Whispering_Jack

… and with that, the Demons finish their summer campaign with a win and they rocket up to the top of the preseason ladder (we’ll update it later). Bad luck to Tom Matthews and Xavier Taylor who didn’t get a sniff but I’m sure that they will get a run at Casey tomorrow. The problem is that the club has to work out a way to deal with the limited preparation given that there are still 16 days remaining before the first game vs St Kilda who will have a run under its belt next week.

There was also a stoppage for lightning in the final quarter of the last game of 2024 vs Collingwood at the MCG. A miserable end to a season made worse by a three week suspension against Kozzie for a head high tackle on Darcy Moore after he ducked late.

The ladder says it all. This afternoon's game is crucial in the battle for supremacy in the Preseason. After that, we take things one week at a time.

SYDNEY SWANS 2 0 0 196 125 156.80 8 CARLTON 2 0 0 189 159 118.87 8 ST KILDA 1 0 0 107 36 297.22 4 MELBOURNE 1 0 0 135 49 275.51 4 ESSENDON 1 0 0 118 68 173.53 4 FREMANTLE 1 0 0 81 53 152.83 4 ADELAIDE 1 0 0 94 75 125.33 4 HAWTHORN 1 0 0 111 94 118.09 4 GWS GIANTS 1 1 0 163 172 94.77 4 BRISBANE LIONS 1 1 0 214 204 85.44 4 GEELONG 0 2 0 165 187 83.76 0 PORT ADELAIDE 0 1 0 75 94 79.79 0 COLLINGWOOD 0 1 0 75 104 72.16 0 W. BULLDOGS 0 1 0 66 99 66.67 0 WEST COAST 0 1 0 53 81 65.43 0 GOLD COAST 0 2 0 137 233 58.80 0 RICHMOND 0 1 0 68 118 57.63 0 N. MELBOURNE 0 1 0 49 135 36.30 0

Based on the Captain's Run, this is the likely team:- Melbourne v Richmond 2. Jacob van Rooyen 3. Christian Salem 4. Harvey Langford 5. Xavier Lindsay 6. Caleb Windsor 8. Jake Lever 9. Jack Steele 10. Daniel Turner 11. Max Gawn 12. Koltyn Tholstrup 14. Changkuoth Jiath 15. Ed Langdon 16. Bailey Laurie 19. Xavier Taylor 20. Thomas Matthews 22. Blake Howes 24. Trent Rivers 25. Tom McDonald 30. Harry Sharp 31. Bayley Fritsch 32. Tom Sparrow 33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett 35. Harry Petty 36. Kysaiah Pickett 37. Kade Chandler 44. Luker Kentfield POSTSCRIPT The team has now been announced: B 22. B. Howes 8. J. Lever 10. D. Turner HB 5. X. Lindsay 3. C. Salem 14. C. Jiath C 4. H. Langford 9. J. Steele 32. T. Sparrow HF 15. E. Langdon 44. L. Kentfield 37. K. Chandler F 36. K. Pickett 2. J. van Rooyen 31. B. Fritsch FOLL 11. M. Gawn 6. C. Windsor 24. T. Rivers I/C 16. B. Laurie 25. T. McDonald 20. T. Matthews 35. H. Petty 33 L. Pickett 30. H. Sharp 19. X. Taylor 12 K. Tholstrup EMG 26. J. Adams 27. M. Heath 18. J. Melksham 39. R. Mentha Jr

Richmond first-round draftee Taj Hotton is facing months on the sidelines following post-match scans on a sore hip. Obviously, he will miss Friday’s practice match.

