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The Demons enter Season 8 as the reigning premiers and are considered the favourite to go ‘back-to-back’ by 14 of the other 17 AFLW Captains (82.4%). So, what could go wrong? Well for starters there is the dreaded premiership hangover, the difficult fixture, the most interstate travel of any team, potential injuries to key players, emergence of rising teams, the Daisy Factor … AFLW SEASON 8 LAUNCH The MFC Season launch held in early August was slap bang amidst the palpable excitement of the Matilda’s Quarter Final heroics over France and the upcoming Semi Final against England. Cub Chairman Kate Roffey highlighted the importance of team confidence and what it can achieve. With a roomful of players, their families, coaches, MFC staff and execs, coterie, supporters and @deearmy, you could feel how proud she was that our group had shunned expansion signings to stay on target with @demonspirit for Season 8. Seemingly AFL Head Office was less pleased with our list management success than our Chair and her football department was 😉. There was no sign of a premiership hangover when new skipper Kate Hore (10) confidently spoke to the Demon faithful on behalf of her team. She spoke well, as she does with everything. Recognition about her is coming from rivals and observers too. AFLW captains were asked ‘if you could recruit another player from any AFLW club who would it be?’ 3 answered Captain Kate (and 1 chose Tyla Hanks). AFLW Footy journalist, Sarah Black has Kate at number 7 in her AFLW 2023 Top 30. Yes Daisy, she’s ready. The FIXTURE Just to recap, Season 8 is a 10-round season (like last year), and the top 8 teams make it to the finals. There are 18 AFLW teams playing, as there are for the AFL men. However, the shorter season means teams don’t play 7 of the other 17 teams during the home and away season. In order to create a fixture which produces more even matches, the league has handicapped the better teams. Expansion was too fast and until the time that all teams are competitive, the league deems that a 10-week season works best. Notable for the Dees, they play the big 3 Season 7 preliminary finalists (Adelaide, Brisbane and North) and miss games against Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda and Sydney. Fixture highlights include the season opener against the Pies at Ikon Park and then a trip to Kardinia Park for its first game against Geelong (28 September 2023). The Dees also have more travelling than other Melbourne-based teams, with trips to Canberra, Perth and Brisbane. Fun fact: the only sides to beat Melbourne since March 2021 are Brisbane and Adelaide. THE PLAYER MOVEMENTS League-wise there were some big, noteworthy moves. Grand Finalist Brisbane lost their leading goal kicker Jessie Wardlaw to the Saints, their decorated midfield general Emily Bates and All-Australian forward Greta Bodey to Hawthorn. Brisbane’s coach Craig Starcevich still has a talented list, but these player losses present a challenge for him. Collingwood lost their co-captain Steph Chiocci to St Kilda (along with tough mid Jaimee Lambert) plus gun utility Chloe Molloy moved to Sydney as their co-captain. The Pies do see the return from long term injury of stars Bri Davey and Brit Bonnici. We’ll see on Friday’s opener whether these net changes have made any impact on the Pies premiership credentials. If results in practice games are indicative of what she can do during the season, then Kate Shierlaw’s move to North will seriously strengthen their forward line. The G-Train has moved to Richmond (from St Kilda) and presumably takes the retired Courtney Wakefield’s full forward position. NEW (AND RETURNING) DEMONS Melbourne have quietly added Saraid Taylor (28), a young tall from Richmond and Georgina ‘Chook’ Fowler (12), a forward with a Rugby7s background, from GWS. Generating some excitement for the Dees is the recruitment of premiership player Blaithin Mackin’s (31) sister, Aimee (21). Everyone seems impressed by Aimee’s Gaelic Football videos where she demonstrates her speed with the ball, kicks lots of goals on her preferred left foot and ‘sells candy’ like her li’l sis. Aimee is recovering from a hamstring injury, but we hope to see her in action soon. Lastly, we have Eliza McNamara (22) returning after fracturing her spine in a weightroom accident and Gaby Colvin (32) back from an ACL. We love hearing that they are back playing and doing well. BEST