KC from Casey

The state of play as far as I can gather * - STAYING: Casey Demons: Riley Bonner, Lachie Bryce, Jesse Craven, Paddy Cross, Jarrod Gatt, Olliver Green, Brayden La Planche, Wardell Lual, Tyson Sruk Melbourne: Jed Adams, Jake Bowey, Tom Campbell, Kade Chandler, Bayley Fritsch, Max Gawn, Blake Howes, Matthew Jefferson, Aidan Johnson, Ed Langdon, Harvey Langford, Bailey Laurie, Jake Lever, Xavier Lindsay, Tom McDonald, Shane McAdam, Steven May, Jake Melksham, Harrison Petty, Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett, Trent Rivers, Christian Salem, Harry Sharp, Tom Sparrow, Koltyn Tholstrup, Daniel Turner, Jacob van Rooyen, Jack Viney, Caleb Windsor ARRIVING: Casey Demons: Tairon Ah-Mu (Dandenong Stingrays, MFC NGA), Miller Bergman (North Melbourne), Braedyn Bowden (Berwick), Luke Cheffers (Moe), Luis D'Angelo (Traralgon), Tahj De La Rue (Dandenong Stingrays), Jehi Esler (Tooradin-Dalmore), Xavier Hampton (West Adelaide), Louis Hodder (Dandenong Stingrays), Sam Hoghton (Officer), Luamon Lual (Essendon), Nate Pipicelli (Nar Nar Goon), Clancy Pope (Nar Nar Goon), Jasper Russell (Dandenong Stingrays), Jobe Scapin (Inverloch-Kongwak), Joel Scholtes (Traralgon), Toby Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays, MFC NGA), Harry Tatterson (Heyfield), Jonah Walker (Gippsland Falcons) Melbourne: Oscar Berry (Category B rookie), Max Heath (St Kilda), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn), Thomas Matthews (Gippsland Power VIC), Brody Mihocek (Collingwood), Riley Onley (Murray Bushrangers VIC), Latrelle Pickett (Glenelg SA), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Xavier Taylor (Eastern Ranges VIC), Kalani White (Gold Coast Suns Academy QLD) DEPARTING: Casey Demons: Riley Baldi (South Adelaide), Jack Behnk (St Kilda), Chance Doultree (Red Hill) ,Tyler Edwards (Rowville), Jack Ferraro (Sandringham), Roy George (Port Melbourne), Max Gregory (Frankston), Mitch Hardie (Wangaratta Rovers), Patrick Ireland (Leongatha), Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott (Sandringham), Caleb Lewis (Gold Coast Suns), Max Roney (Tassie Devils), Kobe Shipp (Beaconsfield), Deakyn Smith (TBA), Noah Yze (Sandringham) Melbourne: Jack Billings (delisted - Footscray VFL), Kynan Brown (delisted - Sandringham VFL), Tom Fullarton (delisted - Williamstown VFL), Marty Hore (delisted), Judd McVee (Fremantle), Clayton Oliver (GWS Giants), Christian Petracca (Gold Coast Suns), Oliver Sestan (delisted - Port Melbourne VFL), Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne), Will Verrall (delisted - South Adelaide), Taj Woewodin (delisted - Collingwood VFL) TO BE CONFIRMED: Tom Freeman, Jenson Graham, Andrew Green, Charlie Peters, Kai Windsor * updated

Paul Amy is the Code Sports VFL expert. Here are some pen pictures from him of the new faces at the Casey Demons for 2026: Miller Bergman The comeback trail starts at Casey Fields for Bergman, who played 16 games in his four seasons at North Melbourne before an ACL injury sidelined him for all of 2025. The 38th pick in the 2021 national draft, Bergman made his debut in his first year in 2022. The former Dandenong Stingray has named Berwick as his local club. Luis D'Angelo The Demons lost a tough midfielder from Gippsland when Riley Baldi switched to the SANFL, but they have gained a similarly rugged player by signing D'Angelo from Traralgon. The runner-up in Gippsland Power's 2021 best and fairest, D'Angelo had a run at Box Hill Hawks in 2022 and has been a leading player for the Gippsland league's Maroons, figuring in the 2024 flag and teams of the year. "He's been awesome for Traralgon," former coach Troy Hamilton said. "He's a heart-and-soul midfielder, very creative by hand and gutsy." Luamon Lual The dashing Lual probably thought his AFL career was just getting going after playing 12 games with Essendon last season. But at the end of it he was lopped from the list, leaving him to look to the state league for a new home and a springboard for a second AFL club. Pick No. 39 in the 2023 national draft, Lual ran pen over paper not only at Casey, but local club South Warrnambool as a returning player. Joel Scholtes Like fellow Demons newcomer Luis D'Angelo, Scholtes went through Gippy Power under Rhett McLennan and for the past few seasons has been a tremendous Gippsland league player with Traralgon. "Left-footer, a bit of an intercepting half-back and very fit," was the word from former Traralgon coach Troy Hamilton. Jonah Walker The tall utility was prepared to go the distance for a Casey listing, making the trip from Nicholson, past Bairnsdale, to Cranbourne three times a week. New Casey coach Rhett McLennan coached Walker at Gippsland Power last year and watched him grow on and off the field. Thrown into the ruck in a final against Geelong Falcons, he was outstanding.

