VFL grand final: Casey faces off against Southport in grand final

History will go on the line when Casey and Southport meet in the VFL Grand Final on Sunday. Here’s what the coaches had to say ahead of the clash.

History beckons for Casey or Southport at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons and Sharks giants are set to battle it out in the VFL Grand Final.

It will be the first time a decider has been held since the competition was expanded to included the NSW and Queensland sides in 2021.

Casey will enter as favourites having lost just one game for the season, chasing the club’s first premiership since 1999 when it was known as Springvale.

The Demons have been boosted by the returns of AFL trio Bailey Laurie, Jake Melksham and Taj Woewodin with VFL utility Aiden Quigley earning the best reprieve of his career.

Tom McDonald has been ruled out through injury while Jake Bowey loses his place in the side due to being ineligible.

Mark Corrigan and Mitch White (coach and captain, Casey Demons) and Steve Daniel and Jacob Dawson (coach and captain, Southport Sharks) ahead of the grand final. Photo: AFL Photos.

Fraser Rosman is the hard luck story of the week as he misses through concussion with youngster Roan Steele omitted.

Casey coach Mark Corrigan said his wanted his players to have an “appreciation for the opportunity”.

“We’ve got a greater perspective given what’s unfolded over the past two years, so for us we don’t take for granted the opportunity to be out there playing, and that’s brought us the opportunity to play off in a grand final,” he said.

“(Southport has) been outstanding, they’ve played a really strong brand of football that is consistent every week, they’ve got mature bodies, experienced players, they’ve got youth, and in the finals they’ve been able to play their best footy.”

The Shark, who remain unchanged, are chasing their own “fairytale” finish.

They’ve done it the hard way this year off-the field with several challenges thrown their way including the death of long-time president Dr Alan Mackenzie who held the role for 49 years.

“With the rain we’ve had in Queensland, we haven’t been on our ground, we’ve been training in parks, on hockey fields, (even) in the carpark under our motel on the concrete doing stride throughs, we’ve really had it hard,” he said.

“And then Doc passing away (followed by a bowel cancer diagnosis for new president Matthew Schneider), it was just one thing after another and for this group to be resilient and get to where we are now is just outstanding for our football club.”

Casey won the only previous meeting between the two sides by 40 points in Round 7.

Casey lineup

B: 44. J. Smith, 20. A Tomlinson, 41. J. McVee

HB: 42. D. Turner, 79. C. Ellison, 71. M. Buntine

C: 22. B. Howes, 27. L. Dunstan, 33. O. Baker

HF: 40. T. Woewodin, 38. M. Brown, 37. K. Chandler

F: 18. J. Melksham, 21. J. van Rooyen, 12. T. Bedford

R: 26. S. Weideman, 52. M. White, 47. J. Munro 

INT: 57. A. Quigley, 65. R. Valentine, 68. G. Grey, 16. B.Laurie, 45. A. Moniz-Wakefield

EMG: 67. T. Freeman 76. T. Macrae 73. J. Bell, 60. J. Spencer, 56. R. Baldi, 54. R. Steele

In: B. Laurie, J. Melksham, A. Quigley, T.Woewodin

Out: J. Bowey (ineligible), T. McDonald (foot), F. Rosman (concussion), R. Steele (omitted)

Southport lineup

B: 4. M. Manteit, 5. R. Clark, 23. D. Charlesworth

HB: 29. K. Boakye, 6. M. Spencer, 19. J. Heron

C: 32. M. Gahan, 10. M. Willis, 12. J. Lockhart

HF: 35. R. King, 34. B. Gowers, 21. J. Townsend

F: 1. B. Woodcock, 13. M. Pescud, 17. M. Johnson

R: 24. B. Crossley, 3. J. Dawson, 25. J. Joyce

INT: 8. S. Tape, 2. Z. Foot, 22. A. Fyfe, 7. R. Davis, 11. T. Fields

EMG: J.Williams, T. Reeves, J. Hall, J. Foon, R. Bowman. M. Doran