By Jonty Ralphsmith
Casey coach Taylor Whitford has stressed the importance of connecting with the region as a new era beckons for the Demons in 2025.
Having lost a bevy of experience through the departures of former skipper Mitch White, and midfielders Roan Steele and Campbell Hustwaite, Casey is set to use several locals.
Ellinbank League 2024 leading goalkicker Patrick Ireland, 2024 Haileybury College captain Mitch Kirkwood-Scott, Rowville Sports Academy alumni Olly Green, Gippslanders Riley Baldi, Jenson Garnham and Chance Doultree and Eastern League emerging prospect Tyson Sruk are among the recruits.
Nar Nar Goon’s Paddy Cross and Tooradin utility Jesse Craven, who spent time training with WAFL club Peel in the preseason, are other locals set for increased responsibility.
Noble Park defender Wardell Lual, Box Hill recruit Lachie Bryce and Cranbourne rebounder Andrew Green are also on Casey’s list.
“Casey geographically sits in the middle of lots of regions – we don’t want people driving past our club to play for other clubs,” Whitford said.
“Having locals come to our club and not going to other clubs is important to us.
“We wanted to get lots of guys who can play multiple positions and are local talents.”
Whitford in particular earmarked Cross, promoted to the leadership group for 2025, for a big year.
“Injuries have held him back, (so) this summer has been about getting him ready for the year and putting enough work into him physically,” Whitford said.
“He’s talented and tough and got interest last year from an AFL point-of-view.
“It’s about getting him on the field as often as possible because we’re better with him out there.”
The Demons have also welcomed in former AFL trio Riley Bonner, Mitch Hardie and local lad Deakyn Smith, with Smith to succeed White as skipper in 2025.
Hardie, Smith and Baldi will all play prominent roles in the midfield, alongside youngsters Kai Windsor – the brother of Melbourne’s Caleb – and potentially Craven.
There are a total of 15 new VFL-listed faces in 2025 and many of the incumbents played sparsely if at all in 2024, which has put an increased importance on the basics in preseason.
The fruits of the hard work were on show in a trio of practice matches, against North VFL, Sandringham and Coburg, which showcased different phases of Casey’s game.
“It’s been refreshing and exciting to take it back to basics of building rapport,” Whitford said.
“I’ve been really excited with the exuberance a young group gives and they’re all starting from a base level with expectations and understanding, given not many played too many with us last year so there has been a collective buy-in to the way we want to play.”
Casey’s season gets underway against North VFL on Sunday morning at Casey Fields, with back-to-back Saturday night fixtures in round 11 and 12 against Collingwood and Essendon broadcast in prime-time on Channel 7 among the fixture highlights.
