Demonland

The fans have spoken … 15. Tyla Hanks 12. Alyssa Bannan 10. Kate Hore 8. Eden Zanker 5. Shelley Heath Olivia Purcell 3. Tayla Harris 2. Blaithin Mackin Paxy Paxman 1. Eliza McNamara

The original stats have been updated after checking the ones on the AFL site.

The Casey Demons made like desperados as they entered the last chance saloon for their VFL Elimination Final against the Footscray Bulldogs at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. With most of their experienced Melbourne-listed players pulled from the game to ensure they were fit if called upon for a Thursday night’s AFL Qualifying Final, Casey was put into the position akin to bringing a knife to a gunfight and it didn't end well. The result was a 79-point massacre … season over. Casey’s title defence has been flagging in recent months. The Demons were heading for a double chance as they entered the final rounds but single digit defeats in their last three matches forced them into the Wildcard Round and a six-day break before this match up against a fully rested Bulldogs who had 15 of their AFL-listers available. Casey’s cause was also hampered with the loss through injury of players who would otherwise have been eligible and the ACL damage to Luke Dunstan was a major blow, followed up by the player withdrawals that left the club with one AFL experienced MFC player and seven others who have yet to achieve that level. In the place of elite level footballers, Casey was forced to rely on foot soldiers who have been battling away at lower levels including one who last played in the AFL in 2019. It truly was a case of bringing a knife to a gunfight. In the event, the Demons battled it out early in the piece, absorbing the game’s early heat and with thanks to the indestructible Jimmy Munro, talented midfielder James Harmes and a handful of overworked contributors led by Roan Steele and Tom Freeman, they momentarily held a one-point lead in the shadows of quarter time. This would have pleased first year coach Taylor Whitford but suddenly, he was helpless as the floodgates opened with three Footscray goals in as many minutes at the end of the term and his team went into the first break with a 17 point deficit. Having established superiority, the Bulldogs worked their opposition over in the next twenty minutes. The Demon cause was hit hard by the fact that many of their number were unable to get their hands on the football. They were lucky that the Doggies were off target with six behinds in a row … until the goals inevitably started to flow. Three goals in three minutes saw them out to a 41-point lead before the battling Demons got their second wind. Steele and Ryan Valentine goaled and the former added another to give him three for the game so far. At the 29 minute mark, it was incredibly almost back to game on but once again, a couple of late goals saw the Bulldogs back in total control with a 35-point lead at the main break. After that, it was a case of too many Bulldog guns against too few Casey knives. They added six more unanswered goals until George Grey found the big sticks 26 minutes into the premiership quarter. Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Steele added two each in the final term as the Demons battled to avoid a humiliating 100 point defeat which they thankfully did well to avert. For Melbourne fans, it was a game that left something of a poor taste but the explanation is to be found in the fact that the club has bigger fish to fry in the coming week. But that is no consolation to those who worked their butts off to bring about the dream of back to back premierships at Casey. Munro (32 possessions and 9 tackles) was easily his team’s best and Harmes (25 touches) the best of the motley Melbourne crew but they, along with skipper Mitch White couldn’t be expected to carry the heavy load of a cutthroat final. Roan Steele had a day out with a fantastic five goal contribution, Moniz-Wakefield had his moments as did Deakyn Smith and Freeman in defence but they were generally overwhelmed in the absence of some of the AFL-listers who were left out of the side. Will Verrell and Jed Adams tried hard but they and their teammates needed the support that was deprived to them. The statistics don’t lie. Too many of the team made little or no contribution to the cause and some appeared completely unarmed in this gunfight. One can only hope that they can take something from the experience and return to fight again without damage caused to their careers. CASEY DEMONS 2.4.16 5.4.34 6.9.45 10.9.69 FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 5.3.33 10.9.69 16.11.107 22.16.148 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Steele 5 Moniz-Wakefield 2 Grey Munro Valentine FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS Clarke Garcia Khamis Poulter 3 Craig-Peters Macpherson Sullivan West 2 Goater Sweet BEST CASEY DEMONS Munro Steele Freeman Harmes Edwards Moniz-Wakefield FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS Poulter Sullivan Sweet Garcia Crozier Khamis Statistics Jed Adams 7 kicks 1 handball 8 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 46 dream team points Jack Bell 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 1 mark 6 hit outs 30 dream team points Heath Briggs 3 handballs 3 disposals 3 dream team points Matt Buntine 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 4 marks 26 dream team points Tyler Edwards 12 kicks 6 handballs 18 disposals 5 marks 7 tackles 94 dream team points Finn Emile-Brennan 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 1 marks 14 dream team points Kyah Farris-White 1 tackle 2 hit outs 6 dream team points Tom Freeman 22 kicks 1 handballs 23 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 101 dream team points George Grey 1 goals 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 53 dream team points James Harmes 1 behind 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 90 dream team points Matt Jefferson 1 kick 1 disposal 3 dream team points Tom McRae 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 34 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 57 dream team points Ned Moodie 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 1 hit out 56 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 16 kicks 16 handballs 32 disposals 5 marks 9 tackles 131 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 6 kick 7 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 42 dream team points Deaykin Smith 12 kicks 3 handballs 15 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 72 dream team points Roan Steele 5 goals 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 76 dream team points Ziggy Toledo-Glasman 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 2 marks 13 dream team points Kye Turner 9 kicks 1 handball 10 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 48 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 goal 1 kicks 1 handballs 2 disposals 1 marks 11 dream team points Will Verrall 1 behind 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 12 hit outs 60 dream team points Mitch White 2 behinds 15 kicks 2 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 72 dream team points