On whether King is introducing a diametrically different game plan to the one Simon Goodwin tried to implement last year: I agree that Goodwin attempted to shift the team’s method from the slower, stoppage-heavy approach that was falling out of vogue toward a faster style built on cleaner exits, greater overlap handball, and earlier involvement of outside runners. That became particularly evident after the disastrous 0–5 start. The transition ultimately fell short. Not everyone was either fully committed to, or capable of, executing the change. The midfield core in particular appeared entrenched in its established habits and arguably lacked the fitness profile, physical attributes and kicking skills required to sustain the higher-tempo style. That struggle was reflected in the season’s trajectory. A brief resurgence between Rounds 6 and 11 gave way to inconsistency across the second half of the year. The team rarely sustained ascendancy across four quarters. There were quarters of near scorelessness contrasted with bursts of high-quality football — for example, the first quarter against Gold Coast in Round 16 and the final quarter capitulation against St Kilda in Round 20. At other times, inefficiency in front of goal, such as against St Kilda in Round 12, cost them dearly. Not all of the players seemed to be on board. This year, the difference appears to lie in the conditions surrounding the way in which the game plan is executed. The playing group seems aligned with the direction, and the preseason has been structured around embedding the faster method. The system itself may be an evolution rather than a revolution but the buy-in, preparation, and capacity to sustain it look materially stronger and has a better chance of success in the longer run without some of the stars who would not or could not adapt to the new system.

Low deals can also turn sour very quickly.

No … I didn’t venture down to Casey Fields for today’s training run but the club had a camera man there. melbournefc.com.auGalleries | Melbourne Football ClubView the latest photos from matches and training sessions

Probably gets off because Checkers thinks he was concussed in a different incident.

A big blow for Richmond with Mykelti Lefau copping a fine and a two-game suspension after being caught by the police driving while more than double the legal alcohol limit. He misses this week’s game at Ballarat as well as the Round 1 game vs Carlton. Why a “big blow”? Well, the former Casey Demon who was drafted and turned into a Tiger did blow into a machine that delivered a blood alcohol reading of .108. That’s what I call a big blow.

VFL Report from the Melbourne Football Club website - melbournefc.com.auVFL Report | Dees tick off first practice matchThe Casey Demons have faced North Melbourne in their first practice match for 2026

I found this on Facebook today:- Happy Birthday Jeff Chapman AM. Chapman is a one-time forward playing 2 senior games for the Melbourne Football Club in 1966. He is founder of fund manager Bennelong Group. The 1965 Hawthorn Annual Report trumpeted the signing of Chapman, but he signed with the Demons after becoming friendly with Peter Smith and Ross Dillon. Training with the side in the 1966 pre-season the deal for the former Carey school football captain was sealed when he booted 7.8 in a practice match. He later went on to found Sportsworld Media and make 75 million pounds from its sale in 2002. He amassed a total fortune of over $500m in sports marketing, media and property. He also owned 35 golf clubs around the world. On 26 January 2019, Chapman was appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day honours, receiving the award "for significant service to the community through philanthropic initiatives".

As a guide to who might be selected for next Friday’s game against Richmond, let’s look at where they were last Friday:- MELBOURNE V NORTH MELBOURNE (Casey Fields 22 February 2026) 2. Jacob Van Rooyen 3. Christian Salem 4. Harvey Langford 5. Xavier Lindsay 6. Caleb Windsor 8. Jake Lever 9. Jack Steele 10. Daniel Turner 12. Koltyn Tholstrup 14. Changkuoth Jiath 15. Ed Langdon 16. Bailey Laurie 19. Xavier Taylor 21. Matthew Jefferson 22. Blake Howes 24. Trent Rivers 25. Tom McDonald 26. Jed Adams * 27. Max Heath 28. Brody Mihocek 30. Harry Sharp 31. Bayley Fritsch 32. Tom Sparrow 33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett 36. Kysaiah Pickett 37. Kade Chandler 39. Ricky Mentha Jnr * 44. Luker Kentfield * selected but did not play CASEY DEMONS V NORTH MELBOURNE VFL (Casey Fields 22 February 2026) 3. Christian Salem + 18. Jake Melksham 19. Xavier Taylor + 20. Thomas Matthews 26. Jed Adams 30. Harry Sharp + 38. Oscar Berry 39. Ricky Mentha Jnr 40. Riley Onley 44.Luker Kentfield + + also played in main game DID NOT PLAY (22 February 2026) 1. Steven May (personal leave) 7. Jack Viney (Achilles) 11. Max Gawn (managed) 13. Jai Culley (arm) 17. Jake Bowey (foot) 23. Shane McAdam (Achilles) 29. Tom Campbell (neck) 34. Kalani White (glandular fever) 35. Harry Petty (concussion protocol) 42. Aidan Johnson (hamstring) 43. Jack Henderson (back/sacrum) 45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) INJURED (22 February 2026) 28. Brody Mihocek (concussion protocol)

Wardlaw goes okay too.

