Dees_In_October

Agree, we need some spark in that role and I thought Fellows was an obvious fit - has played a great VFLW season at Casey, tohugh I guess that's over now. Left field, but Heath played up forward this week at VFLW. She's so important in the backline, so not sure about that as a long-term idea, but think of the forward pressure. Hopefully the recruiters have something up their sleeve.

VFLW Round 13 Big shake-up at selection with several changes, including some AFLW names and Charlotte and Amelie Blair on debut from the Dandenong Stingrays. I think I also spotted maybe ex-Dee Petrevski as the runner, which was good to see. Casey set up the win early with five goals in the first. Carlton had a revival in the third, scoring three unanswered goals, with some defensive lapses and poor decision-making from Casey’s backline, plus a few turnovers in dangerous parts of the ground. At the three-quarter time address, based on a bit of lip-reading and the maxed-out volume on my video, Casey was asked to lift their work rate and hardness at the footy. They responded to take back control in the last, though they didn’t do the scoreboard damage they’d have liked. CARLTON 1.0.6 1.1.7 4.1.25 5.1.31 CASEY 5.4.34 7.7.49 7.10.52 9.12.66 Casey goalkickers: Fitzsimon 2, Angelis, Conroy, Heath, Johnson, Mitchell, Simmons, Wales Casey disposal leaders: West 30, Johnson 19, Fitzsimon 18, Chaplin, Hogg 17 Standouts: Conroy – 1 goal, 12 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 4 clearances. Liked her presence and physicality around the ground. Johnson – 1 goal, 19 disposals, 4 tackles. Benefited from having West in there to share the grunt work and found plenty of space. L.Wales – 24 hit outs, 15 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles. Great work in the ruck with pressure around the footy and marked strongly to kick Casey’s last goal. AFLW-listed: Chaplin – 17 disposals, 5 tackles. Solid defensive work, especially under fire in the third. Fitzsimon – 2 goals, 18 disposals, 4 tackles. A class above and such a hard worker. Big things coming in AFLW Season 7. Heath – 1 goal, 14 disposals, 8 tackles. Didn’t realise she was out there such was Casey’s dominance in the first. Then I spotted a player tackling hard and with a familiar-looking tenacity, and yep, Heath. She was swung forward in the second half and crumbed a good goal and sprayed another. Simmons – 1 goal, 9 disposals, 4 tackles. Caught a few times but a patient, 40-metre plus kick into the forward fifty late in the game was a positive. West – 30 disposals, 6 marks, 9 clearances. Was in everything particularly in the first half, having a direct hand in at least three of Casey’s first goals. Casey remains third on the ladder, two games clear of Geelong, and half a game short of Hawthorn. NEXT: The last game of the H&A season is against ladder leaders Essendon 11.15AM on Saturday May 28 at Windy Hill.

"the AFL haven't learnt from their previous mistakes" - shock! Yeah, just imagine an eight team competition right now! That would be a great standard! Interestingly, there's a good percentage of AFLW fans who aren't "traditional" footy fans who follow the men's league. I saw some stats on this that were surprising! The fanbase also comprises a fair percentage of former fans returning to the game after becoming disillusioned or losing interest in the AFL for whatever reason. Getting the game out of summer might draw back some fans who've melted out at Casey along the way. I know for me that's been a major stumbling block in my attempts to recruit fans who are otherwise keen but don't want to stand around in 35 degree heat with no shade at the height of summer. Obviously the AFL will also be after the big numbers, being those who already follow men's footy. Club loyalty is the biggest driver there and (for the four new teams) that initial novelty factor. But you're right, the quality has to hold up or they'll lose interest. Notably, one of the obstacles to quality that players speak about constantly is how the standard reached so far has in part occurred on a voluntary basis during the off-season and outside of the 15 contracted hours per week in season. Hopefully the new pay deal will help with that. The AFL is also clearly banking on the quality of the draftees coming through...not sure what's happening for the Year 12s and the early draft and August season start, which again, a foreseeable problem! I guess the question is, would a longer season drive quality faster than better pay that allows a higher and more prolonged standard of training? I have no idea. Both and fewer teams would be the absolute ideal, but clearly that's not possible.

