RAGING flag favourite Casey Demons are Victoria’s last hope of claiming the first Smithy’s VFL premiership in three years after Carlton’s brave run fell agonisingly short in the semi-finals against the Brisbane Lions last Saturday.
What a remarkable achievement and boost it is for Queensland to have all three of its VFL teams in the last four – and all in strong form with a chance to take the Cup north.
The reigning NEAFL premier Lions have bounced back hard from a 2021 season reset when they introduced a lot of young local talent – a decision that is now paying off for coach Mitch Hahn, with the likes of Academy graduates Charlie Bowes, Bruce Reville and Wilson Barry playing the win over the Blues alongside Southport recruit Riley Greene, Aspley returnees Tahj Abberley, Will Fletcher and Luke O’Sullivan.
Luring the experienced Wylie Buzza home from Victoria as captain was also a masterstroke, and son-of-a-gun Darryl McDowell-White was critical in last week’s victory in just his fourth game.
Southport has been nothing short of magnificent since joining the VFL last year, finishing second in the cancelled 2021 season and holding the same position for most of this year, and the Sharks will take an impressive 23-6 VFL win-loss record into their Coast Clash preliminary final against the surging Suns.
Gold Coast sparked its run with a series of heartstopping wins but has now built up confidence and momentum with eight straight victories, including one over the Sharks just last month – and the Suns will take plenty of confidence into their first preliminary final at any level with an imposing win-loss record against their next-door neighbours.
Let’s look at Saturday’s first preliminary final and the history of clashes between the clubs.
1.CASEY DEMONS (18-1) v 3.BRISBANE LIONS (15-5)
1ST PRELIMINARY FINAL
Saturday, September 10, 1.10pm @ Casey Fields
(Channel 7 (Victoria), 7mate (Brisbane) and 7plus (nationally), 1pm; Stream on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App, 1pm; Casey Radio 97.7FM and caseyradio.com.au, 12.40pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Brisbane Lions 1-0
At Casey Fields: never met
Streak: Brisbane Lions 1
THIS SEASON
Round 22, August 20, 2022, at Red Rooster Park, Moreton Bay
Brisbane Lions 3.2 5.5 8.8 10.11 71
Casey Demons 2.5 5.5 6.6 8.9 57
Goals: BRISBANE LIONS: D. Robertson 3, M. Cox, D. Fort, T. Fullarton, R. Lester, J. Manly, H. Sharp, H. Smith. CASEY DEMONS: J. van Rooyen 4, O. Baker, R. Baldi, K. Chandler, L. Dunstan.
Top 5, +20 Disposals: BRISBANE LIONS: M. Robinson 42, D. Robertson 30, T. Triffett 22, R. Lester 21, J. Tunstill 20. CASEY DEMONS: J. Jordon 27, O. Baker 23, M. Buntine, A. Tomlinson 20, J. McVee 18.
6+ Marks: BRISBANE LIONS: M. Robinson 11, C. McFadyen 8, W. Buzza, R. Lester, J. Madden 7, C. Bowes, D. Wilmot 6. CASEY DEMONS: O. Baker 9, M. Buntine 7, C. Ellison, D. Smith 6.
6+ Clearances: BRISBANE LIONS: D. Fort, M. Robinson 10. CASEY DEMONS: J. Jordon 6.
6+ Tackles: BRISBANE LIONS: D. Robertson, M. Robinson 6. CASEY DEMONS: T. Bedford 9, J. Jordon 8, M. White 6.
10+ Hitouts: BRISBANE LIONS: D. Fort 32, H. Smith 11. CASEY DEMONS: J. Bell 16.
Coaches Votes: In house until Liston Medal night.
Team stats: Disposals: BL 373-298. Marks: CAS 91-90. Hitouts: BL 48-23. Clearances: BL: 45-29. Inside-50s: BL 54-35. Tackles: CAS 64-41. Free Kicks: CAS 21-20.
PREVIOUS FIVE HEAD-TO-HEAD
No previous matches
PREVIOUS FINALS
Nil
PAST FIVE MATCHES
CASEY DEMONS
QF: 14.15 99 def Sydney 7.10 52 (Casey Fields)
R22: 8.9 57 lost to Brisbane Lions 10.11 71 (Moreton Bay Sports Complex)
R21: 6.13 49 def Carlton 5.3 33 (Casey Fields)
R19: 18.17 125 def Northern Bullants 5.4 34 (Casey Fields)
R18: 9.12 66 def Footscray 6.7 43 (VU Whitten Oval)
BRISBANE LIONS
SF: 11.6 72 def Carlton 8.12 60 (Moreton Bay Sports Complex)
QF: 5.8 38 lost to Southport 12.15 87 (Moreton Bay Sports Complex)
R22: 10.11 71 def Casey Demons 8.9 57 (Moreton Bay Sports Complex)
R21: 17.11 113 def Sandringham 13.10 88 (Trevor Barker Beach Oval)
R20: 12.6 78 def Werribee 9.12 66 (Moreton Bay Sports Complex)
SEVEN KEY MATCH-UPS
Dan Turner (Casey Demons) v Tom Fullarton (Brisbane Lions): Turner has really come along this year, culminating in an AFL debut with Melbourne late in the season. If he can silence the Lions’ main trump card in front of goals, it will free Adam Tomlinson up to hurt the visitors with his intercepting ability. Fullarton kicked two important goals last week but will need more to get the Lions into a Grand Final.