The Age and its sister paper, the Sydney Morning Herald have been in steady decline for years. However, since being taken over by Nine News they’ve been doing even further downhill and soon it will go out of business altogether.

Casey Demons 12.5.77 lost to North Melbourne VFL 11.12.78 Hopefully, we will get report over the weekend.

The Preseason Ladder ~ W L D F A % PTS ST KILDA 1 0 0 107 36 297.22 4 MELBOURNE 1 0 0 135 49 275.51 4 ESSENDON 1 0 0 118 68 173.53 4 SYDNEY SWANS 1 0 0 99 66 150.00 4 GWS GIANTS 1 0 0 104 75 138.67 4 ADELAIDE 1 0 0 94 75 125.33 4 HAWTHORN 1 0 0 111 94 118.09 4 CARLTON 1 0 0 103 88 117.05 4 FREMANTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 WEST COAST 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 BRISBANE LIONS 0 1 0 88 103 85.44 0 GEELONG 0 1 0 94 111 84.68 0 PORT ADELAIDE 0 1 0 75 94 79.79 0 COLLINGWOOD 0 1 0 75 104 72.16 0 W. BULLDOGS 0 1 0 66 99 66.67 0 RICHMOND 0 1 0 68 118 57.63 0 N. MELBOURNE 0 1 0 49 135 36.3 0 GOLD COAST 0 1 0 36 107 33.64 0

The 2026 Preseason is upon us and it is time to vote for the inaugural Demonland Player of the Preseason. Please submit your votes for the Practice Match win over North Melbourne. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

And now for the all-important Preseason Ladder:- W L D F A % PTS ST KILDA 1 0 0 107 36 297.22 4 ESSENDON 1 0 0 118 68 173.53 4 SYDNEY SWANS 1 0 0 99 66 150.00 4 GWS GIANTS 1 0 0 104 75 138.67 4 HAWTHORN 1 0 0 111 94 118.09 4 CARLTON 1 0 0 103 88 117.05 4 ADELAIDE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 FREMANTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 MELBOURNE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 N. MELBOURNE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 PORT ADELAIDE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 WEST COAST 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 BRISBANE LIONS 0 1 0 88 103 85.44 0 GEELONG 0 1 0 94 111 84.68 0 COLLINGWOOD 0 1 0 75 104 72.16 0 W. BULLDOGS 0 1 0 66 99 66.67 0 RICHMOND 0 1 0 68 118 57.63 0 GOLD COAST 0 1 0 36 107 33.64 0

Good on Clarry. He looked good today although the orange outfit didn't really suit him.

FIxed (the notation, not the knee)

Saints looked good, Suns looked uninterested and were gassed in the last quarter and a half.

The preseason ladder - W L D F A % PTS ST KILDA 1 0 0 107 36 297.22 4 SYDNEY SWANS 1 0 0 99 66 150.00 4 HAWTHORN 1 0 0 111 94 118.09 4 CARLTON 1 0 0 103 88 117.05 4 ADELAIDE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 COLLINGWOOD 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 ESSENDON 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 FREMANTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 GWS GIANTS 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 MELBOURNE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 N. MELBOURNE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 PORT ADELAIDE 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 RICHMOND 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 WEST COAST 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 BRISBANE LIONS 0 1 0 88 103 85.44 0 GEELONG 0 1 0 94 111 84.68 0 W. BULLDOGS 0 1 0 66 99 66.67 0 GOLD COAST 0 1 0 36 107 33.64 0