VFL 2020: Influx of NAB League graduates to Casey Demons
The Demons have snapped up nine players coming out of the Under 18 competition and another five are training with the VFL club as it eyes a bumper batch of newcomers.
Victorian Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victorian Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Johnny Young hasn’t been seen but it’s a case of young talent time at VFL club Casey Demons.
At least two weeks away from finalising their 2020 list, the Demons have already signed nine players coming out of the NAB League.
More are expected to be recruited too.
The Demons are aligned to Gippsland Power under the VFL pathways model, and four 2019 Power players have joined Casey: Ryan Sparkes, Riley Baldi, Tye Hourigan and Josh Smith.
Andrew Courtney, George Grey and Lachie Lamble have crossed from Sandringham Dragons, and Luca Goonan and Corey Ellison from the Dandenong Stingrays.
In addition, Nathan Heath (Stingrays), Liam Scott (Stingrays), Jarryd Barker (Stingrays), Kyle Yorke (Dragons) and Harvey Neocleous (Power) are training at the club.
Under new rules, VFL teams must select a 19-year-old as well as a 23rd player this year as AFL Victoria sets out to bring through more players from the Under 18 competition.
Casey can list 36 players and coach Sam Radford said the club would take the opportunity to recruit a host of youngsters.
“We’re pretty happy with the guys we’ve brought in,’’ Radford said.
“With a couple of retirements and a few older guys moving on, we wanted to bring in as much young talent as we could. We’ve done a pretty good job of it. Hopefully they’ll be at Casey for a few years to come.’’
Hourigan, a defender, and Sparkes, an onballer, joined their new Casey teammates Cory Stockdale, Tom McCaffrey and Tom Freeman in completing a training session with Melbourne.
The highly-regarded Baldi, a midfielder, and Smith, a key forward, have had interrupted preseasons.
“We see all four of the Gippy boys becoming very good VFL players and possibly even going a level above in years to come,’’ Radford said.
Ruckman Courtney, back flanker Lamble and small forward Grey attended St Bede’s College, where Radford was teaching before he accepted a full-time position with Casey Demons and Melbourne.
All three also played in the school’s Herald Sun Shield victory, the first time St Bede’s had won the title.
Lamble took the Gerard Healy Medal as the school best and fairest.
“He’s a dashing defender, a really good athlete, and I reckon he’s got so much scope for improvement,’’ Radford said. “Pretty excited with how Lachie’s going.’’
Courtney was regarded as one of the best ruckmen in the NAB League but the Demons are keen for him to try other positions.
“He’s been doing a fair bit as a key defender,’’ Radford said.
“The VFL boys need to be flexible. They need to be able to play in other spots, and I think for Andrew’s footy he can improve it by having another position. He’s always been in the ruck.’’
Radford is a fan of Grey, whose two years with the Dragons were punctuated by injury. He played 11 games last year and eight in 2018.
“At his best he’s pretty electrifying,’’ Radford said.
“He’s lightning-quick, a good tackler, skilful. With a solid pre-season under his belt I think George has a good future at VFL level.’’
Goonan is a strong, ball-winning midfielder who has worked on his running since last year, and Ellison is a tall forward who played with the Stingrays last season as a 19-year-old. He came out of Cranbourne juniors.
Scott had a speedy rise in 2019 after impressing at Haileybury College, making late appearances for the Stingrays, playing for the Noble Park senior team and being invited to the AFL draft state combine.
The Demons have also recruited Beaconsfield pair Matt Johnson and Lachlan Modica.
Johnson booted 51 goals from 15 matches last season and was selected in the AFL Outer East team of the year squad.
Modica is a wing/half back.
Former West Coast Eagle Kurt Mutimer is a key recruit for the Demons, who have shed some experience in Luke Tynan, Mitch Gent, and Dylan and Will Collis.
Senior men Mitch White, James Munro and Jack Hutchins are playing on.