Demonland

Please keep this thread to positivity only.

The Casey Demons will play in the VFL Grand Final at Ikon Park next Sunday after overturning their final round loss to the Brisbane Lions Reserves and dominating the Preliminary Final to emerge victorious by 51 points. And while the distance in standards between the AFL and VFL at finals time is admittedly a wide one and the opposition and conditions different, there were a few Demons on display who excelled to the point where one was left to ask whether they could have made the difference had they taken part in proceedings the night before at the MCG. For instance, Casey controlled the aerial duels in this match with a superiority all over the ground of 81 marks to 36. The discrepancy was clear everywhere and it set the scene for a confidence-laden display that was in stark contrast to that of the Melbourne which busted the game apart in the first half and slowed to close to a standstill in the end. One cannot help but wonder how that forward line would have performed with the boundless enthusiasm of key forward Jacob Van Rooyen with his marking strength and the experience and the strength of Tom McDonald. Each of them contributed three goals from key forward positions. The Demons made a slow start against the breeze at Casey Fields. They conceded the first goal and took a little over half of the opening stanza to record their first major when Andy Moniz-Wakefield took advantage of a great pass from Luke Dunstan. A couple more late in the term opened up a 13 point lead at the first break which they extended to 33 by half time. Unlike their AFL counterparts, the Casey variety of Demonkind never relented. Indeed, they picked up a head of steam and, with winners all over the field they smashed the Lions in the premiership quarter to go into the final break with a comfortable lead and then coasted to record a comfortable victory in the end. It was a case of the best from Casey on show. Casey had winners everywhere with their control of the key forward positions and an impenetrable defence led by Adam Tomlinson, Matt Buntine, Corey Ellison and Jake Bowey who was quite dynamic on the day and was another who showed the crowd what might have been if only the Melbourne selectors had shown some more risk and daring. The Demons dominated the midfield positions through veteran Jimmy Munro and Luke Dunstan with the run and pace of Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler always a factor in overturning the Brisbane dominance of their Round 22 encounter. Special mention should be made of Sam Weideman’s performances in the ruck. Despite his size, he has been growing (pardon the pun) nicely into the role and one wonders whether the Demons will try to develop him in the role going forward. The Demons also have plenty to look forward to in the form of their Northern Territory Next Generation Recruit Andy Moniz-Wakefield who shows all of the trademarks of a potential X Factor player of the future. Another in that category is Blake Howes who has the height and pace to fill several roles with another pre season or two behind him. Both will benefit from the experience of a final series at this level. With Bailey Laurie, Taj Woewodin and Deakyn Smith all out this week, there is a depth of talent available for the club to reboot in future years. However, there’s a premiership to be won in the meantime. Casey’s opponent will be decided later today when Southport and Gold Coast Reserves meet in the Second Preliminary Final. CASEY DEMONS 3.3.21 7.6.48 12.7.79 15.9.99 BRISBANE LIONS 1.2.8 2.3.15 4.3.27 7.6.48 Goals Casey Demons McDonald Van Rooyen 3 Bedford Bowey Brown Chandler Grey Howes Moniz-Wakefield Valentine Weideman Brisbane Lions Lohmann 2 Coleman Cockatoo Mathieson Sharp Tunstill Best Casey Demons Munro Bowey Tomlinson McDonald Van Rooyen Weideman Brisbane Lions Robinson Smith Madden Cockatoo Statistics Oskar Baker 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 72 dream team points Toby Bedford 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 2 marks 9 tackles 95 dream team points Jake Bowey 1 goal 14 kicks 9 handballs 23 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 83 dream team points Mitch Brown 1 goal 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points Matt Buntine 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 58 dream team points Kade Chandler 1 goal 1 behind 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 8 tackles 115 dream team points Luke Dunstan 15 kicks 10 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 10 tackles 120 dream team points Corey Ellison 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 1 marks tackle 20 dream team points George Grey 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Blake Howes 1 goal 2 kicks 7 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 47 dream team points Tom McDonald 3 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 11 handballs 20 disposals 1 mark 4 hit outs 79 dream team points Judd McVee 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 40 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 2 behinds kicks handballs disposals marks tackles dream team points James Munro 15 kicks 12 handballs 27 disposals 6 marks 8 tackles 112 dream team points Fraser Rosman 1 kick 1 disposal 3 dream team points [injured] Joel Smith 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 38 dream team points Roan Steele 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 34 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 18 kicks 4 handballs 22 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 93 dream team points Daniel Turner 6 kicks 1 handball 7 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 57 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 goal 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 26 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 3 goals 1 behind 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 4 hit outs 86 dream team points Sam Weideman 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 37 hit outs 117 dream team points Mitch White 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 12 tackles 93 dream team points