Former Bomber Luamon Lual has signed with the Casey Demons for 2026. The 181cm wingman was drafted by Essendon at Pick 39 of the 2023 AFL draft, and made his debut in Round 13 last season, kicking a goal with his first kick in his team’s eight-point loss to Carlton. He was delisted at the end of the season, having played 12 matches. Delisted Bombers winger joins Victorian club for 2026 I believe he might be related to Casey defender Wardell Lual who impressed with some good games late last season.

Another Casey-listed player gone elsewhere but this one’s not really unexpected. Max Roney is the Tasmanian player who was recruited this year but didn’t play for the Demons. He’s now found his way to the Tassie Devils’ inaugural VFL squad for 2026. Meanwhile, no sign of any new Casey Demons signings other than possibly Melbourne NGA player Toby SInnema who has appeared as an add on trainee at Gosch’s Paddock with the AFL team.

Ollie Sestan expected to land at Port Melbourne in 2026.

According to the article:- Casey Demons have farewelled midfielder Riley Baldi to South Adelaide but are believed to be targeting Box Hill Hawks wingman Ethan Stanley and delisted Kangaroo Miller Bergman. Bergman, who played 16 AFL games for North Melbourne after being recruited from Dandenong Stingrays, has aligned himself with Berwick in local football. Stanley returned to Box Hill this after playing two AFL games with Fremantle. Meanwhile, the Sandringham Zebras have eyes on Casey's Jack Ferraro, who starred at local level with Dingley in the Southern league this year. Stanley is a 188 cm, 81 kg midfielder who was on the Dockers’ list in 2023 and 2024. Bergman is a 189 cm, 73 kg defender who was at North Melbourne from 2022–2025 and played 16 games during that period.

Paul Amy has reported on X that Casey's Riley Baldi is off to the SANFL. “That's a heavy blow for the Demons: he had a damn good comeback season for them. Played 20 matches, averaged 19.1 disposals, hunted collisions. He's a gun”.

This is the time of year when VFL clubs start preparing in earnest for the upcoming season. With the AFL Trade and Free Agency period now over, all VFL clubs will be seeking to improve their lists in preparation for the upcoming season and the Casey Demons are no different. Casey has recently announced the appointment of Rhett McLennan as the new VFL Senior Coach for the 2026 season, replacing Taylor Whitford, who has been elevated to Melbourne's Head of Development. McLennan brings 23 years of coaching experience to the role, having spent the past six seasons as coach of the Coates League team, Gippsland Power. This thread is the place for news about the Casey Demons in the offseason of 2025/6.

New Casey Demons coach appointed - Rhett McLennan from Gippsland Power. VFL Senior Coach | Dees appoint McLennan

The Casey Demons held their Best & Fairest night yesterday evening and half-back Riley Bonner took home the Gardner Clark Medal. Runner up was the game changer Bailey Laurie. Third place getter was Mitch Hardie. VFL Rising Star went to Paddy Cross. Riley Baldi's dedication and energy make him a true club standout and winner of the trademark and values award.

Well done to Casey’s Riley Bonner on his runner up performance.

Riley Bonner on 7 votes is only 2 votes behind the leader in JJ Liston Trophy for the VFL B & F after Round 5.

melbournefc.com.auVFL 2025 Season ReviewCasey Demons VFL coach Taylor Whitford shares his thoughts on the 2025 season.

Interesting that Southport inflicted a second finals thrashing on Frankston in today’s VFL Preliminary Final with an 88 point win. The only outlier of the finals for the Dolphins was the Casey Demons game from last weekend when Casey lost their spark and inexplicably gave away nine unanswered goals in the second and third quarters.

A testament to Frankston’s accuracy for goal is that they went inside 50 on 45 occasions for their 16 goals. Casey had 15 more entries for their 13 goals … and sadly, that is in many ways the story of the two Demon outfits in 2025.

The siren sounds and it’s all over for the Casey Demons in 2025 after losing another close one through a lack of ability to convert near the goals. CASEY DEMONS 3.2.20 4.5.29 8.9.57 13.12.90 FRANKSTON 2.2.14 8.4.52 13.5.83 16.5.101 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Culley Hardie 3 Kentfield 2 Cross Laurie Tholstrup Yze FRANKSTON Ellison Mynott 4 Jones 2 Blamires Grant Hamill Hipwell Johnson BEST CASEY DEMONS Laurie Culley Johnson Hardie Baldi Campbell FRANKSTON Hipwell Voss Blamires Lloyd Ellison Barlow

Frankston goal and that looks like it

Laurie goals - back to 5 points

That goal to Frankston makes it hard … 95 - 84.

Could they …

3QT Frankston 13.5.83 lead Casey Demons 8.9.57 Goals Hardie 3 Kentfield Cross Culley Tholstrup Disposals Billings 21 Bonner 20 Hardie 19 Laurie 18 Campbell 17

Free kick count is 19 - 9 in Frankston’s favour.

Frankston have all the answers. Every time Casey shows a bit of fight they come out and score a goal.

Kentfield who has been quiet all night marks and kicks his second.

Since Culley kicked Casey’s fourth goal, it’s been a 9 goal to nil avalanche until Tholstrup managed that one!