Winner proceeds directly to the Grand Final. Loser must beat either the Hawks or Saints in the preliminary to make it.
This will be a repeat of round 14, where we lost in the midfield but strangled Casey’s ability to convert their scoring opportunities, and won 27-21.
We had a decent crowd vs Hawthorn, but can do better. GET AROUND ‘EM.
Current forecast: cool (not cold), but dry and low wind.
Will be Sunday so Casey get a week break 
The “lesser” semi-final better be on Sunday as well, then.
(I will cease caring about above injustice if we get ourselves the 13-14 day break before the Grand Final.)
Record number of draws in an undefeated season VFL/AFL/AFLW/VFLW = 1
Let’s make history.
Decent match report. I forgot they were also debuting in finals last year.
A stellar defensive performance proved critical for Casey’s VFLW side as it held out the Pies to claim a stunning 35-point elimination final win.
The Demons’ defensive group was brilliant from the get-go in nullifying Collingwood’s forward targets and then repelling with speed and flair.
When Casey’s midfield and forward line then clicked into gear in a destructive second term, Casey kicked a winning score and held on in tough conditions to win 7.3 (45) to 1.4 (10).
Casey coach Peter Mercoulia said the club’s first women’s program finals win meant plenty for the group.
“It’s been building over five years for the club,” Mercoulia told Casey Media.
“To have our first finals win as the Casey Demons VFLW side is massive. The club has been building towards it.
“The players have worked hard and committed enough to deserve the win today.”
Defensive duo Maeve Chaplin (16 touches, seven tackles) and Rebecca Grant (16 disposals) were immense from the first bounce, intercept marking with ease and setting up plays with dynamic kicks that cut through Collingwood defenders.
They controlled the half back line and ensured Collingwood didn’t break through with a goal in the opening term, as a dour start full of finals intensity remained scoreless for most of the first quarter.
Mercoulia praised his defenders for remaining disciplined and strong when under pressure.
“I thought their ability to stay connected to the game was brilliant,” Mercoulia said.
“I thought their one-on-one work was really strong. They didn’t panic at any stage and it’s a real positive and credit to the group.”
It was eventually broken open with one stunning play, as a running Charlotte Blair, who never stopped being prominent in trying conditions, broke a line and kick started a superb handball chain.
Cara McCrossan then swooped on the footy and set up Zoe Mitchell for a game-breaking goal just before the quarter time siren.
Casey then capitalised off this momentum in the second term, slamming on three goals to zero as the midfield started dominating.
Lucy Wales (26 hit outs) began to get ascendancy in the ruck and brought the likes of Eliza West (14 touches, four clearances) and Mel Hogg (23 disposals, six clearances) into the game as the Demons recorded clearance after clearance in a scintillating 20 minutes of footy that had Mercoulia rapt.
“We started getting some nice connection in stoppages,” Mercoulia said. “We thought if we put Collingwood under enough pressure defensively that the cracks would appear.
“To our wings’ credit I thought they played aggressively and that created that perceived pressure that helped us to score goals that weren’t aesthetically pleasing but nonetheless vital goals.”
McCrossan started the trio of second term goals when she intercepted a Collingwood defender’s handball and slammed through a quick-thinking goal, before Monica Harasimiuk smartly soccered through a goal on the goal line.
When Katie Angelis got in front position and marked strongly before converting the set shot, Casey had raced out to a four-goal lead it would never relinquish.
The third term looked to be a goalless affair until Collingwood finally broke through for its first goal of the contest just before the final break.
But Casey still held an 18-point lead heading into the last quarter and held onto it despite some Collingwood desperation in the final minutes.
McCrossan continued her trend of breaking open the game, intercepting another loose ball and dashing away to kick her second running goal and ice the result.
Alison Dowler then completed a wonderful day at the office with her first goal late to confirm a spectacular finals win.
A 50-metre penalty and third goal to McCrossan started the celebrations.
Mercoulia praised his players for the maturity they showed in grinding out the do-or-die win.
“The reality is for us with this group we’re two years in so they’ll continue to learn and develop,” Mercoulia said. “They found ways to counter and beat a good side today.
“Our ability to keep turning up to contests and taking the ball forward allowed us to kick some goals and win the game.”
Following the exciting result, Casey will look to book a date in the VFLW Grand Final when it plays the undefeated Essendon in a Round 14 rematch.