Are you not entertained? Wow, that was some second half by the Dees. Our skill level and delivery into the forward 50 was the best we’ve seen. And 10 goals to boot! Not surprisingly, the Hot Pies came out with physicality across the board. Star captain Bri Davey threw her weight around like a gladiator racking up 35 positions to be best on ground. Brit Bonicci was coming back from an ACL too and she racked up 17 possessions to also be influential. You could tell at ground level we were not quite matching their intensity and that led to skill errors. Mike Stinear rued those early missed gettable goals which put us on the back foot. Collingwood were up by 14 points midway through the second quarter and Meggs was thinking, is this what a premiership hangover looks like? But no worries. Mick Stinear resets the group at half-time, some astute positional moves, a ratcheting up of the intensity meter, and voila! A scintillating 5-goal third quarter to none, to run away with the 4 points and be top of the ladder. It was inspiring to watch. Yes, entertained. A secret strength seems the evenness of our playing group. Collingwood had 5 players who had more than 10 possessions whereas Melbourne had 13 such players. Remember that quarters have been extended to 17 minutes plus time on, with rotations restricted to 70 so fitness is another factor, especially late in quarters. Special mention: Shelley Heath with 11 possessions and 11 tackles, ran with and limited Bri Davey’s influence in the second half and helped herself to 2 opportunistic goals. What a star! Other mentions: Kate Hore was everywhere with 6 marks and a Captain’s goal. Lily Mithen was full of energy around the ground, Purcell, Paxy and Mackin too. Eliza MacNamara’s second half for her first game for a year was super. She nailed an incredible inside 50 bullet pass to Hore for her goal. Our tall forwards provided lots of great leads and marked well with Bannan (3 goals), Zanker (2.3) and Harris (1.2). Harris also had 7 marks and got to many contests competing well. Ikon Park always has such a nice vibe. Arriving early, you could see the ground steadily filling, eventually with 8,412 people. It was great to see Kate Roffey and Daisy Pearce there to unveil the Demons Season 7 premiership flag and then we were sung to by Australian legend Missy Higgins. Kate promised big things for Melbourne in Season 8 and thanked all supporters with special praise for the DeeArmy. Their banner celebrating vice-captain Tyla Hanks’ 50th game was amazing. Hanksy played her part too with her usual gameday awesomeness and celebrating her milestone with a crushing win. In terms of the game: Q1 Kate Hore wins the toss. Good omen. We notice Razor Ray is out there with his whistle. Awesome. Melbourne has the better of the opening minutes and a couple of near misses from Harris, Zanker and Sherriff. Highlights reel Alyssa Bannan gets the opening goal of the match with a nice assist from Eliza Mac. Collingwood pushing forward. Our defenders look under pressure. Purcell is adjudged to be holding the ball and Makala Cann kicks truly for the Pies first goal. Davey, Bonicci, Brazill are getting on top, laying some big tackles and the Pies get another goal via Tarni Brown. ¼ time: Dees 1.4.10 Pies 2.0.12 Q2 Within 2 minutes of the start of play the Pies get another goal off the back of a thumping inside 50 entry from Davey when Morris-Dalton kicks it off the ground. Moments later Sabreena Frederick for the Pies has a snap in the goal square but kicks it like Joe Daniher and somehow misses the unmissable. A lucky break for the Dees! Davey then earns a holding the ball free kick in the goal square and duly converts. Pies up by 13 points and