TEAM Melbourne was last season’s statistically best defensive team and the second highest offensive team and of course had a harder draw than most teams given it was a Season 6 Grand Finalist. With no significant changes in personnel and a year of development we are fabulously placed to excel in Season 8. WHO ARE THE LIKELY CHALLENGERS TO THE DEMONS? The danger team for Meggs is North Melbourne. They have 6 or 7 standout players and have steadily recruited better role players over the past few years. Though Brooke Brown, who moved to Essendon, will be missed. The games between these clubs last year were epic battles that could have gone either way. The other Season 7 preliminary finalists, Adelaide and Brisbane will be highly competitive again. The other team to watch is Geelong. They have an excellent midfield, a settled defence and just need to get their forward line working against the top teams to win those games. Expect the Cats to be around the Top 4. So that’s your Top 5 (Dees, North, Adelaide, Geelong and Brisbane). For the rest, there will be a logjam in the middle of the ladder as teams jostle for finals positions. One comment on the expansion teams. Expect Sydney to record their first ever win at some point this season. They knocked off both Gold Coast and Carlton in the practice matches. RANDOM SEASON 8 DISCUSSION POINTS Recent statistics on attendance and TV viewership has sparked debate over the quality and marketability of the AFLW product (mostly in comparison with soccer). Yes, it is early stage, a work in progress, but improvement is evident; everyone involved is dedicated and passionate; women’s sport is attracting global attention; kids are looking for different sporting opportunities; more girls than ever are playing junior football so expect a bright future to steadily build. Needless to say, we need to remunerate the women players fairly as we continue the journey. At the AFL AFLW season launch, the AFL announced it will award equal prizemoney for the men's and women's competitions for the first time in 2023. The total pool of player prizemoney for both the men's and women's competitions of $1.1 million will be split among the top four teams in the AFL, and among the top eight teams in the AFLW. The AFL has reinstated the McClelland Trophy to include AFL and AFLW (now that we have all 18 teams in both comps). The winner collects $1 million in prizemoney which will be shared between the club and all its players. Four points are awarded for AFL wins, while eight points are granted for AFLW wins (as the AFLW season runs for only 10 rounds). The Dees are in the frame with 64 points for the men but Collingwood (72) and Brisbane (68) lead at this point. It will now be up to the women. “The Daisy Factor” — the loss of inaugural captain and premiership star player Daisy Pearce to retirement — is not as serious as would seem. Coach Mick Stinear has said that we are at ‘ground zero’ and we know that #demonspirit is our secret sauce. A succession plan has been executed skilfully. We will be even better, you’ll see. Meggs will be back with a preview of the Round 1 Season 8 opening match which starts at 7.20pm on Friday 1 September at Ikon Park. Melbourne FC will unfurl their Season 7 premiership flag and then take on the mighty Collingwood Magpies. THE MEDIA: When the Herald Suns’ Lauren Wood recently ran the rule over the players most likely to ignite the AFLW competition, she referenced two Demons. Here’s what she wrote — KATE HORE, 28, (Melb) Hore, a premiership forward, has the unenviable task of stepping into the captaincy after one of the game's best players - Daisy Pearce - retired at the end of last season. But ask anyone at Melbourne - including Pearce - and Hore is more than ready to relish the challenge. Booted 17 goals last season given her aerial danger and brings the pressure, with an average of four tackles per game. TAYLA HARRIS, 26, (Melb) One of the game's most-recognisable faces, Harris finally tasted premiership success in season seven, playing a crucial role in the Demons' victory over Brisbane in her home state of Queensland. Harris, who is tattooed with the moniker "oxymoron", does things a little differently - even competing for a national boxing title just weeks out from the season beginning. Her contested marking ability is second-to-none, with her height and reach also utilised with some ruckwork at times last season. Simply a can't-look-away-from player.

