AFTER Casey’s Round 11 match against Collingwood, VFL coach Rhett McLennan shared his thoughts on the performances of AFL-listed Demons.

Joel Fitzgerald
(33 disposals, 7 marks, 5 clearances)

"Joel found plenty of the footy again and was really solid around stoppages. He's continuing to adjust to the running patterns and ball movement we want from our midfielders, and while he didn't have it all his own way at times, it was another valuable experience for him.”

Lukas Cooke
(32 disposals, 11 marks, 13 intercept possessions)

"Lukas was sensational. He was super dominant from a defensive point of view and also got involved offensively. His timing to come off his opponent and impact contests was excellent, while his defensive work, whether that was spoiling, intercepting or competing aerially, was outstanding. He really dominated his position."

Jack Henderson
(27 disposals, 10 marks, 6 tackles)

"Hendo was really good. He spent most of the day across half-back before moving into the midfield later in the game and never stopped competing. His contest work was strong; he won plenty of the footy early and his defensive effort is always there. It's been another tick in the box in what's been a really consistent season."

Max Heath
(22 disposals, 17 hit outs, 7 marks)

"Max was really good again. His first half was particularly strong, and he competed really well with his direct opponent. He didn't give him much throughout the day and battled hard in what was a really good ruck contest."

Riley Onley
(18 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles)

"I thought it was Riley's best game of the year. He used his strengths, particularly his speed and height, really well, and defended with greater intent. His ability to win those 50-50 contests stood out and it was pleasing to see him use some of the attributes we know he's capable of."

Xavier Taylor
(17 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles)

"Xavier showed his strengths in some good moments. Defensively he's becoming more solid every week and we're continuing to work with him on some aspects of his ball use." 

Max Mapley
(1 goal, 16 disposals, 13 hitouts)

"Max played his role really well. He's got some genuine talent both in the air and at ground level, and as he develops, he's going to be a really difficult matchup.”

Matthew Jefferson
(1 goal, 15 disposals, 4 marks)

"It was probably a tougher day for Jeffo in the conditions. The aerial side of the game didn't quite fall his way, but he never stopped competing.

Oscar Berry
(13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles)

"Oscar had some really good moments. You can see his understanding of the game continuing to grow. One of the pleasing things is how calm and predictable he is with ball in hand, and he continues to develop each week."

Ricky Mentha
(1 goal, 9 disposals, 5 marks)

"Ricky had some really nice moments, particularly when he was able to get further up the ground and anticipate the play. He probably didn't get involved in as many contests as he would have liked, but he continues to show flashes. The next step is finding more of those moments across the course of a game."

Jake Melksham
(2 goals, 7 disposals, 2 tackles)

"A quieter day for Melky, but his speed to reset was really good. It was difficult to anticipate where the ball was going, especially late in the game. His effort to compete was really strong throughout."

Thomas Matthews
(7 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles)

"Tommy had a really quiet game. He had a fantastic smother at an important stage and, as always, never stopped competing. We're continuing to work on his running patterns as a forward and he's making progress in that area every week."

Kalani White
(1 goal, 4 disposals, 2 marks)

"Kalani still has those moments where you can see exactly what he's capable of. He took some strong aerial contests, kicked a goal and showed his athleticism. The challenge for him now is building greater consistency and impacting more often throughout the game."