getting on top. Mick sends Kate Hore to defence, and she immediately marks and repels a Pies forward entry. Eliza James, a Collingwood forward, is off with an ankle injury. Unfortunately, she doesn’t return. Second-gamer Georgia Campbell takes a contested mark in the goal square and converts. She was a Father-Daughter selection with pick 41 in the 2021 AFLW draft and her Dad, Adrian, played 2 games for the Dees in 1993. ½ time: Dees 2.7.19 Pies 4.3.27 Q3 Melbourne starts brightly with some fast ball movement where Zanker takes control of the footy in the goal square and nicely executes an overhead kick for a goal. That’s how you do it Sabreena. Next a scintillating passage of play begins deep in the backline and ends up with Shelley Heath running into an open goal. The Dees are in front as teammates gather around Heathy. Eliza Mac then intercepts and hits up Kate Hore with that sublime inside 50 pass and Captain Kate goes bang, slotting it perfectly above the goal umpire’s head. Momentum is with the Dees as now as Harris intercepts an errant Magpie handpass to kick the fourth goal of the quarter. Under two minutes now and Harris takes another contested mark in the inside 50 and centres her kick where Banno takes a Mark of the Day and goes back and goals. Banno can now add contested marking to her impressive bouncing, goal scoring and celebrating CV. Less than 30 seconds to go and Hanks steals the ball from Davey to hit Harris on the lead but in an anticlimax, her after-the-siren shot hits the post. No matter. The Dees have turned the pie warmer off and the Pies have gone cold. They’re no chance from here. Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said the Pies missed the ‘run’ of their injured first choice defenders Ruby Schleicher and Lauren Butler. Our tall forwards have certainly dominated. ¾ time: Dees 7.11.19 Pies 4.4.28 Q4 The Pies only score 3 points for the quarter as the Dees dominate and kick 3 goals 2 points. Heath creates something from nothing from a ball up for her second goal. What a game she’s having! Zanker then marks strongly and goes banana on her left foot for her second goal. Sherriff marks inside 50 and then unselfishly handballs to a running Banno for her third goal. It’s game over. Full time: Dees 10.13.73 defeated Pies 4.7.31 If you’re one of those people who say women’s footy is not skillful or entertaining enough for you, please watch the highlights of the third quarter and see if you still feel that way. Coaches and next week Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said the group started well but didn’t convert early and became concerned when Collingwood got on top. He felt it was an attractive game to watch with both teams having ascendency at various times. When asked, he said Melbourne was conservative with the new AFLW rotation rule limit of 60 interchanges. Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said Melbourne was a really good team last year and have gone up another level this year. When their pressure dropped off, Melbourne was able to get their run-on gaming going and they’re hard to stop. He is a fan of the longer quarters. Next week we take on GWS at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Sunday September 10 at 5:05pm. MELBOURNE 1.4.10 2.7.19 7.11.53 10.13.73 COLLINGWOOD 2.0.12 4.3.27 4.4.28 4.7.31 GOALS MELBOURNE Bannan 3 Heath Zanker 2 Campbell Harris Hore COLLINGWOOD Brown Cann Davey Morris-Dalton BEST MELBOURNE Hanks Bannan Purcell Zanker Heath Hore COLLINGWOOD Davey Bonnici Rowe Cann Morris-Dalton Brazill INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil COLLINGWOOD James (ankle) Brazill (nose) UMPIRES Chamberlain Devenish Simmonds CROWD 8,412 at Ikon Park