The Casey Demons made an emphatic statement in winning their VFL Wildcard Match by 101 points over North Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday. The victory however, did not come at a cost as the team lost its most prolific ball getter in Luke Dunstan who limped from the ground before half time with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. Dunstan had been the star up to that point, having amassed 17 disposals and looking set for another day of monster numbers for the Demons. In the early stages of the game North Melbourne were competitive with both sides going goal-for-goal for almost 20 minutes. By that time the Kangaroos’ key forward Tyler Sellers had taken full advantage of the absence of Adam Tomlinson and Daniel Turner from the Casey line up with three goals to lead by a point. Tom McDonald was marking everything and Brodie Grundy was strong in the ruck, the former Magpie having brilliantly plucked the ball out of a ruck contest in the goal square for a major. The Demons then took matters into their own hands and hit their opponents like a ton of bricks. In a short space of time, they took over with goals to skipper Mitch White and two more to Tom McDonald which made it three for the term for the sticky-fingered key forward. In the blink of an eye, Casey had skipped away to an 18-point lead at the first break and worse was to come for the Kangaroos. It was always going to be hard going for the visitors who had a depleted list with only six AFL-listers, less than half of the reigning premiers who continued their dominance with a four goals to one second term. They didn’t let up after half time either. The vacancy filled by Dunstan’s injury was well covered by James Jordon who was prolific with 36 disposals, 7 tackles and a couple of goals for a day’s hard work. By the last change the home team had regained control in its fortress after a couple of narrow losses there. McDonald and Andy Moniz-Wakefield were having field days and had scored five and four goals respectively and Casey led by 67 points having kept their hapless opponent scoreless for the quarter. The procession continued into the final stanza with Casey stretching the lead to just over the ton and McDonald finishing with five goals two behinds in a 17 disposal, nine mark performance which left North’s defence in tatters. Grundy was dominant all around the ground ending the game with 33 touches and 18 hit outs and ten clearances to go with his three goals for the day. His second in command in the ruck Will Verrall continued the impressive start to his career but what could be better for a young ruckman learning the craft at a club under Grundy and Gawn? The Casey effort gained great support from the busy James Harmes and Charlie Spargo (24 and 17 touches respectively) while the experience of James Munro and White was valuable throughout. The Demons move on to an elimination final against Footscray next weekend at a time and venue to be announced. CASEY DEMONS 6.1.37 10.6.66 14.9.93 20.14.134 NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 3.1.19 4.2.26 4.2.26 5.3.33 GOALS CASEY DEMONS T. McDonald 5 Moniz-Wakefield 4 Grundy 3 Harmes Jordon 2 Munro Neocleous Spargo White NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Sellers 3 Ellwood Hope BEST CASEY DEMONS Jordon Grundy McDonald Munro Harmes Moniz-Wakefield NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Davis Lienert Bonar Cappellari Statistics Jed Adams 1 kick 1 handball 2 disposals 1 mark tackles 8 dream team points Matt Buntine 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 7 marks 1 tackle 61 dream team points Luke Dunstan 1 behind 13 kicks 4 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 63 dream team points Tyler Edwards 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 53 dream team points Tom Freeman 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 38 dream team points George Grey 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 47 dream team points Brodie Grundy 3 goals 16 kicks 17 handballs 33 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 18 hit outs 136 dream team points James Harmes 2 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 13 handballs 24 disposals 8 marks 4 tackles 102 dream team points Matt Jefferson 3 behinds 4 kicks 4 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 28 dream team points James Jordon 2 goals 19 kicks 17 handballs 36 disposals 6 marks 7 tackles 149 dream team points Tom McDonald 5 goals 2 behinds 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 2 hit outs 115 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 4 goals 1 behinds 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 75 dream team points Ned Moodie 2 behinds 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 59 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 6 kicks 14 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 13 tackles 112 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 1 goal 4 kicks 10 handballs disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 57 dream team points Josh Schache 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points Deaykin Smith 11 kicks 13 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 72 dream team points Charlie Spargo 1 goal 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 7tackles 77 hit outs dream team points Roan Steele 1 behind 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 68 dream team points Kye Turner 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 30 dream team points Will Verrall 1 behind 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 16 hit outs 53 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 2 marks 59 dream team points Taj Woewoedin 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 70 dream team points

