Despite recording wins over both the eventual premiers and reigning premiers, Casey Demons missed out on rebel VFLW finals action for the second-consecutive season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: 8th
W-L-D %: 5-8-1 (62.4%)
Players used: 44
Played every match: 6 – Shree Fairchild, Meg Macdonald, Zoe Mitchell, Niamh O’Neill, Kasey Phillips, Tegan Williams
AFLW players used: 12 (33 matches)
Debutants: 12 - Charlotte Brewer, Kira Emery, Zali Gallagher, Grace Hill, Lily Johnson, Alexi Kasteliotis, Lilly Leighton, Delaney Madigan, Tyler Mills, Olivia Morris, Jessica Pacevski, Ryleigh Wotherspoon
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Meg Macdonald, 2nd: Shree Fairchild, 3rd: Lauren Jatczak, 4th: Jo Lin, 5th: Zoe Mitchell
Lambert-Pearce Medal votes: Sarah Lampard (6), Niamh O’Neill (6), Shree Fairchild (4), Meg Macdonald (4)
Coaches MVP votes: Meg Macdonald (53), Zoe Mitchell (18), Niamh O’Neill (15)
Rebel VFLW Team of the Year: Meg Macdonald
Leading Goal Kickers: Niamh O’Neill (15), Jo Lin (11), Sarah D’Arcy (7)
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – Minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Meg Macdonald 20.6, Sammie Johnson 13.2, Sophie Casey 12.6
Contested possessions: Meg Macdonald 11.5, Zoe Mitchell 6.9, Shree Fairchild 6.7
Kicks: Meg Macdonald 11.4, Kasey Phillips 8.8, Zoe Mitchell 8.1
Handballs: Meg Macdonald 9.2, Shree Fairchild 5.9, Sophie Casey 5.4, Sammie Johnson 5.4
Marks: Meg Macdonald 3.4, Niamh O’Neill 2.8, Tegan Williams 2.4
Tackles: Meg Macdonald 8.2, Zoe Mitchell 6.2, Shree Fairchild 6.1
Hitouts: Leah Swain 19.6, Lauren Jatczak 14.9, Tegan Williams 4.3
Clearances: Meg Macdonald 4.8, Sammie Johnson 2.5, Zoe Mitchell 2.2
Inside-50s: Meg Macdonald 3.1, Niamh O’Neill 2.7, Zoe Mitchell 2.1
Rebound-50s: Kasey Phillips 2.6, Sammie Johnson 2.2, Meg Macdonald 1.9
What went right: Meg Macdonald was a star as she led the team by a long way with and without the footy. The Demons clamed the scalps of eventual premier North Melbourne and reigning champion Port Melbourne in consecutive weeks and also had a draw with minor premiers Williamstown in a game they dominated for three quarters. Kasey Phillips emerged as a defender of the future.
What went wrong: When the Demons were beaten, they were demolished. They were unlucky to run into AFLW-stacked teams in Box Hill and Sydney in the first five rounds and copped record beatings that meant they were always going to be chasing the season. But the first goalless game in their history and the last-round collapse against the Saints with a finals spot available were the more disappointing results.
Summary: There were glimpses of what the Demons were capable of, but they weren’t able to string it together for long enough when it mattered. Wouldn’t have ended up making the finals even if they had beaten the Saints, but the fact they couldn’t keep the pressure on Port is what will rankle them until Round 1 next year. Consecutive years without finals also will not sit well at Casey Fields.
Grade: 4/10