SEASON OVER by KC From Casey The Casey Demons made like desperados as they entered the last chance saloon for their VFL Elimination Final against the Footscray Bulldogs at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. With most of their experienced Melbourne-listed players pulled from the game to ensure they were fit if called upon for a Thursday night’s AFL Qualifying Final, Casey was put into the position akin to bringing a knife to a gunfight and it didn't end well. The result was a 79-point massacre … season over. Casey’s title defence has been flagging in recent months. The Demons were heading for a double chance as they entered the final rounds but single digit defeats in their last three matches forced them into the Wildcard Round and a six-day break before this match up against a fully rested Bulldogs who had 15 of their AFL-listers available. Casey’s cause was also hampered with the loss through injury of players who would otherwise have been eligible and the ACL damage to Luke Dunstan was a major blow, followed up by the player withdrawals that left the club with one AFL experienced MFC player and seven others who have yet to achieve that level. In the place of elite level footballers, Casey was forced to rely on foot soldiers who have been battling away at lower levels including one who last played in the AFL in 2019. It truly was a case of bringing a knife to a gunfight. In the event, the Demons battled it out early in the piece, absorbing the game’s early heat and with thanks to the indestructible Jimmy Munro, talented midfielder James Harmes and a handful of overworked contributors led by Roan Steele and Tom Freeman, they momentarily held a one-point lead in the shadows of quarter time. This would have pleased first year coach Taylor Whitford but suddenly, he was helpless as the floodgates opened with three Footscray goals in as many minutes at the end of the term and his team went into the first break with a 17 point deficit. Having established superiority, the Bulldogs worked their opposition over in the next twenty minutes. The Demon cause was hit hard by the fact that many of their number were unable to get their hands on the football. They were lucky that the Doggies were off target with six behinds in a row … until the goals inevitably started to flow. Three goals in three minutes saw them out to a 41-point lead before the battling Demons got their second wind. Steele and Ryan Valentine goaled and the former added another to give him three for the game so far. At the 29 minute mark, it was incredibly almost back to game on but once again, a couple of late goals saw the Bulldogs back in total control with a 35-point lead at the main break. After that, it was a case of too many Bulldog guns against too few Casey knives. They added six more unanswered goals until George Grey found the big sticks 26 minutes into the premiership quarter. Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Steele added two each in the final term as the Demons battled to avoid a humiliating 100 point defeat which they thankfully did well to avert. For Melbourne fans, it was a game that left something of a poor taste but the explanation is to be found in the fact that the club has bigger fish to fry in the coming week. But that is no consolation to those who worked their butts off to bring about the dream of back to back premierships at Casey. Munro (32 possessions and 9 tackles) was easily his team’s best and Harmes (25 touches) the best of the motley Melbourne crew but they, along with skipper Mitch White couldn’t be expected to carry the heavy load of a cutthroat final. Roan Steele had a day out with a fantastic five goal contribution, Moniz-Wakefield had his moments as did Deakyn Smith and Freeman in defence but they were generally overwhelmed in the absence of some of the AFL-listers who were left out of the side. Will Verrell and Jed Adams tried hard but they and their teammates needed the support that was deprived to them. The statistics don’t lie. Too many of the team made little or no contribution to the cause and some appeared completely unarmed in this gunfight. One can only hope that they can take something from the experience and return to fight again without damage caused to their careers. CASEY DEMONS 2.4.16 5.4.34 6.9.45 10.9.69 FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 5.3.33 10.9.69 16.11.107 22.16.148 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Steele 5 Moniz-Wakefield 2 Grey Munro Valentine FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS Clarke Garcia Khamis Poulter 3 Craig-Peters Macpherson Sullivan West 2 Goater Sweet BEST CASEY DEMONS Munro Steele Freeman Harmes Edwards Moniz-Wakefield FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS Poulter Sullivan Sweet Garcia Crozier Khamis Statistics Jed Adams 7 kicks 1 handball 8 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 46 dream team points Jack Bell 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 1 mark 6 hit outs 30 dream team points Heath Briggs 3 handballs 3 disposals 3 dream team points Matt Buntine 5 kicks 1 handballs 6 disposals 4 marks 26 dream team points Tyler Edwards 12 kicks 6 handballs 18 disposals 5 marks 7 tackles 94 dream team points Finn Emile-Brennan 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 1 marks 14 dream team points Kyah Farris-White 1 tackle 2 hit outs 6 dream team points Tom Freeman 22 kicks 1 handballs 23 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 101 dream team points George Grey 1 goals 8 kicks 3 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 53 dream team points James Harmes 1 behind 14 kicks 11 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 90 dream team points Matt Jefferson 1 kick 1 disposal 3 dream team points Tom McRae 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 34 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 57 dream team points Ned Moodie 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 1 hit out 56 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 16 kicks 16 handballs 32 disposals 5 marks 9 tackles 131 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 6 kick 7 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 42 dream team points Deaykin Smith 12 kicks 3 handballs 15 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 72 dream team points Roan Steele 5 goals 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 1 tackles 76 dream team points Ziggy Toledo-Glasman 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 2 marks 13 dream team points Kye Turner 9 kicks 1 handball 10 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 48 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 goal 1 kicks 1 handballs 2 disposals 1 marks 11 dream team points Will Verrall 1 behind 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 12 hit outs 60 dream team points Mitch White 2 behinds 15 kicks 2 handballs 17 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 72 dream team points

