Live stream: City West Falcons v Casey Demons, Victorian Netball League, Round 18

The Demons dreams of finals have been cut short as the best team in the Victorian Netball League sent a clear warning to their finals rivals. Watch the REPLAYS from the final round.

The Falcons have tuned up their impressive Championship machine ahead of the finals, and in turn ended the post-season dreams of the Demons.

The Victorian Netball League minor premiers kicked it up a gear after halftime of the final round clash and their rivals just couldn’t match them for pace and precision.

A 20-goal final term sent a clear warning to finals rivals, as the Falcons ran away with a 65-51 win the in the Championship clash.

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH ALL THREE REPLAYS FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT

It was a scoreline that defied the level of fight the Demons showed.

With their finals hopes on the line, the Casey side more than matched their opponents over the opening two quarters, with only a couple of loose passes letting them down.

But that was all the Flacons needed.

After leading by three points at the main break, they stretched that lead out in the third quarter before hitting the accelerator down the stretch.

Melbourne University Lightning, who already had a gap to their nearest rivals, sewed up the final spot in the Championship finals with a 61-49 win over Southern Saints.

The final four in the Championship division to contest next week’s semi-finals will be the Falcons, Geelong Cougars, Boroondara Express and the Lightning.

The Falcons earlier secured second spot on the VNL 19 and Under ladder ahead of finals with a gripping two-point win over the Demons.

While Casey were out of finals contention, with the top four settled well before the final round, the fifth-placed Demons gave the Falcons a welcomed challenge in the younger division.

The Demons disappointing Division 1 season ended in crushing fashion, going down to the finals-bound Falcons by 21 points in the final round.

REPLAYS

Replay: City West Falcons v Casey Demons (Championship)

Replay: City West Falcons v Casey Demons (19&U)

Replay: City West Falcons v Casey Demons (Div 1)

Preview: Casey not giving up hope on making VNL finals

As an unlikely finals berth beckons, Casey Demons coach Steve Murray hopes his group can pounce on the opportunity to finish season 2023 in style.

The Demons face City West Falcons on Wednesday night and not only require a huge win over the reigning premier and ladder leaders, but also need a pair of results to fall their way.

Although a place inside the Victorian Netball League Championship finals series appears suspect, Murray is still expecting his girls to approach it as a “must-win game”.

You can catch the clash, as well as Under-19 and Division 1 matches, between the Falcons and Demons on KommunityTV as the final live and exclusive home and away fixture ahead of the finals.

Casey Demons take on City West Falcons in the final VNL minor round on Wednesday night. Picture: Grant Treeby/NV

“Every game for us is a must-win game, we just place importance on trying to get the win because it’s what we’ve been trying to do for the last five or six weeks,” Murray said.

“I think we’re going to just miss, even if we win, purely on percentage but it’s about finishing the year off.

“We really want to challenge ourselves against the best team in the league.

“It really puts us in good stead to move forward for next year as well, which is something we have wanted to do.”

A win stays the main objective for Murray and his Demons, as he is hoping to build on what has been a blistering final 10 weeks in 2024.

“I think for us it would give us a lot of belief and would just let us know that what we have done in the second half of the year has been really good for us as a club,” he said.

The Demons are looking to finish the minor rounds on a high. Picture: Grant Treeby/NV

“To be able to go through a few ups and downs at the start of the year, and to go through the way we have, I think we have finished the season really well.

“That’s all on the back of the girls having some belief and enjoying their netball – which is what it’s about.”

The Demons rode the emotion of the sudden departure of Robynn Pym in May (health concerns) as head coach to finish the season strongly under Murray.

Murray expects the majority of the playing group to stick around but is yet to finalise a decision on his future.

“It’s a hard one at the moment, I believe most of the girls have enjoyed their netball in the second half of the year,” he said.

“For me personally, still yet to be decided… hopefully I can stay around, I have really enjoyed this second half of the year and I think the girls have responded well to the way I have coached.”