THE CASEY SHOW by KC from Casey The Casey Demons will play in the VFL Grand Final at Ikon Park next Sunday after overturning their final round loss to the Brisbane Lions Reserves and dominating the Preliminary Final to emerge victorious by 51 points. And while the distance in standards between the AFL and VFL at finals time is admittedly a wide one and the opposition and conditions different, there were a few Demons on display who excelled to the point where one was left to ask whether they could have made the difference had they taken part in proceedings the night before at the MCG. For instance, Casey controlled the aerial duels in this match with a superiority all over the ground of 81 marks to 36. The discrepancy was clear everywhere and it set the scene for a confidence-laden display that was in stark contrast to that of the Melbourne which busted the game apart in the first half and slowed to close to a standstill in the end. One cannot help but wonder how that forward line would have performed with the boundless enthusiasm of key forward Jacob Van Rooyen with his marking strength and the experience and the strength of Tom McDonald. Each of them contributed three goals from key forward positions. The Demons made a slow start against the breeze at Casey Fields. They conceded the first goal and took a little over half of the opening stanza to record their first major when Andy Moniz-Wakefield took advantage of a great pass from Luke Dunstan. A couple more late in the term opened up a 13 point lead at the first break which they extended to 33 by half time. Unlike their AFL counterparts, the Casey variety of Demonkind never relented. Indeed, they picked up a head of steam and, with winners all over the field they smashed the Lions in the premiership quarter to go into the final break with a comfortable lead and then coasted to record a comfortable victory in the end. It was a case of the best from Casey on show. Casey had winners everywhere with their control of the key forward positions and an impenetrable defence led by Adam Tomlinson, Matt Buntine, Corey Ellison and Jake Bowey who was quite dynamic on the day and was another who showed the crowd what might have been if only the Melbourne selectors had shown some more risk and daring. The Demons dominated the midfield positions through veteran Jimmy Munro and Luke Dunstan with the run and pace of Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler always a factor in overturning the Brisbane dominance of their Round 22 encounter. Special mention should be made of Sam Weideman’s performances in the ruck. Despite his size, he has been growing (pardon the pun) nicely into the role and one wonders whether the Demons will try to develop him in the role going forward. The Demons also have plenty to look forward to in the form of their Northern Territory Next Generation Recruit Andy Moniz-Wakefield who shows all of the trademarks of a potential X Factor player of the future. Another in that category is Blake Howes who has the height and pace to fill several roles with another pre season or two behind him. Both will benefit from the experience of a final series at this level. With Bailey Laurie, Taj Woewodin and Deakyn Smith all out this week, there is a depth of talent available for the club to reboot in future years. However, there’s a premiership to be won in the meantime. Casey’s opponent will be decided later today when Southport and Gold Coast Reserves meet in the Second Preliminary Final. CASEY DEMONS 3.3.21 7.6.48 12.7.79 15.9.99 BRISBANE LIONS 1.2.8 2.3.15 4.3.27 7.6.48 Goals Casey Demons McDonald Van Rooyen 3 Bedford Bowey Brown Chandler Grey Howes Moniz-Wakefield Valentine Weideman Brisbane Lions Lohmann 2 Coleman Cockatoo Mathieson Sharp Tunstill Best Casey Demons Munro Bowey Tomlinson McDonald Van Rooyen Weideman Brisbane Lions Robinson Smith Madden Cockatoo Statistics Oskar Baker 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 72 dream team points Toby Bedford 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 7 handballs 18 disposals 2 marks 9 tackles 95 dream team points Jake Bowey 1 goal 14 kicks 9 handballs 23 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 83 dream team points Mitch Brown 1 goal 13 kicks 9 handballs 22 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points Matt Buntine 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 58 dream team points Kade Chandler 1 goal 1 behind 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 8 tackles 115 dream team points Luke Dunstan 15 kicks 10 handballs 25 disposals 6 marks 10 tackles 120 dream team points Corey Ellison 3 kicks 2 handballs 5 disposals 1 marks tackle 20 dream team points George Grey 1 goal 1 behind 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 66 dream team points Blake Howes 1 goal 2 kicks 7 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 47 dream team points Tom McDonald 3 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 11 handballs 20 disposals 1 mark 4 hit outs 79 dream team points Judd McVee 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 40 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 2 behinds kicks handballs disposals marks tackles dream team points James Munro 15 kicks 12 handballs 27 disposals 6 marks 8 tackles 112 dream team points Fraser Rosman 1 kick 1 disposal 3 dream team points [injured] Joel Smith 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 38 dream team points Roan Steele 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 34 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 18 kicks 4 handballs 22 disposals 4 marks 5 tackles 93 dream team points Daniel Turner 6 kicks 1 handball 7 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 57 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 goal 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 1 mark 26 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 3 goals 1 behind 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 4 hit outs 86 dream team points Sam Weideman 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 4 marks 7 tackles 37 hit outs 117 dream team points Mitch White 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 1 mark 12 tackles 93 dream team points

