This time she does it all herself… no wait, the set shot falls short… no wait, the teammate is parked at the front of the pack.
First and last goals scored by Casey.
35-15 the Saints advance to get a stern telling-off from @Hoffy.
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These Scomo apologists obviously didn’t think it good enough to post any time earlier in the day (or yesterday).
Nope. Decided today (and Grand Final day) it’s time for Paul and Brent to get a go calling. I’ll be there on Sunday pushing the buttons and just enjoying the game as a fan 
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Love this for you!
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A THIRD week of Victorian Football League (VFL) Women’s finals, a third straight upset from fifth placed Southern Saints who are now just one win away from claiming the ultimate prize. After defeating Geelong and Hawthorn in the past fortnight, the Southern Saints toppled Casey Demons by 20 points at ETU Stadium to advance through to the 2022 VFL Women’s Grand Final. The red, white and blacks slammed home five straight goals after Casey kicked the first to set up the memorable win in typical Melbourne winter conditions.
After going down to Essendon the week before, Casey was looking to bounce back and reach the grand final, while the Southern Saints’ hoped their fairytale run to the decider could continue. It was a tough and tight opening term with the Saints first on the board through a Charlotte Ryan behind, and then Gabriella De Angelis double that score. In what would be their only scoring shot of the first half, Casey hit the scoreboard with a major first through Cara McCrossan. That would be their only real joy over the next two and a half quarters, as goals either side of the first break to Chanelle Slater and De Angelis regained the lead and then extended it. Another goal – a late one to Tayla Kearnsbrought the half-time advantage to 15 points.
Every goal was incredibly valuable given the conditions, and it was Slater who would be first on the board in the second half with her second, to push the lead out to 23 points. Casey had some forward half momentum but could not put a meaningful score on the board, with a rushed behind just the Demons’ second scoring shot of the match. To drive the dagger in further, Kearns nailed her second goal, and by three quarter time, the Saints were out to a massive 28-point lead. Using their own Twitter account’s words, Casey needed a “miracle” and though they were able to score a couple of early behinds, the missed conversion hurt and the Saints defence stood up. Zoe Mitchell kicked a late on the match to bring the final margin back to 20 points, but it did little to the result, with the Saints marching on to the grand final with a 5.5 (35) to 2.3 (15) victory.
Despite the impressive win, both teams had their chances, with the Saints having 15 more disposals (221-206), six more marks (39-33), four more inside 50s (31-27) and 10 more clearances (34-24), but the Demons won the hitouts (41-38) and laid five more tackles (85-80). Leading the way for the Saints was the experience of Hannah Stuartwho picked up 22 disposals, two marks, 11 tackles and an equal game-high eight clearances, working well with Grace Buchan (23 disposals, seven marks, three tackles and five clearances). De Angelis (17 disposals, five marks, eight tackles, three clearances and a goal) was critical, whilst Kearns’ two majors came from 12 touches, six marks and five tackles. Madison Capsalis (21 disposals, five tackles and four clearances) and Rebecca Neaves (17 disposals, three marks and five clearances) were also strong in the Saints’ victory.
For the Demons, it marked the end of their season after defeating Collingwood in the first week of finals to earn the double chance, but then were no match for the Bombers last week. Maeve Chaplin had a dominant performance with 19 disposals, four marks, six tackles and eight clearances for the Demons to consider re-listing her for Season 7 of the AFL Women’s, while ex-Saint Samantha Johnson helped herself to 16 touches, two marks and 15 tackles. Stephanie Wales (19 disposals, five marks, four tackles, 12 hitouts and two clearances), Melanie Hogg (17 disposals, three marks, three tackles and four clearances) and McCrossan (14 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and a goal) were also among the Demons’ best.
CASEY DEMONS 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 (15)
SOUTHERN SAINTS 1.2 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 5.5 (35)
GOALS:
Casey Demons: C. McCrossan, Z. Mitchell
Southern Saints: T. Kearns 2, C. Slater 2, G. De Angelis 2
RMC BEST:
Casey Demons: M. Chaplin, S. Johnson, S. Wales, M. Hogg, C. McCrossan
Southern Saints: H. Stewart, G. Buchan, G. De Angelis, T. Kearns, R. Neaves
By Brendan Rhodes
PRELIMINARY FINAL
CASEY DEMONS 2.3 (15)
SOUTHERN SAINTS 5.5 (35)
SOUTHERN Saints will take on Essendon for the rebel VFLW premiership after running away with a convincing 20-point victory over Casey Demons in the preliminary final at ETU Stadium on Sunday.
Riding on a wave of back-to-back sudden death finals wins on the road, the Saints dominated the middle two quarters in the rain to march into their first Grand Final and crush the Demons’ hopes of achieving the same feat.
Demon Alexandra Kirkwood is wrapped up by Saint Deanna Jolliffe. Picture: AFL Photos
Casey thrashed the Saints by 89 points in March but after Cara McCrossan kicked the first goal 13 minutes into the game, the Demons were unable to trouble the scorers again until a rushed behind five minutes into the third quarter and didn’t goal again until Zoe Mitchell booted a consolation in the last minute.
The Saints led at quarter-time on the back of the first of Chanelle Slater’s two goals just before the siren and they added two more in each of the middle two terms without response, and while they failed to score in the last, the damage was done.
Demon Cara McCrossan kicks under pressure from Saint Winnie Laing. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos
It was a game of fierce pressure, with 179 tackles laid between the teams (92-87 for Casey) but the Saints were cleaner when it counted and made the most of their opportunities in a 32-26 inside-50 count, while they won clearances 34-24 despite losing the hitouts 42-37.
And it was the stars who shone brightest, with Grace Buchan returning to the team and winning a game-high 23 disposals, seven marks, five clearances and nine rebound-50s and Hannah Stuart picking up 22 touches and eight clearances while sticking 11 tackles.
Southern Saint Tayla Kearns takes a mark. Picture: AFL Photos
Madi Capsalis (21, five tackles), Gabriella De Angelis (17, five marks, eight tackles, one goal), Rebecca Neaves (17, five clearances) and Tayla Kearns (12, six marks, five tackles, two goals) were also important, while Claire Keohane had nine tackles and Sarah Black won 31 hitouts rucking almost one out against Lucy (22) and Stephanie Wales (12).
Stephanie Wales was one of the Demons’ best players, however, adding 19 possessions and five marks to her hitout tally, with Maeve Chaplin (19, eight clearances, six tackles), skipper Sammie Johnson (16, 15 tackles) and Mel Hogg (17) doing their best to keep their season alive.
Casey Demons captain Samantha Johnson fires off a handball. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos