THE cavalry is returning for both Richmond and the Casey Demons as they name significantly bulked up teams for Wednesday’s Anzac Eve showdown at the Swinburne Centre.
The Tigers regain star recruit Joel Garner from concussion and also pick up Tyler Sonsie and Jacob Koschitzke from the AFL team, while Steely Green is also back after missing the loss to Werribee.
The Demons, meanwhile, have been boosted by star interceptor Marty Hore in his first VFL game since returning to Melbourne’s AFL list and Adelaide Crows recruit Shane McAdam, who will make his debut after a pre-season hamstring injury.
Key forward Ben Brown and young gun Koltyn Tholstrup also return after being dropped by Melbourne, while Max Gregory is the other inclusion.
AFL inclusions mean AFL exclusions though, with Sam Naismith and Sam Banks being promoted by Richmond and Dan Turner and Bailey Laurie called up by Melbourne.
In further horror news for Tigers fans, Judson Clarke’s season-ending knee injury against Werribee wasn’t the only such devastating blow, with VFL player Joel Nathan also ruled out for the rest of the year.
They’ve also lost Mo Yassine for up to six weeks with a foot injury, with Old Camberwell big man Liam Thomas being named for his VFL debut.
Casey will be without impressive youngster Paddy Cross with a minor hamstring injury, while AFL-listed Kyah Farris-White and last-game debutant Brayden Laplanche also miss out.
All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast select matches live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7plus nationally.
RICHMOND vs CASEY DEMONS
Wednesday 24 April, 2:05pm, Swinburne Centre
Head-to-Head: Richmond 7-5; At Swinburne Centre: Casey Demons 4-3; Streak: Richmond 1; Last Time: Richmond 14.10 94 def Casey Demons 11.16 82 (April 23, 2023, Swinburne Centre)
RICHMOND
B: N. Guiney (62), M. El Nour (57), T. Brindley (61)
HB: K. Smith (49), J. Garner (53), C. Harris (54)
C: A. Johnson (51), L. Street (55), L. George (67)*
HF: M. Coulthard (26), S. Green (48), C. Olden (58)
F: A. May (71), N. Cumberland (38), J. Koschitzke (20)
R: S. Ryan (32), T. Sonsie (40), L. Wilson (82)
INT: W. Bravo (70), H. White (56), S. Davidson (73), L. Thomas (72), J. Feneley (64)
EMG: L. Haddara (80), H. Scott (74)
IN: J. Garner, S. Green, J. Koschitzke, T. Sonsie, L. Thomas
OUT: S. Banks, S. Naismith (AFL), J. Clarke (knee), J. Nathan (knee), M. Yassine (foot)
NEW: Liam Thomas, 20, 198cm, Old Camberwell
CASEY DEMONS
B: M. Hore (27), A. Tomlinson (20), L. Connolly (55)
HB: M. Gregory (57), J. Adams (26), A. Moniz-Wakefield (45)
C: T. Edwards (58), K. Tholstrup (39), N. Moodie (74)
HF: O. Sestan (38), T. Fullarton (33), K. Brown (41)
F: B. Brown (50), J. Schache (19), R. Steele (54)
R: W. Verrall (28), M. White (52), L. Hunter (12)
INT: T. Freeman (67), M. Szybkowski (56), K. Windsor (66)*, M. Jefferson (21), S. McAdam (23)
EMG: H. Neocleous (75), C. Peters (63), B. Laplanche (68), J. Bell (73), R. Goerge (71)
IN: B. Brown, M. Gregory, M. Hore, S. McAdam, K. Tholstrup
OUT: B. Laurie, D. Turner (AFL), K. Farris-White (managed), P. Cross (hamstring), B. Laplanche
NEW: Marty Hore, 28, 191cm, Williamstown; Shane McAdam, 28, 186cm, Adelaide AFL
UMPIRES
FIELD: 15.Scott Simpson, 18.Jack Howard, 44.Sam Hurford. BOUNDARY: James Brayshaw, Chris Esler (AFL), Corey Malcolm, Lachlan Wright. GOAL: Josh Hickman, Tayla Manning.
