By Jonty Ralphsmith
Cora Lynn’s Jimmy Munro has helped the Casey Demons into the VFL Grand Final.
Averaging 22 possessions for the season and known for his dogged pressure, he brought the heat on Saturday and his leadership stood out in collecting 27 touches and laying eight tackles.
Having lost just one game for the season, the Dees were relentless in their attack and sizzle on the ball, laying 91 tackles to Brisbane’s 68 in the 15.9 (99) to 7.6 (48) victory.
After conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was on top all day, denying the Lions any control as the visitors took just 36 marks at Casey Fields.
The Lions had opportunities in their front half, but Casey’s defence was tight, as it has been all season, letting through just seven goals.
Then when they were given the chance to go up the other end, Mark Corrigan’s men pounced.
With the margin at 33 points at the main break, Casey essentially had the game in its grasp for the second half.
Cranbourne’s Mitch White contributed to the victory with 17 touches and 12 tackles, and Eagles teammate George Grey finished with 19 and an early goal.
Jacob Van Rooyen kicked three goals and dominated the airways up forward, while Sam Weideman (37 hitouts, 14 touches, seven tackles) was dominant and Tom McDonald’s experience stood out.
The Dees will face Gold Coast-based standalone team Southport in the Grand Final at Ikon Park on Sunday at 2.30pm.
List stability has been key for the Sharks this season as they have been the other dominant force in 2022, going 13-5 in the home and away season.
They defeated Gold Coast’s VFL side in their preliminary final, with Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock continuing their consistent campaigns in 2022.
The Suns led for the majority of the first half, before Southport, with all the play and finishing with plus-32 inside 50s, was finally able to shake them off late, despite being wasteful.
Pakenham’s Mitch Johnson is part of that lineup, playing Southport’s past 10 games, and 11 for the season, kicking 14.15.
Casey went down in the grand final by 31 points to Footscray in 2016 and by 10 points to Box Hill in 2018 and were a dominant team in the 2021 season shortened due to the pandemic.
Saturday’s VFL preliminary final win came after Melbourne was bundled out of the finals the previous night, which could pave the way for Jake Melksham to return to the VFL lineup.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Casey defeated Southport 13.11 (89) to 8.11 (59). That win by Casey affirmed its status as the best in the competition, by coming out and kicking six goals in the opening quarter while keeping the Sharks scoreless. That buffer allowed Mark Corrigan’s men to stave off a charge from Southport when they closed in the third quarter. But that game was at the Dees’ cauldron, Casey Fields, whereas this game will be at Ikon Park.
KEY PLAYERS
Jimmy Munro: A tenacious midfielder, Munro’s experience will prove crucial. You can guarantee he will leave it all out there, and leads the way with pressure and two-way running. Has the second most tackles in the league next to his name, averaging eight per game and if Southport pair Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock are shut down that sizzle will be crucial.
Mitch White: The Casey skipper was named in the VFL Team of the Year and is another midfielder who who has been so important in the Demons’ engine room this season. Provides direction and is another who does what needs to be done defensively, but also impacts offensively, and hits the scoreboard, with 18.15 so far this season. Luke Dunstan is the other midfielder part of a very strong Demons engine room.
Sam Weideman: Behind Gold Coast’s Ned Moyle, Southport’s Brayden Crossley has arguably been the dominant ruckman of the competition, averaging 25.4 hitouts per game. Weideman got 37 hitouts against a younger Lions opponent last week and will need to at least be competitive to nullify Crossley. If he is given too much freedom, it will put lots of defensive pressure on the midfield in what shapes as a heated grand final.
Adam Tomlinson: Has plenty of AFL experience and that will come to the fore on Sunday. Reads the ball well in the air and his big body can help nullify, while he also generally gets a bit of the footy himself which he uses to help distribute out of the back half. Up the other end, Tom McDonald kicked three goals in the preliminary final and is the sort of player that could get off the leash and kick a bag.
