Dees_In_October

At the time I was just wild with disbelief and awe and adrenaline. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing and there was no time to put anything into words. I think I was just muttering intensely, "We can do this". I actually think I was still in shock from it to some extent that whole final quarter (maybe still now?). Couldn't stop thinking about it, which is a weird thing DURING a grand final! I wasn't sure in terms of victory, but sort of felt like there couldn't be another twist. Felt a lot surer when BBB nailed the first. After that it was just a blur, a beautiful blissful blur. What a gift. It can never be taken away from us.

Anyone know if the club plans to re-stock or is what's available it?

Angus and Clarry at That's Good for Footy panel show

A practice match is planned against Collingwood this coming Saturday. Not sure of the venue, but if I had to guess, I'd say Olympic Park rather than Casey.

A successful intraclub went down at Casey on Saturday. Best of all, no injuries reported. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1039515/a-real-genuine-hit-out-in-aflw-intra-club-match Looks like a few ring-ins were involved to make up numbers Scott clinging to her contested marking crown

Molloy's a player I'd enjoy a lot more in our colours... Agree about Goldrick, I just finished my re-watch of the season and we really missed her after her injury. Will be interested to see what our latest rookie in West does at AFLW level, hoping for a similar result!

Other highlights: The little cameo from Noel McMahon on the big screen was an unexpected moment of amusement - reckons the '21 team is "half as good" as the one from his day. Probably one of the biggest laughs of the day in what was expected to be a touching or emotional video - just funny instead. The tiny red-headed pitch invader who got away from his (was it Lever's son again?) minders and made a break for the centre circle while the players' families were gathering for the presentation. What's a grand final without that? A bunch of the players deciding it was a good luck to have their polo collars folded over their footy jumpers. Stylish. Hibberd re-enacting his run with the cup!

Didn't dream it! I think it was early on in proceedings. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1037769/premiership-celebration-kate-roffey-gary-pert?videoId=1037769&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1638771191001&tagNames=AFLClubExclusive:No

Very happy with how the day went - just like I'd expected, in fact, probably even better. With this kind of thing, it's easy to think of all of the 'what ifs' but if you can take it for what it is, it's pretty special. Apart from anything else, a true one-off (hopefully!). Best of all was seeing so many enthusiastic Demons of all ages but especially the kids. About 5-10 years ago, there was a real visible slump in kids and teens attending, and I still get a real kick out of seeing them a bit more abundant and proud of their colours since 2018ish. When Kate Roffey said "What other club would get 30,000+ at a GF re-watch", I was scoffing a bit, thinking of other, larger supporter bases. But actually, when you think about it, it's pretty impressive given what the event actually entailed, the amount of time that has passed and all the obstacles thrown up around it. And the vibe was great. So grateful to have been able to experience this with my family and my Demon family too. More tears of pride, and for those who couldn't be there. And I think I'm now ready to say: Bring on 2022!

Yep. This is what I'm mostly attending for, the thing I missed the most - sharing with others our long-awaited victory. Let's be loud and proud!

I guess we'll get to do another postgame in here after Sunday, right?

You've got Jack's expression just perfect!

Maybe Round 10!

2019 took the cake in terms of us being stitched up. 4th in our conference, so no finals, but more wins (and better % from memory) than 1st in the other conference, who went on to get pummeled in the GF. Ridiculous. But we've had our chances other years and lost crucial games when one loss meant season over. Not so cut-throat now with the longer season, which means more time for momentum to be lost and gained, and an actual finals structure. Still, we've been there abouts every year, which isn't something to be sneezed at, and hopefully sets a good tone for the long term. Other clubs (externally at least) seem to have a much shakier foundation.

Worth a watch, Gawn and Trac.

Yep, heard the same at the Good for Footy event. They divided up who would thank who in speeches. Max got the sponsors (because, according to Max "Goody had no idea") and Goody had Jonesy. Really wish it had been the other way around!

I reckon we should all start a slow clap when Bont kicks his goal midway through the third. Just build the mood a bit. All good from there!

Another little thing, I'm sure mentioned elsewhere, but at the end of van Rooyen's draft reaction video with all his family, at the end someone says, "Off to the premiers!" That's us!