The AFL is going for the option that opens up the most pathways for as many players as possible, with the flow-on effect from the community-level up = more fans, more money. That's the idea anyway. If they wanted to prioritise quality at the top tier there are about a million things they'd have done differently starting seven years ago, so that ship has long sailed. They can't plead ignorance about about players wanting more games if there were more teams though. The exact same thing was the main sticking point in the last CBA, that caused that process to stall. The group of players who stood up in 2019 managed to force a 10 game H&A season plus finals series for the 2022 season just gone (the AFL were wanting 8, for a 14-team comp). Those players in 2019 were looking ahead as well, managing to get an agreement that 13 H&A games wouldn't be off the table for the current round of negotiations (this was before the final expansion was announced). Obviously that hasn't come to much, but at least it wasn't a foregone conclusion! The AFL put the negotiations under massive pressure by (unilaterally) bringing the next season forward, which at least seems to have worked in the players' favour re: pay. Without that pay increase, there would have been big player numbers lost after the tumult of this season. That would have put the AFL in a difficult position due to expansion. Additionally, the AFL has long held that working towards professionalisation/full-time hours in-season etc. was off the table until all clubs were in the comp. That's now, so that's another reason for the pay changes being pushed through. So, in prioritising expansion while simultaneously experimenting with the season timing, they've been forced into higher pay, but at the expense of a reasonable season length. Something had to give. May the fixturing gods be in our favour. On the bright side, to be the best you've got to beat the best...

Yeah, for these players it's often a choice being made in order to continue to play AFLW in the long term or even short term. I think Petrevski's got plenty to contribute, we just didn't get to see her best at the Dees due to injury and lack of opportunity. She's made some major sacrifices from a young age to follow her footy and I'm sure she'll get another go. The departures so far (Tarrant, Parry and Petrevski) have basically been those right on the fringe last season, which stands to reason. There are only a couple yet to debut on the list at this stage. Despite the strong season the coaches have managed, assisted by Covid, to have a look at what we've got. Interestingly, with those departures, apart from the Irish players and Harris, we now have a completely Victorian list. Age breakdown for the current list of 27 is: 18-21 = 8 players 22-25 = 12 26-29 = 3 30-33 = 2 34+ = 2

Round 12 This week I had a look at the replay and even managed to navigate to the video without seeing the score, a feat in itself! After an arm wrestle for the first several minutes, with the ball stuck between the arcs, Casey took control and were never challenged, though they'd have liked to take more of their chances around goal. Port hit the scoreboard with a point seven minutes into the third. PORT MELBOURNE 0.0.0 0.0.0 0.1.1 1.4.10 CASEY 3.2.20 5.7.37 7.9.51 9.12.66 Casey goalkickers: Harasimiuk, Mitchell 2, Borchard, Clarke, Fellows, Simmons, Horne Casey disposal leaders: Johnson 24, O'Connor 20, Chaplin, Hogg 19, Harasimiuk, Clarke 15, Kirkwood 15 Stand-outs: Fellows – 1 goal, 14 disposals. A highlight was the first major of the game, a three-bounce running goal in which she covered about 40m before steadying perfectly. One for the draft highlights video; she's the only Casey player to be invited to the draft combine and looks a likely prospect. Has been a train-on players with Dees AFLW. Johnson – 24 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles. So strong around the footy, capped off by effective forward entries. O'Connor – 20 disposals, 4 marks. Really solid down back. Harasimiuk – 2 goals, 14 disposals. Worked hard, was super involved and took her chances in front of goal. Hogg – 19 disposals, 4 clearances. A player to rely on, always makes an impact, loves to shrug a tackle and usually succeeds. Clarke – 15 disposals, 3 marks. A 17-year-old from the Dandenong Stingrays on debut, kicked a nice snap in close quarters to take Casey to a 56-point lead late in the game. Horne – 1 goal, 11 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles. Clean around the stoppages, good positioning. Kicked a somewhat flukey goal that was reward for effort, in which she shrugged a tackle to find space on the boundary, 40m out, and mongrelled a centring ball forward, which bounced through. Borchard – 1 goal, 10 disposals. Neat kicker and quick hands to set up teammates and was rewarded for her hard work with a goal. AFLW-listed Campbell – 12 disposals, 4 marks, 9 hit outs, 3 clearances. Took some strong marks, crashed some packs, found some good positioning and is working on her goal kicking. Chaplin – 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles. Read the ball well to cut off many Port forward attempts. Simmons – 1 goal, 13 disposals, 3 marks. She's working her way back from injury but definitely got more involved on the wing as the game went on, attempting two running goals on the left and finding success with the second. Another of those tall, athletic wing and midfield types with surprising agility for her size. The run home… Keeping an eye on the ladder, I hoped that first- and second-placed Essendon and Hawthorn would have a draw in their Sunday match-up…and they did! That means Casey is in striking distance of a top-two finish (for the double chance), but it will be a tough ask, with Hawthorn having two likely wins to round out the season and Casey facing top-placed Essendon in the final round. NEXT: 9th-placed Carlton at 11AM on Saturday May 21 at Ikon Park.

All the focus on Tayla should have helped out players like Scott and Parry, but it clearly didn't. Hopefully Scott can be re-energised for one last crack.

Yeah, I don't think anyone here will be surprised or overly concerned by this. Of course, just watch her start clunking everything and kicking bags wherever she ends up.