Congratulations to former Demonland Sponsored Player Jayden Hunt on coming 4th in the West Coast Eagles Best & Fairest. JOHN WORSFOLD MEDAL TOP 10 1. Tim Kelly - 200 votes 2. Oscar Allen - 163 3. Liam Duggan - 158 4. Jayden Hunt - 116 5. Shannon Hurn - 102 6. Bailey Williams - 101 7. Andrew Gaff - 85 8. Alex Witherden - 84 =9. Tom Barrass - 79 =9. Noah Long - 79

Kalani White is now 197cm and taller than Jeff. He achieved All Australian hours at Under 16 level at this year’s national carnival and now apparently, a premiership with his local team.

The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 4th September @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we preview the Demons upcoming Qualifying Final against Collingwood on Thursday night. You questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

https://twitter.com/7afl/status/1697534659255758997?s=46&t=4yiPa6LJbgt-ACIG0WMIuA

The following players are being held back in case they get called up to play for the Dees 5 days later. B. Grundy, J. Jordon, T. McDonald, J. Schache, C. Spargo, T. Woewodin (AFL) Can't have them play a full game, a final no less, against the Bulldogs on Saturday and then expect them to potentially play in a massive final on Thursday. As to the rules, I always thought that as long as the senior side was still in you could play anyone no matter how many games they had played. Someone else will be able to elaborate on what the amount of games that you have to have played if your senior side is out.

I've been meaning to do this all year (and last year) but kept on forgetting

Full video:

Bulldogs reading about all of Casey's outs:

If true then they also denied themselves an extra day for Darcy Moore's hamstring (and possibly Nick Daicos' knee) to heal.

The following Demons players are out of the Casey side to play the Bulldogs on Saturday given that there is only 5 days from the Casey Final until the Dees Final on Thursday. OUT: L. Dunstan (knee), B. Grundy, J. Jordon, T. McDonald, J. Schache, C. Spargo, T. Woewodin (AFL)

IN Bell, Valentine, McRae, Briggs, Emile-Brennan, Toledo, Farris-White OUT Grundy, Spargo, Schache, Jordon, McDonald, Woewodin, Dunstan (ACL). According to the Melbourne Football Club website: “As Melbourne have the pre-finals bye, some AFL listed players become ineligible to play this week in the VFL. “Melbourne have also decided to rest some of the AFL listed players due to the sahort break between the VFL match and the AFL final on Thursday night”.

The AFL will probably gift us a closed session at GMHBA Stadium.

I wonder if the Dees will also get a closed session at the G

Doesn't count all the missed throws though.

He has the best apprenticeship money can buy training with 2 All Australian ruckman.

Best differentials 1 - St Kilda (+77) 2 - Fremantle (+74) 3 - Brisbane (+60) 4 - Melbourne (+46) 5 - Collingwood (+43) Worst differentials 1 - Port Adelaide (-68) 2 - Richmond (-59) Eq.3 - North Melbourne (-53) Eq.3 - Gold Coast (-53) 5 - Adelaide (-34) Most frees for 1 - Fremantle (449) 2 - Carlton (444) 3 - Adelaide (437) Eq.4 - Sydney (435) Eq.4 - St Kilda (435) Least frees for 1 - GWS Giants (355) 2 - Richmond (357) Eq.3 - Gold Coast (379) Eq.3 - Western Bulldogs (379) 5 - Hawthorn (380) Most frees against 1 - Port Adelaide (484) 2 - Adelaide (471) 3 - Sydney (442) 4 - North Melbourne (436) 5 - Gold Coast (432) Least frees against 1 - St Kilda (358) 2 - Essendon (369) 3 - GWS Giants (371) 4 - Brisbane (374) Eq.5 - Melbourne (375) Eq.5 - Fremantle (375)