CASEY have named strong sides for this Saturday's double header at Windy Hill, with Braydon Preuss named in the VFL, while new Melbourne AFLW recruit Libby Birch will line up for the first time in Demons' colours in the VFLW.
Big round this weekend, our VFL side takes on the undefeated Essendon team & our VFLW team gets their season underway! | Head out to Windy Hill to see the double header from 11:30am or stream the games on https://t.co/ui2i7KPd5L or the @VFL app! | #caseydemons #caseyfc #vfl #vflw pic.twitter.com/UOBf4yoUob
— Casey Demons (@CaseyDemonsFC) May 9, 2019
Birch will have her first hit-out in red and blue in the opening match of the day at 11.30am.
The midfielder has been named in a strong Casey side for the VFLW season opener, which includes six other AFLW-listed players - Katherine Smith, Bianca Jakobsson, Sarah Lampard, Maddy Guerin, Eden Zanker and Chantel Emonson.
The last time these two sides met in Round 8, 2018, Casey were victorious by 26 points.
VFLW Round 1
Essendon v Casey Demons
Saturday, May 11, 11.30am
Windy Hill, Essendon
VFLW team
B | 50. G McLean | 13. K Smith | 15. T Tatterson |
HB | 34. A Kirkwood | 7. B Jakobsson | 8. S Lampard |
C | 22. M Guerin | 16. M Hogg | 23. L Birch |
HF | 42. H Bailey | 29. E Zanker | 11. C Emonson |
F | 24. N Garner | 40. H Dyson | 27. B Winbanks |
R | 38. K Bentvelzen | 41. R Edmeades | 47. K Guttridge |
I/C | 32. A McDonough | 54. K Oates | 9. A Johnson |
| 48. E Archer | ||
Emg | 62. G Speedy | 57. L Davies | 51. A Francese |
| 37. T Nash | ||
23P | 46. B Pratt |
In the VFL, Braydon Preuss will return to the field after getting through a shoulder injury that has sidelined the big man since Round 5 of the AFL season.
Tim Smith is another inclusion for Casey, after being a late withdrawal from Melbourne's game against Hawthorn due to back soreness.
The pair of talls are amongst nine Melbourne players named on the field, with Toby Bedford also in the mix on the extended interchange.
The match is a replay of last season's tense preliminary final, which saw Casey prevail by eight points.
VFL Round 6
Essendon v Casey Demons
Saturday, May 11, 2.00pm
Windy Hill, Essendon
VFL squad
Team to be finalised prior to the first bounce
B | 47. J Munro | 35. H Petty | 67. T Freeman |
HB | 23. J Jordon | 60. J Hutchins | 49. C Stockdale |
C | 52. M Gent | 32. T Sparrow | 57. A Quigley |
HF | 30. A Neal-Bullen | 38. T Smith | 58. J Di Pasquale |
F | 37. K Chandler | 48. M White | 63. M Lewis |
R | 21. B Preuss | 33. O Baker | 40. C Wagner |
I/C From | 50. W Stephenson | 68. A Vella | 79. M Lefau |
| 12. T Bedford | 65. L Wale-Buxton | 54. J Briggs |
| 62. T McCaffrey | 56. W Collis | |
23P | 74. N Lowden |
