As the final siren has sounded on the Casey Demons VFLW season, it’s time to reflect on a year marked by new beginnings, significant challenges, and a determination to grow.

Captain Ally Kirkwood and Coach Matt Brewer provide a detailed overview of a season that, while not culminating in finals, showcased development, resilience, and glimpses of what the future holds for this talented team.

Season Overview

“This season has been different; new rules, new players, new coach, and it’s been fun too,” Kirkwood reflects. With a near-miss on finals, the team demonstrated their potential by winning crucial matches against North Melbourne and Port Melbourne and drawing with Williamstown. “There were some good moments of us playing great footy and taking the game on; it gave us opportunities to play more freely and in our individual styles,” she adds.

Coach Matt Brewer echoed these sentiments in a post-match interview following their Round 14 loss that ended their finals contention. “I was pretty proud of the girls. Came into the game with a lot of injuries. The girls did really well in putting out the performance that they did,” Brewer stated. Despite not achieving the desired result, Brewer emphasised the learning curve the new game style presented to the team.

One of the season’s highlights was the integration of 12 debutants and five AFLW-listed players, bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the team. The victory against last year’s premiers, Port Melbourne, and the intense draw against Williamstown were standout moments. “Although this highlight is a little sad too, it was very special to send Sammie J and Leesh off into retirement with the support from past players and staff and their networks,” Kirkwood shares, emphasising the deep sense of community within the club.

Challenges and Overcoming Them

The season's primary challenges were adapting to a new game style and facing teams with a significant AFLW presence. “The first challenge of a new game style takes time to build and develop along with the confidence to know that if a mistake is made, it's all about what you do after that counts,” Kirkwood explains. Brewer added, “Just with the new game that we implemented, girl’s football is changing every year, and the girls have got to adapt really quickly.”

Injuries also played a significant role, testing the team’s depth and resilience. “We had a lot of players with injuries. I think there was one point where everyone had about nine working fingers,” Kirkwood notes, highlighting the commitment of players working hard in rehab to return to the field. Brewer acknowledged the impact of injuries and the constantly changing team list. “We probably didn’t have the talent that we needed, like, all year out there full time,” he said, referring to the mass of injuries and the introduction of debutants.

Team Dynamics

Despite a tough season, the bond within the team remained strong. “We’re really fortunate, everyone gets along so well and cares for the team we just couldn't translate it consistently on the field this year,” Kirkwood admits. The season provided valuable learning experiences, particularly in challenging games like the travel trip to Sydney and the tough match against Essendon. These experiences will undoubtedly contribute to the team's growth moving forward.

Leadership and Development

Leading the team has been an honour for Kirkwood. “It's truly an honour and very humbling to lead a team of incredible people,” she says. The leadership group, including Meg, Shaq, Darc, and Tegan, alongside support from Jo Lin and mentorship from Sammie Johnson, played a crucial role in guiding the team through the season.

Individual performances also stood out, with players like Lauren Jatczak, Jess Pacevski, and Casey Phillips making significant contributions. “Lauren Jatczak was outstanding; she was instrumental to the team and provided a consistent performance week in and week out,” Kirkwood praises. Brewer also highlighted Jatczak’s growth: "a young girl from the Northern Knights who was in our AFLW program last year as a top-up player and has just taken her game to another level.”

Looking Ahead

As the team looks to the future, the primary goal is clear: “Top priority, and I think this goal aligns with most of the team too, is seeing us play finals again,” Kirkwood asserts. Achieving consistency in the new game style introduced by Brewer and improving skills under pressure will be crucial steps towards this goal.

While the season may not have ended with finals glory, the Casey Demons VFL team has laid a strong foundation for the future. With continued focus on development, resilience in the face of challenges, and a united team spirit, the Demons are poised for success in the coming seasons. As Kirkwood aptly puts it, “We had a fun season and have learnt a lot.”