On the day of Elizabeth II’s death, when her crown was passed on to the new King Charles III, the Melbourne Football Club quietly died in their Semi Final against Brisbane and passed on the Premiership Crown. Just like the Queen in her twilight years, things for Melbourne have not been quite right lately (certainly since mid year) and the cracks were there for all to see in the finals series. The cracks in a dysfunctional forward line were papered over and bandaged but the fundamental lack of a second tall forward that has been exploited in preceding games, and once again in this critical match. Melbourne certainly must have bought shares in knee bandages prior to the game, with Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Trent Rivers, Kysaiah Pickett and Ben Brown all sporting them, and while we know many players carry injuries at this time of the year, even a broken leg wasn’t sufficient to slow down Petracca. But broken was certainly the case for the forward line. Once again the “resting ruck” model failed, as it has one a number of occasions before. Gawn and Luke Jackson failed to bother the goal umpire in any way, and when Harrison Petty was moved down forward in the dying moments, it was a dramatic expose of why a second tall was needed there. In the last few minutes while he was there, he marked, scored and set up a second major and could even have set up an unlikely comeback victory. It is all well and good when Pickett, Bayley Fritsch and Alex Neal-Bullen score from ground level balls, but the opposition defenders in Andrews, Rich, Coleman, Gardner and Payne took a total of 36 marks between them. Not spoils - marks!. Our forwards and those when playing forward could only manage 21, and of course most of these were further up the ground. To put it even more starkly the only major from a tall came from Petty in those last three minutes. Not surprising when apart Brisbane had three talls playing in the backline, all taller than the rest of the Demon forwards. The problem with a lack of scoring from the forwards was made even worse with their lack of pressure. Rich had 30 disposals, Coleman 18. Yet Melbourne players were gifted positions under the guise of “defensive forwards”. Not much defense happening there and again a repeat of the same experiment having failed in the past. The first and foremost role of a forward is to kick goals! In an often mis-attributed quote from Einstein “ the definition of stupidity is repeating the same experiment and expecting a different result”. This was the stupidity that was being repeated at Melbourne since mid-year, while alternatives were available yet not explored, until the dying minutes of our season. Now there is no single reason why a game is won or lost, and that was the case in this game as well. The mids and the rucks were soundly beaten, and in the case of the rucks by a second rate opposition. Darcy Fort only got a run following McInerney’s concussion, with Fullarton as a backup. Max and Luke were outpointed comprehensively, or at least nullified with Max only contributing 4 marks for the game and Jackson a solitary grab. Two marks in two weeks for Jackson not a ruckman makes. Worse, that ability to mark down the line is a fundamental component of the Melbourne game plan and with close to zero output from these two and the absence of a Tom McDonald, means the tactic became meaningless. Yet we kept doing it expecting a different result. Another not so obvious reason is the underlying injuries that players came into the game with. The obvious knee strapping was visible, yet players like Salem, Lever, Rivers and Gawn played well below their capabilities. Not surprising that all of these players had taken time out during the season, but never seemed the same on return. In one of the small positives, Petty almost held the backline together, before showing what the forwards should have been doing. Singlehandedly he saved two certain goals with last second lunges yet his efforts and inputs were not replicated by others in the side. Well this season is now over for the Demons and it was almost ironic that the strains of the French national anthem on which Brisbane’s song is based, rang through the stadium. The Marseillais symbolizes the removal of the Crown in France to be replaced later by an Emperor. The question now is whether Melbourne can rise from the ashes of this season to restore itself as the premier side once more? MELBOURNE 3.6.24 6.8.44 8.11.59 11.13.79 BRISBANE LIONS 1.3.9 3.4.23 9.5.59 14.8.92 GOALS MELBOURNE Fritsch Neal-Bullen Langdon Pickett 2 Brayshaw Melksham Petty BRISBANE LIONS Hipwood 4 Cameron 3 McStay 2 Ah Che Bailey Fort McCluggage BEST MELBOURNE Harmes Petracca Petty Langdon Oliver Neal-Bullen BRISBANE LIONS Hipwood Neale McCluggage Rich Berry Coleman Zorko Cameron INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Nil REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Nil SUBSTITUTES MELBOURNE Joel Smith (unused) BRISBANE LIONS Rhys Mathieson (unused) UMPIRES Hayden Gavine Brendan Hosking Simon Meredith CROWD 62,162 at The MCG

