THE CASEY Demons have kicked off their pre-season with a joint VFL and VFLW training session at Casey Fields.
The two teams came together on Monday night, for the first time this year, with some new and familiar faces on the track.
The VFL group, which is looking to build on a strong list turnover leading into last season, was headed by Jimmy Munro, Mitch White, Jack Hutchins and Kurt Mutimer, while former Sydney player Zac Foot also joined the group.
The midfielder forward signed with the club this month, having made his AFL debut for the Swans in Round 12, before being delisted in November.
Riley Baldi, Ryan Sparkes, Tye Hourigan and Andrew Courtney were also in attendance for the hit-out.
After injecting plenty of youth into the side last year, Casey is hopeful of its strategy leading to some success stories in 11 months’ time.
The Demons are expecting many of their young guns to push for selection in the 2021 AFL Draft, should they get enough game time and development in the season.
The VFLW side has also mixed things up.
Adding some top-quality players to the group for next year, the Demons have their eyes firmly on the prize.
With ex-Collingwood VFLW players Nicole Hales and Grace Buchan, as well as former Tiger Imogen Milford, coming on board, Casey has brought a more determined group together, as they work towards their first finals’ appearance.
Samantha Johnson, who made her AFLW debut for St Kilda last season, Bridie Winbanks, Ally Kirkwood and Alicia Bertrand have also signed on with the club.
In a new format, the VFLW season will run alongside the AFLW competition next year, with games to kick off at the end of January.
Fixture details of the VFL season, which will return with 22 teams across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, are yet to be confirmed.