They've lost a couple more (Mules and Foley) but neither would be considered key players at this stage.

Brenna Tarrant (15 games, pick 72 in the 2019 draft) has requested and received a trade to Sydney after failing to hold her spot in 2022. No surprises here - she's too talented for VFLW and will get plenty of opportunities at Sydney, plus a move home to NSW. Other trade and signing news is slow due to everything waiting on the CBA and broadcasting negotiations. I guess the only player 100% confirmed so far is Daisy!

Round 11 Based on my viewing of the second half - in time to see the comeback that just fell short, though certainly not through lack of trying in slippery conditions. Worth it for Mitchell's goal of the year contender - left foot, from the pocket, awesome. CASEY DEMONS 0.1.1 0.1.1 3.2.20 3.3.21 COLLINGWOOD 2.1.13 3.2.20 4.3.27 4.7.31 Casey goalkickers: Conroy, Mitchell, S.Wales Casey disposal leaders: Johnson 20 Grant 19 Hogg 17 Gillard 15 Horne 14 VFLW stand-outs: Johnson - 22 disposals, 10 tackles, 5 clearances Grant - 19 disposals Hogg - 17 disposals, 6 clearances Horne - 14 disposals, 9 tackles, 3 clearances L.Wales - 8 tackles, 22 hit outs Mitchell - Goal of the year contender! AFLW-listed players: Gillard - 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 17 hit-outs Simmons - 5 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles Still impressed with Gillard; she does a bit of everything and most of all, top-notch second efforts at a really consistent level for a young player. Hopefully will see her get some more games in the AFLW team later this year. Casey have slipped to 3rd place, notably behind the two Victorian teams building towards their AFLW debut: Essendon and Hawthorn, who match up next week. Next: 11th-placed Port Melbourne at 1.10PM on Saturday May 14 at Port Melbourne

Speaking of Fugazi, the lyrics of this one are also weirdly appropriate to this topic. I am a patient boy I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait My time, water down a drain Everybody's moving Everybody's moving Everybody's moving, moving, moving, moving Please don't leave me to remain In the waiting room I don't want the news I cannot use it I don't want the news I won't live by it Sitting outside of town Everybody's always down Tell me why? Because, they can't get up Come on and get up Come on and get up But I don't sit idly by I'm planning a big surprise I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know) Because I know how much time that wastes (and function) Function is the key

Easiest switch from our standard would surely be: "Naa-arrm clap clap clap" I can't always hear the cheer squad from where I sit, but I'll be listening carefully and will follow their lead. (Does anyone else remember the weird era where it became a two-clap chant?)

Maybe put some more on sale too. I missed out last year and thought it was the best ever. In fact, the 2021 one was such a popular design I wish the club would consider a year-round indigenous range using that design - not just jumpers, other stuff too, maybe even with the "Narrm" branding on it (with the artist's agreement, of course). I bet they'd sell like hotcakes. And then a new jumper design each year.

Round 10 Phoning it in this week, as the streak ends, with another stats-based summary. HAWTHORN 2.2.14 3.5.23 6.10.46 7.11.53 CASEY DEMONS 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.2.14 Casey goalkickers: Conroy, Harasimiuk Casey disposal leaders: Grant 22 Wales 19 Hogg Johnson 17 Chaplin 15 VFLW stand-outs: Grant - 22 disposals, 5 marks Wales - 19 disposals, 15 hit outs, 4 marks, 4 tackles Hogg - 17 disposals, 5 clearances Johnson - 17 disposals, 6 tackles Chaplin - 15 disposals, 4 tackles Mitchell - 8 disposals, 8 tackles AFLW-listed players: Campbell - 0 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 hit outs Gillard - 8 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles Simmons (returning from injury) - 13 disposals, 6 tackles With a run of 9 wins coming to an end, Casey now sits 3rd on the ladder, behind Essendon and Hawthorn - two teams keen to build towards their impending AFLW debuts. Next: 7th-placed Collingwood at 10AM on Sunday May 8 at Casey Fields

I'm not 9 years old by any means, but I think I had a similar reaction. Bit of a fist pump too!

Well said. I never thought I'd be so enamoured with the object itself, just expected it to feel like a mere symbol, a fun photo op and that's it. But when I touched it, there was something electric about it. Probably was more impactful than otherwise in making it feel real since so much of the experience was virtual to that point.