CASEY 1.0 4.1 4.3 7.3 (45)
COLLINGWOOD 0.0 0.2 1.3 1.4 (10)
GOALS: McCrossan 3, Angelis, Harasimiuk, Mitchell, Dowler
DISPOSALS: Hogg 23, Chaplin, Grant 16, West 14, McCrossan, L. Wales, Woolcock 12
BEST: Hogg, Chaplin, Grant, West, McCrossan, L. Wales, Kirkwood
Focus is on winning the finals. 
Hawks fans gonna crack more wobblies 
Will be a WARFRadio.com game, including delay free at the ground on 89.1 FM, or because I’ll be on commentary, just be near the Cookson Stand and you’ll hear my voice 
Note that the above video came out before the qualifying final, but got put up belatedly on Twitter. I still take it as a commitment to win the VFLW premiership
And you’ll hear mine!
But will they hear you from the other side of the ground, despite strong crosswinds attempting to batter your hollering aside?
If not, you’re not trying hard enough 
One to worry about:
The only player on the ground to register more than 20 disposals, Hogg played a crucial role to help her side stay alive in the finals, and this Player Focus takes a deep dive into her performance.
Stats: 23 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 behind
… then lots of detail
Teams for the Semi-Final - Live on WARFRadio.com and 89.1FM at Windy Hill from 10am Sunday
| ESSENDON | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 21. A. Morcom | 45. B. Clarke | |
| HB | 13. E. Hosking | 14. D. Marshall | 16. T. Crook |
| C | 1. C. Ugle | 5. G. Nanscawen | 9. M.Anthony |
| HF | 22. N. MacDonald | 44. G. Dicker | 26. J. Doonan |
| F | 4. M. Clifford | 24. R. Tierney | |
| R | 30. S.Nalder | 28. A. Barba | 42. J. Zanchetta |
| INT | 8. E. Ashley-Cooper | 18. K. Heil | 23. A. Radford |
| 17. F.Frew | 20. C. McIntosh | ||
| EMG | 34. E. Everist | 15. L.Caruso | 7. J. Davies |
| 43. O. DiDonato | |||
| INS | Nil | ||
| OUTS | Nil | ||
| CASEY DEMONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 18. E. OConnor | 7. C. Selleck | |
| HB | 16. B. Woolcock | 12. A. Brown | 30. R. Grant |
| C | 34. C. Blair | 33. A. Dowler | 38. A. Kirkwood |
| HF | 25. M. Harasimiuk | 15. C. McCrossan | 8. S. Fairchild |
| F | 37. B. Borchard | 22. S. Wales | |
| R | 9. L. Wales | 14. M. Chaplin | 26. E. Horne |
| INT | 27. A. Laing | 45. M. Hogg | 23. Z. Mitchell |
| 58. C. Conroy | 50. K. Angelis | ||
| EMG | 29. A. Blair | 32. T. Reiter | |
| INS | 12. A. Brown | 58. C. Conroy | 27. A. Laing |
| OUTS | 39. T. Gillard | 36. G. Campbell | 11. E. West |
Injury report for us…
Nicole Julian - Calf (2 Weeks)
Eleanor Cornish - Hamstring (1 Week)
Well… that’s some significant OUTS.
<< lunch break starts NOW >>
EFC, since we last met Casey three weeks ago:
IN: Ashley-Cooper, CBomb
OUT: Ayre, Everist
(i.e. that’s the changes we made last week)
Casey, since last time:
OUT:
6. S. Johnson – mid, 27 disposals in the last game
39. T. Gillard – AFLW key defender/ruck
11. E. West – AFLW mid, 32 disposals in the last game
24. M. Fitzsimon – AFLW mid/forward, kicked 2.2
36. G. Campbell - AFLW ruck
4. S. Heath – small defender, tagged Nanscawen quite well
IN:
23. Zoe Mitchell – 164cm forward? kicked 2 goals last week
30. Rebecca Grant - 171cm mid, three years with Pies and Demons
33. Alison Dowler - 31yo VFLW veteran mid (174cm) with Hawks and Demons
37. Brooke Borchard – pressure forward
7. Chelsie Selleck – 26yo, debut with Casey this year; don’t think she’s quite a Radford
9. Lucy Wales – replacement ruck, played in the first final last week
We’re gonna win.