Victorian Super Slam: Casey South Melbourne handed wildcard for finals

The top four is set for the Victorian Super Slam finals, with St Kilda, Richmond, Carlton and Casey South Melbourne to fight it out for title.

Swans leggie Ruwantha Kellepotha.

Casey South Melbourne has been dealt the wildcard for the Victorian Super Slam finals after thrashing Dandenong in the final round at Casey Fields last night.

The Swans were the highest-ranked team to finish second in the groups and will meet St Kilda in a semi-final next Tuesday, at either the Junction Oval or the Harry Trott Oval.

Richmond will host Carlton in the other semi.

The Tigers and St Kilda were unbeaten in their groups and Carlton lost only one game, narrowly against Geelong on Monday night.

The Saints are also unbeaten in the club championship; no wonder Swannies coach William “Will’’ Carr is saying they’ll be a formidable opponent in the semis.

Where some clubs have used the Slam to promote young players, Casey South Melbourne has fielded its strongest possible team.

“If you’re in the competition, you might as well treat it very seriously,’’ he said.

“There’s no point being in it otherwise. Play your best side and see if you can win it.

“Every win is important. It becomes a habit. It creates a good culture and all those sorts of things, whether it’s a practice game or a Super Slam game. To get into a semi-final is a terrific result for the club.’’

The Swans put up 7-167 against Dandenong and restricted the Panthers to 6-97 to finish 4-1.

Ashley Chandrasinghe played a dazzling innings of 70 not out off 48 balls, striking 2 sixes and 4 fours.

And class leg-spinner Ruwantha Kellepotha took 3-11 off four overs.

“We’ve got a batting line-up that goes deep, and we’re flexible,’’ Carr said.

“There’s variation within the batting group. We’ve got guys who can go really hard and some guys who can manipulate the field and run hard between the wickets.

“It’s the same with our bowling. There’s variety. Some outstanding spin options with left-arm orthodox and wrist spin, leg-spin and good, reliable quicks.’’

The Saints pasted Melbourne at the Albert Ground, hitting 4-191 and holding the hosts to 7-137.

Openers Tom Russ (58 off 38) and Michael De Iacovo (42 off 27) put on 70, No 3 Ed Newman weighed in with 42 off 30 and Josh Manning slapped 23 not out off 13 balls.

Will Pucovski contributed 32 off 30 balls in the Melbourne reply.

Richmond overcame a scare from Kingston Hawthorn, which rattled home in pursuit of 2-146.

The Hawks’ Saad Khattack was run out off the last ball of the match as he tried for a third run that would have tied the match.

The Super Slam wasn’t played last season owing to Covid.

Dandenong won the first Slam in 2018-19 and Carlton took the title in 2019-20.