Adam Tomlinson (Casey Demons) v Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions): By contrast, this one is probably more important for the Lions. Lohmann went goalless in the semi-final and has been working more up the ground in recent weeks, but his team might need him to play deeper and try to make Tomlinson more accountable so he can’t zone off and help Turner on Fullarton or drive the ball out of defence.
Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane Lions) v Luke Dunstan (Casey Demons): This might seem an unusual match-up, but Cockatoo started with a job on Will Setterfield last week and has the pace to overcome Dunstan’s non-stop energy and effort. While he has struggled to get his hands on the ball this season, averaging just 12.4 disposals, Cockatoo can also get forward and kick a goal, which could make the Demon more conscious of him. Dunstan had 38 touches in the qualifying final and if he does that again, Casey will win.
Sam Weideman (Casey Demons) v Henry Smith (Brisbane Lions): Neither team is expected to go in with a recognised ruckman after the Demons dropped youngster Jack Bell for the qualifying final and the Lions called Darcy Fort up to the AFL team after Oscar McInerney’s concussion last week. So these two key forwards will take the centre bounces and are then likely to push in opposite directions. Which one can do enough to give their midfielders first use and then hit the scoreboard themselves?
Kade Chandler (Casey Demons) v Charlie Bowes (Brisbane Lions): Chandler is in outstanding form at the moment and it is only the strength of the Melbourne forwards keeping him at Casey. He has 15 goals in his past six games and has only gone goalless once this season, way back in Round 7. The 190cm Bowes can challenge him in the air and go with him on the ground, while he also snuck forward to kick an important goal last week.
Mitch Brown (Casey Demons) v Connor McFadyen (Brisbane Lions): Brown took six marks and booted five goals to terrorise Sydney’s defence a fortnight ago, giving him 35 for the season, and his experience as part of the Demons’ big three forwards will be crucial to the result. McFadyen is the Lions’ interceptor, and like Tomlinson at the other end, Casey will need to hold him accountable to stop him spring boarding the visitors out of defence.
Jacob van Rooyen (Casey Demons) v Wylie Buzza (Brisbane Lions): The young Demon kicked four goals in a lone hand up forward in their only loss of the season in Round 22 before playing a different role against the Swans and kicking just one. If the home team can keep him deep, he will cause headaches. The Lions’ skipper has been leading marvellously from the back and will run off and create if he gets the opportunity. Not sure he will be able to. Riley Greene was extremely impressive against the Blues and could also get this job – or the one on Tom McDonald if he plays.
SUMMARY
The Lions are the forgotten reigning premiers, having won the last NEAFL flag in 2019, so they know how to get it done in finals. They are also the only team to lower Casey’s colours this year and will take confidence from that. But the situation could hardly have changed more in the space of just three weeks. The Demons had travelled to Brisbane in Round 22 after winning a tough slog in the wet against Carlton, whereas this time it is the Lions travelling after winning a tough slog in the wet against the Blues – and they have never played at Fortress Casey. The Lions also had Mitch Robinson and Deven Robertson picking up 72 disposals, 17 marks, 15 clearances, 12 tackles and three goals between them, while Darcy Fort dominate the ruck with 18 disposals, 32 hitouts, 10 clearances and a goal. Those three are all likely to be in the AFL team on Friday night. By contrast, Casey can pick its best player from that day in James Jordon if he isn’t in the AFL, and it will also have its heartbeat back in Jimmy Munro, who missed that game with an ankle injury. 50th game milestones for Oskar Baker and Ryan Lester cancel that motivation out, but both are also crucial to their team’s chances. The Lions need to avoid being jumped in the first quarter – Casey’s one-wood at home.
EARLY PREDICTION: Casey Demons by 35
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
To thank football fans for their outstanding support throughout the 2022 season, the AFL is pleased to announce that entry to all matches in Weeks One to Three of the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be free.
For the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.
All remaining matches in the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 and 7plus, including the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
Viewers outside of Victoria can tune in to Seven’s Smithy’s VFL coverage via 7plus. This weekend’s matches will also be available on 7mate for viewers in Brisbane.
All finals, including the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