Round 9 With AFLW over, now turning my attention more strongly to our Casey players, and what a season they're having! Actually got to watch this game in full, which was enjoyable as got the chance to watch lots of players I haven't seen much of yet this season. Easily the most decorated AFLW-listed player on the field was ex-Adelaide premiership player turned Cat, Chloe Scheer, who was well held. For the Demons in terms of AFLW, it was Gillard and Chaplin. After beating Geelong by 11 points in Round 5, the re-match was a much more dominant affair to Casey's favour. General game thoughts A couple of times early we really threatened to score but just couldn’t quite get that last clean possession or went one handball too many - we could have easily been further ahead by quarter time. My impression of this team is that they’re really focused and hard working, and really committed to playing out quarters strongly regardless of the score. On the stream you could hear a lot of the Casey coaches’ instructions to players on the field, which is always interesting. A lot of focus on positioning. There was good pressure up field and Casey were well in control for the majority of the game. My favourite passage of play was the last minute of the third. The ball had been camped at half forward for Geelong for several minutes before they got it deep. Some excellent evasion and a neat kick from a player whose number I couldn’t quite see (could have been Grant) set up a clean transition out of the backline. A huge steal ensued when McCrossan stripped it from a Cats player after a dropped mark and dodged some opponents, bringing the ball almost to the goal square before losing it. At that point it was five on two in Geelong’s favour, but Casey worked hard to get numbers to the contest and just managed to keep the ball in the area by sheer will. This opened the door for Hogg to lay a great last-second tackle to earn a free and after-the-siren goal. Excellent team effort against some demoralised opposition. That put Casey up 36 points up going into the last quarter, essentially sealing the win. CASEY 1.1.7 5.3.33 7.3.45 8.4.52 GEELONG 0.2.2 0.2.2 1.3.9 1.3.9 Casey goalkickers: Conroy Fellows Hogg 2 Fairchild Macdonald 1 Stats leaders O’Connor – 19 disposals, 5 tackles, 6 clearances Horne – 17 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles Fellows – 14 disposals, 2 goals, 4 marks, 2 tackles Hogg – 14 disposals, 2 goals, 2 tackles, 3 clearances L.Wales – 14 disposals, 3 marks, 24 hit outs Gillard – 8 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 10 hit outs Fellows is having a really great season. A genuine crumber, something we’ve lacked in AFLW. Quick and reads it well. Loves to go straight to goal, which came off to great effect in the third when she found a paddock for a great running goal (after being denied a similar one in the first quarter after a wayward running bounce). I also liked Conroy’s game – two good goals out of the ruck, crashed some packs, good lead-up play at times. Continued to be impressed by Gillard and really hope we can keep her at the Dees. Always makes a contest, good positioning, some clean hit outs, second efforts. Rucks being such a hot commodity, hopefully she’ll be pleased with the game time she got in AFLW this year and can build into being our next ruck after L.Pearce—surely a good player to learn from. That's Casey's ninth straight win. The key will be how we play against some of the better teams that can apply more pressure. NEXT: 3rd-placed (soon to enter AFLW) Hawthorn at 11:35AM on Sunday May 1 at Box Hill City Oval

No idea if this is a record, but at the Demons (MFC and Casey) for Season 2022 we currently have a 93% win rate: AFL Men's = 5/5 AFL Women's = 11/13 (season completed) VFL Men's = 4/4 VFL Women's = 8/8

Round 8 Another stats-based summary. WILLIAMSTOWN 0.0.0 2.4.16 4.5.29 4.6.30 CASEY DEMONS 3.0.18 4.0.24 7.2.44 8.3.51 Casey goalkickers: Johnson McCrossan 2 Dowler Fellows Hogg Wales Casey disposal leaders: Johnson 22 Hogg 20 Dowler 18 Grant 17 Borchard 15 VFLW stand-outs: Johnson - 22 disposals, 2 goals, 4 clearances Hogg - 20 disposals, 1 goal, 5 clearances Wales - 17 hit outs, 1 goal, 11 disposals, 8 tackles Dowler - 18 disposals, 1 goal, 5 tackles O'Connor - 12 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles Harasimiuk - 7 disposals, 7 tackles, 3 clearances Horne - 14 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 clearances Swain - 29 hit outs AFLW-listed players: None played! Casey now have eight straight wins. Next: 4th-placed Geelong at 12PM on Saturday April 23 at Casey Fields

Pearce & Pearce and Tayla & Tyla! Quite an even count, represents the season fairly I think. We had different contributors across the season and also several games where there were several who could have made the votes. Amazing effort by Westy to make the leaderboard in her debut season and good to see Bannan and Goldie rewarded too. Of course, I'm a big fan of Heath getting recognition. Definitely a trademark player.

Just going to re-post this here. I think it encapsulates a lot about where this competition is at and what I love about it:

A disappointing end to a great season. It was always going to take our absolute best today and we got nowhere near it. But I'm still proud of their fight. Adelaide are a juggernaut! All credit to them.

Current Dees' All-Australians: Paxman - 2017 (c), 2018, 2019, 2020 (c), 2021 Harris - 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 D Pearce - 2017, 2018, 2022 L Pearce - 2019, 2022 Birch - 2020, 2022 Hore - 2020 Purcell - 2020