Who are you tipping in the first week of finals and what’s the best results for the Demons?

A TON OF BRICKS by KC from Casey The Casey Demons made an emphatic statement in winning their VFL Wildcard Match by 101 points over North Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday. The victory however, did not come at a cost as the team lost its most prolific ball getter in Luke Dunstan who limped from the ground before half time with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. Dunstan had been the star up to that point, having amassed 17 disposals and looking set for another day of monster numbers for the Demons. In the early stages of the game North Melbourne were competitive with both sides going goal-for-goal for almost 20 minutes. By that time the Kangaroos’ key forward Tyler Sellers had taken full advantage of the absence of Adam Tomlinson and Daniel Turner from the Casey line up with three goals to lead by a point. Tom McDonald was marking everything and Brodie Grundy was strong in the ruck, the former Magpie having brilliantly plucked the ball out of a ruck contest in the goal square for a major. The Demons then took matters into their own hands and hit their opponents like a ton of bricks. In a short space of time, they took over with goals to skipper Mitch White and two more to Tom McDonald which made it three for the term for the sticky-fingered key forward. In the blink of an eye, Casey had skipped away to an 18-point lead at the first break and worse was to come for the Kangaroos. It was always going to be hard going for the visitors who had a depleted list with only six AFL-listers, less than half of the reigning premiers who continued their dominance with a four goals to one second term. They didn’t let up after half time either. The vacancy filled by Dunstan’s injury was well covered by James Jordon who was prolific with 36 disposals, 7 tackles and a couple of goals for a day’s hard work. By the last change the home team had regained control in its fortress after a couple of narrow losses there. McDonald and Andy Moniz-Wakefield were having field days and had scored five goals each and Casey led by 67 points having kept their hapless opponent scoreless for the quarter. The procession continued into the final stanza with Casey stretching the lead to just over the ton and McDonald finishing with five goals two behinds in a 17 disposal, nine mark performance which left North’s defence in tatters. Grundy was dominant all around the ground ending the game with 33 touches and 18 hit outs and ten clearances to go with his three goals for the day. His second in command in the ruck Will Verrall continued the impressive start to his career but what could be better for a young ruckman learning the craft at a club under Grundy and Gawn? The Casey effort gained great support from the busy James Harmes and Charlie Spargo (24 and 17 touches respectively) while the experience of James Munro and White was valuable throughout. The Demons move on to an elimination final against Footscray next weekend at a time and venue to be announced. CASEY DEMONS 6.1.37 10.6.66 14.9.93 20.14.134 NORTH MELBOURNE VFL 3.1.19 4.2.26 4.2.265.3.33 GOALS CASEY DEMONS T. McDonald 5 Moniz-Wakefield 4 Grundy 3 Harmes Jordon 2 Munro Neocleous Spargo White NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Sellers 3 Ellwood Hope BEST CASEY DEMONS Jordon Grundy McDonald Munro Harmes Moniz-Wakefield NORTH MELBOURNE VFL Davis Lienert Bonar Cappellari Statistics Jed Adams 1 kick 1 handball 2 disposals 1 mark tackles 8 dream team points Matt Buntine 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 7 marks 1 tackle 61 dream team points Luke Dunstan 1 behind 13 kicks 4 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 63 dream team points Tyler Edwards 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 53 dream team points Tom Freeman 6 kicks 2 handballs 8 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 38 dream team points George Grey 7 kicks 8 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 47 dream team points Brodie Grundy 3 goals 16 kicks 17 handballs 33 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 18 hit outs 136 dream team points James Harmes 2 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 13 handballs 24 disposals 8 marks 4 tackles 102 dream team points Matt Jefferson 3 behinds 4 kicks 4 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 28 dream team points James Jordon 2 goals 19 kicks 17 handballs 36 disposals 6 marks 7 tackles 149 dream team points Tom McDonald 5 goals 2 behinds 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 2 hit outs 115 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 4 goals 1 behinds 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 75 dream team points Ned Moodie 2 behinds 8 kicks 7 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 59 dream team points James Munro 1 goal 6 kicks 14 handballs 20 disposals 3 marks 13 tackles 112 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 1 goal 4 kicks 10 handballs disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 57 dream team points Josh Schache 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 36 dream team points Deaykin Smith 11 kicks 13 handballs 24 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 72 dream team points Charlie Spargo 1 goal 12 kicks 5 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 7tackles 77 hit outs dream team points Roan Steele 1 behind 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 68 dream team points Kye Turner 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 30 dream team points Will Verrall 1 behind 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 16 hit outs 53 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 2 marks 59 dream team points Taj Woewoedin 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 70 dream team points

We’ll tackle all questions about the Qualifying Final in next week’s Preview show.

You’d be filthy if you’re a Crows fan

We almost clinched it.

The Dees will face the Pies in the Qualifying Final at the MCG with the winner playing at Home in the Preliminary Final. All eyes will be on the Medical Room as Jake Melksham was subbed out of the match with what looked like a serious knee injury and both Bayley Fritsch and Jake Bowey came from the ground at time with what looked like serious complaints but then both returned. Tom McDonald kicked 5 goals and Brodie Grundy 3 in Casey's massive 101 point win over North Melbourne in the VFL Wildcard Final. Who comes in and who goes out?

The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 21st August @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the SCG over the Swans 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. Please ensure questions only relate to this match and other general comments about the team and the season as we'll be doing a Qualifying Final Preview Show the following week. 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

In what was a dead rubber for the Demons the game still produced some carnage with Jake Melksham looking like he will be out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. The Dees overcame a charge from the Swans in the third and ran away winners by 21 points. The Dees will take on the Magpies in the first week of the finals.

Christian Petracca is the runaway leader of the Demonland Player of the Year but Jack Viney has been charging in the past few week and trails by 47 votes. Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw sit in 3rd and 4th place respectively with Max Gawn rounding out the Top 5. Your votes for the win over the Swans. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Again no demonstrative.

Carnage at the SCG

According to BT he will have his leg amputated at 3/4 time. didn’t look great.

Goal umpires gun shy now