Not many have done more for Casey’s VFLW program in recent times than vice-captain Ally Kirkwood.

 You can sense Kirkwood’s passion for her Dees through the phone, bubbling over as she gushes about her side’s incredible 2022 VFLW campaign to date.

“It’s been an unbelievable season,” Kirkwood told Casey Media. “I’ve been so shocked – I just can’t believe how awesome it’s been for us so far, it’s so exciting.

“It’s a different feel than other years. I’ve enjoyed coming into a group that’s prepared to do everything possible to perform and be part of the team.”

A key factor behind Casey’s resurgence to finish third on the VFLW ladder in 2022 has been Kirkwood herself. The Demons vice-captain has been a reliable member of the red and blue since 2019 and has only grown as a leader of the emerging side.

But when she returned for another pre-season at the start of the year, even Kirkwood couldn’t believe just how much the club was focused on improving. Looking back on the eve of an exciting VFLW finals campaign, Kirkwood can see where Casey has changed in 2022.

“I’ve thought a lot about this,” she said. “You can see everyone wants to be there and wants to involve themselves in any way they can to make the team better as a whole and help each other.

“Having that mindset across the whole group has been really great and we’ve been lucky in that sense. Overall it makes Casey a better place when everyone wants to turn up to training and contribute.”

Although Kirkwood admits Casey “haven’t gone as well in the past” as it has this year, she has been central to the change. Always a light-hearted and supportive member of the group, it’s been figures like Kirkwood and captain Sammie Johnson who have welcomed through a keen group of players willing to push for success at Casey Fields.

But personally Kirkwood has also improved, becoming a trusted and gifted member of the side as it has shot up to third spot on the ladder. She says her growth as a player stems from a range of factors.

“Naturally I feel like I’m maturing into the group and understand my role and what I bring to the team,” she said. “I know I bring a lot of passion, energy and fun, but on the side I’ve done extra things working with our high-performance managers.

“I’ve been focusing on developing my agility and power. I’ve been training harder and naturally I’ve relaxed a bit more and haven’t felt so stressed or nervous coming into games.”

It’s the latter that has released a burden off Kirkwood’s shoulders. She admits she previously struggled with nerves and the pressure put on VFLW-level footballers.

While she matures as both a player and leader, the Casey vice-captain says she has tried to help her teammates embrace the fun side of the game and not fall into the same traps she has previously.

“Footy is fun and you have to enjoy what you do,” Kirkwood said. “We put so much pressure on ourselves and I’m one who is my own harshest critic.

“For me it took for COVID to spend time away from footy, work on myself a bit and become able to return to footy with a refreshed mindset on how to manage my own internal stress.

“It doesn’t reflect in how I play anymore. I should be feeling relaxed out there and composed as that focus helps.”

It’s this mindset that has driven Casey to greater heights so far in 2022. Kirkwood is a mentor to many young Demons, but she’s quick to palm off the praise. Instead, she mentions a bunch of experienced teammates as standouts for the season.

“Sammie Johnson is an unbelievable player to play with – she’s just so hard at the ball all the time,” Kirkwood said. “The Wales twins have come in late and been super impressive while they train and improve each week.”

But Kirkwood also heralds Brooke Borchard as one who has “worked so hard in the off-season” on her tackling and running to become a reliable tough player. Along with Mel Hogg, who Kirkwood has played with for three seasons at Casey, the Demons’ vice-captain says the growth shown by experienced players is only inspiring young players coming through the VFLW system.

It's all culminated in Casey returning to VFLW finals action in 2022. Set to play Collingwood in an elimination final next weekend, Kirkwood is excited to redeem for a heartbreaking 2021 finals loss.

“I’m super pumped to be playing finals footy again,” Kirkwood said. “We played one last year and it was a devastating loss, so as group we’re ready to come back and get redemption.

“I’m excited for however we go and whatever the journey is. I hope we do win – I’ve been thinking about how I want that feeling of winning.”

Kirkwood says her team has surprised the league all season and it holds this shock factor as an added bonus when it comes to playing VFLW powerhouses. She hopes the Demons “can continue surprising people this finals campaign” as it’s something coach Peter Mercoulia has been preparing them to do all season long.

Casey had the perfect audition for finals footy in the final round of the VFLW home and away season when it fell just short of the undefeated Essendon. Although the loss was difficult to stomach, Kirkwood says it has only proven to the group just what it can do when it plays to its potential.

“I reckon that was one of the best games I’ve played at Casey and been part of,” Kirkwood said. “The standard of the game and the level we played to was amazing ­ players rose to the occasion.

“It shows that as we team, we can do anything and match those top sides, as long as we can convert better. But we’ll keep doing our goal kicking practice before finals.”

It’s not easy to get Kirkwood away from raving about Casey, such is the passion she holds for her team. But while she loves her Demons, she still holds the goal of one day playing AFLW footy.

On the side she also wants to continue trying her hand at coaching footy, as she has already dipped her toes in leading younger girls’ sides. For now with a full-time job she’s unable to continue pursuing her coaching aspirations, but she’s holding onto the chance to one day try coaching in the AFLW system.

But it’s not an all-consuming longing for the Casey vice-captain. Kirkwood says she is already honoured to have a leadership role at Casey, and is just as motivated to one day try leading a side as skipper. Whatever happens, it’s not concerning Kirkwood too much.

“For now I just love Casey,” Kirkwood said. “That’s why I come back each year, why I drove so far – I just love it and wouldn’t picture it any other way.

“We’ll see what happens, but for now I’m just loving being at Casey.”