Clarrie wins the Demonland Player of the Year by the length of the straight - 274. Clayton Oliver 201. Christian Petracca 151. Angus Brayshaw 132. Jack Viney 105. Max Gawn 98. Steven May 84. Ed Langdon 53. Kysaiah Pickett 52. James Jordon 50. Harry Petty 40. Bayley Fritsch 37. Jake Lever 36. James Harmes Luke Jackson 24. Michael Hibberd Tom Sparrow 22. Jake Bowey 18. Ben Brown Alex Neal-Bullen 17. Jake Melksham 8. Tom McDonald Sam Weideman 5. Jayden Hunt Charlie Spargo 4. Christian Salem 3. Joel Smith 1. Trent Rivers

Out in straight sets!

Cast your votes please folks 6,5,4,3,2,1 …

Yes he was out there.

Lever also having shots on goal.

I left the same time on the train as last week and the train was empty this week. Was chockers last week.

Not sure you can read too much into that because 1. Goody doesn’t do stuff like that and 2. Maysie also having shots.

Smith also having shots at goal.

Purple is a Royal colour.

Bedford, Bowey & Van Rooyen kicking the footy together on the half forward flank. None of them in the warmup gear. Assume Smith is the Medi Sub.

Ahh yes.

What’s with the Dockers lighting around the G?

That’s what my rain app says but it’s never very accurate. Last week it said no rain and then it drizzled in the lead up to the match.