Anyone left wanting, don't give up. Call the club! Or even email, I've always found them super helpful in sorting stuff out, including some EXTREME last-minute GF barcode stuff this year, right down to the wire. They want to help, especially members, especially ones dealing with tech glitches and ticketek malarkey. Plus, guaranteed some people will have spares in the lead-up due to sickness etc., which I'm sure people will be willing to transfer. Like me, I bet plenty of people got tickets for friends who say they'll "maybe" attend but might change their minds. Certainly, I'll pass spares on to anyone here if people drop out from my 10.

As a wise Demonlander pointed out to me, if you say the score that Brayshaw's goal brought us to quickly (9.10.64) you get "1964" as well.

Yep agree re: KPDs. A lot of games late last season the backline wasn't really challenged due to weather or midfield dominance on our part. And then when it was, it didn't turn out so well. Hopefully that's something that can be remedied with another preseason.

Well said. I was one of those 84,000, plus I watched the Dees women smash West Coast the same day. Was great to have a comfortable lead because I didn't feel so bad about leaving early to make it to the MCG in time for the first ball. Interestingly, saw a bunch of other people doing the same - like me, switching from red & blue to green & gold in the Casey Fields car park! Including Meg Hutchins who I think was commentating, so not sure how that worked out. Then the Aussies smashed it too. One of my favourite days watching sport ever.

Have you got this one?

List debut year (for the Demons): 6 players remain from the inaugural 2017 list: Lampard, Mithen, Paxman, D.Pearce, L.Pearce, Scott 2 from the 2018 list: Hore, Zanker 3 from 2019: Gay, Hanks, Heath 7 from 2020: Birch, Colvin, Goldrick, Parry, Petrevski, Sherriff, Tarrant 6 from 2021: Bannan, Caris (YTD), Fitzsimon, Magee, McNamara, Simmons (YTD) 6 new to the Demons in 2022: Brown (St Kilda, Carlton), Campbell (Pick #41; YTD), Gillard (Pick #42; YTD), Harris (Carlton, Brisbane), Purcell (Geelong), West (Rookie; YTD) [YTD = yet to debut in AFLW] Age breakdown: 18-21 = 12 22-25 = 11 26-29 = 2 30-33 = 5 Games leaders and upcoming milestones: All going to plan, the 2022 season will see some players in the league reaching the 50-game milestone for the first time. To reach 50 games in AFLW in 2022, a player will almost have had to play every possible game and a good number of finals. So, these seemingly small milestones are worth celebrating in the next few years. Birch is the most experienced player on the list with 40 games (18 with the Demons), aged 24 for the 2022 season. That’s the 8th most games played in the league. Paxman is the leader for games played just for the Demons, with 39. In reach of 40- or 50-game milestones in 2022 H&A season: Birch – 40 (18 Demons) Paxman – 39 Scott – 38 Harris – 37 (Brisbane, Carlton) Mithen – 35 L.Pearce – 33 Hore – 31 Lampard – 30 D.Pearce – 30 Our new players and their new numbers: Brown (#28): De-listed by both Carlton and St Kilda but brings experience with 18 games and still just 23. Played defence for Casey in 2021, so will provide some much-needed depth with the retirement of Downie. Campbell (#1): Our first father-daughter pick! 182cm ruck. Averaged 20.9 hit-outs and 8.4 disposals for the Eastern Ranges in the NAB League. Gillard (#17): One of the tallest in the 2021 draft pool at 190cm. Will turn 18 in December 2021. Definitely a prospect for the future and another protégé for L.Pearce. Harris (#7): Needs no introduction, although misunderstood by many outside of AFLW circles. Played 37 games with Brisbane and Geelong after bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old in the Exhibition Series. Now 24, she’s 8th on the AFLW all-time goalkicker list and one of the best contested marks in the league—a prized trait in AFLW. All-Australian 2017, 2018. After a poor 2021 season with the Blues, a new environment will hopefully spur a return to form. Purcell (#2): Played 19 games for the Cats in 2019-2021. All-Australian and Geelong B&F in 2020. ACL injury in late Feb 2021 means her Demon debut may not be until late in the 2022 season. West (#11) : A basketball convert who was rookied from the Casey Demons after an impressive 2021 season. Won Casey’s B&F and the VFLW Rising Star in her debut year. Some handy midfield depth, and from what I saw of Casey, a bit of an X-factor.

Good spot. She was definitely in the training photos for one of last week's sessions, so all good then at least. I think there's training tonight as well so hopefully she's there, fit and firing!