Despite kicking the opening goal of the contest, Casey has fallen short of the Southern Saints, losing its preliminary final by 20-points.
It wasn’t to be for the Demons, as a four-quarter Southern Saints performance brought Casey’s season to a close on Sunday in the 2.3 (15) to 5.5 (35) loss.
Casey looked good from the opening bounce, applying terrific pressure and using its pace on the outside.
With Maeve Chaplin and Rebecca Grant rebounding from defence and returning skipper Sammie Johnson powering the midfield, the Demons started off well.
The Demons’ dominance early was capped off by the game’s opening goal when Cara McCrossan continued her fine season with a terrific rove and snapped goal.
But it all went downhill from there as the Saints assumed control and never relented.
Despite Casey applying some terrific pressure, the Saints maintained composure early, responding with its first goal in the shadows of quarter time.
Casey coach Peter Mercoulia says his side did brilliantly to continue applying unrelenting pressure against the Saints despite the scoreboard.
“Our effort definitely wasn’t lacking,” Mercoulia said.
“I felt like in the last quarter we played more at our best – we emulated more of our style and encapsulated what we wanted to do all season.”
Having surrendered the lead just before the first break, the Demons fell further behind in the second term when the Saints piled on two goals to nothing in a one-sided second quarter.
Despite Chaplin’s best efforts marshalling the half-back line with 19 disposals and seven clearances in another heroic performance, the Saints’ dangerous forwards managed to break through when it mattered.
Mercoulia praised his young defender for her terrific finals series.
“Maeve came in late on Melbourne’s list because of a long-term injury, suffered serious injuries during the season and then got delisted by Melbourne,” Mercoulia said.
“For her to invest in the way she has and develop herself as a footballer, she deserves a chance to play at the highest level again and we’re grateful she’s invested in the club the way she did.”
With Mel Hogg (17 touches), Charlotte Blair and Sammie Johnson (16 touches, 15 tackles) all doing their best in the middle, the Demons’ tenacity at the ball continued into the second half.
Yet the Saints’ skills in wet conditions proved telling as they kicked more goals in the third term to race away to a 28-point lead at the final break.
Leaders Bel Woolcock and Ally Kirkwood both did their best to nullify the Saints’ attacking wingers and forwards, as Grant (12 disposals) also continued mopping up forward thrusts deep into the final term.
Both the Wales twins in Stephanie and Lucy also performed valiantly, with the Demons finishing well despite the tough result.
Zoe Mitchell persevered and snagged a wonderful mark and goal to end the game.
Although it wasn’t the ideal end goal for Casey in its 2022 VFLW campaign, Mercoulia says he couldn’t be prouder of his players.
“The group has been fantastic,” Mercoulia said.
“I’m grateful to my staff and everyone involved at the club, it’s all been really humbling.
“For us as a club we’ll look to continue evolving and representing Casey while returning the investment to the city of Casey. We took a massive step forward over the past couple of years.”
CASEY 1.0 1.0 1.1 2.3 (15)
SAINTS 1.2 3.3 5.5 5.5 (35)
GOALS: McCrossan, Mitchell
DISPOSALS: Chaplin 19, S. Wales 18, Hogg, Johnson 16, Grant, Horne, McCrossan, Mitchell 12
BEST: Chaplin, S. Wales, Johnson, Hogg, Grant, Woolcock
