and also a small crack in his vertebrae that will see him sidelined in coming weeks given the extent of the damage. While players have on rare occasions played on with bruised or cracked ribs, May will need to heal his ribs in coming weeks. Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron cracked his ribs in a friendly fire collision with teammate Gary Rohan last year and missed the next two matches. May could be joined by fellow defensive star Jake Lever after scans on Sunday on his injured knee. He said post-match he had soreness behind his knee cap, with coach Simon Goodwin hopeful the injury is only minor. Melbourne believes it has the depth to cover for its star defensive duo if both miss the road trip to take on both South Australian sides in the next fortnight. The Demons take on Port Adelaide on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, then Adelaide at the game venue on the Thursday of Gather Round five days later. They will take an expanded squad to Adelaide and remain in the city between those games. Harry Petty was switched into defence in their absence and second-chance hero Marty Hore stood up as a defensive all. Adam Tomlinson, desperately unlucky to be dropped for Tom McDonald last week, played VFL on Sunday and is another option. Demons defender Trent Rivers told SEN on Sunday the club had enough depth. “Maysey was still in hospital this morning getting scans and Jake is having scans today,” he said. “But I am hoping for the best for both of them. We have a next man in mentality and whoever will come in if they do miss weeks is going to do the job.”

I'd be in a coffin. No way he only misses 2 games with that diagnosis.

They won’t be able to miss next week

Port have activated the sub. Lachie Jones with a calf complaint sustained earlier but played on.

It's going to be a long year for Ooze. Tiges pressure rating in the negative.

Looks like he's back on the ground.

Assessed for what what what say what?

Not watching the Tigers game but saw this on the AFL website. Anyone know the status of Marshall's injury? Not wishing injuries on opposition players but Marshall out would be handy considering our 2 outs this week.

They just mentioned on the Casey match broadcast that Lever is still awaiting the results from scans but potentially could still play this week. That was the official word from the club officials.

So much fumbling from Casey

Another nice lead and Mark to Schache. Misses again.

Agreed. A lot of the new recruits always are looking to do team things and give it off. Sometimes they need to trust their gut.

Nice sidestep from Kolt. I like what I see from him.

Interesting to hear Goody had a chat with the defenders and in particular Tommo.

Woey getting a lot of the ball. Tholstrup playing well

More than doubled with that point. 5.56%

2.86%

Nice lead and mark from Schache. Misses the goal.

Tomlinson delivering some payback on the Hawks for Maysie.