VFLW Match Report: Round 16 vs Casey Demons

31/08/2026

The Zebs produced a fierce four quarter performance against Casey Demons on Sunday, continuously fighting across the field to secure a 46-point win at Casey Fields, finishing the 2026 VFLW Season on a high!

We demonstrated fantastic grit and hard work, resulting in numerous scoring opportunities, and held our composure for the whole game.

In the first couple of minutes, Chelsea Sutton lay a brilliant tackle, which opened up for Zoe Barbakos to go for a run down the runway to our forward 50, setting up Rene Caris for our first goal of the game. Indi Sherritt also had her chance to get a goal to her name early, with the ball spilling out of the contest, and Jordan Membrey converted a nice set shot. Ava Bibby came through with a brilliant goal assist, allowing Kyla Forbes to kick her first goal for the game.

Sunday Hollingsworth got the ball out of a contest around the 50m arc of our forward line with a great handball to Lily Skinner, who kicked her first VFLW goal ever! Skinner then surged the football into the forward contest, which bounced out the back for Barbakos to take advantage, weaving her way to the ball and slotting it in for her second just in the first quarter.

With six goals in our first quarter, we were up and confident to continue our momentum.

Courtney Aughtie was displayed some great pressure, laying tackle after tackle and making it hard for the Demons to convert a score.

A Demons ball fell short as they tried to get it out of our forward line, and we made sure to make the most of the opportunity. Felicity Hilford got her hands on it, handballing to Sutton, who had a great view of Tayla Kearns and passed it to her for a set shot. Unfortunately, the kick fell short, but Emmelie Fielder was there to finish the job.

Our defenders were strong getting the ball out and streaming it down to Membrey who handballed out of the contest up to Caris, with Kearns close by running towards the goals; it was an easy pass off and strong goal. We went into half time 29 points up, composed and ready to continue the performance for another half of footy.

Grace Perrett, a Sandringham Dragons product playing her first VFLW game, was involved around the contest all day, looking composed every time she had the ball.

Bibby slotted herself a nice goal in the first minute of the second half. The Demons came out ready for a fight, making it hard to continue that same momentum we had in the first half, but we were up for the challenge. Membrey, with some craft, worked her way out of congestion to slot her second of the game.

In one very quick moment from the ball up, Hollingsworth grabbed the ball and sprinted her way down the field, bombing it into the contest, where Barbakos did what she does best: got the ball and somehow found the goals.

The Demons earned themselves two in the last quarter, starting strong, trying to fight back. Players like Sherritt and Charlotte Taylor looked composed with the football and were strong in the middle, helping set up scoring opportunities.

Mackenzie Williams set Bibby up well in the forward pocket. Bibby earned herself a free kick with a brick like tackle, allowing her to get her second goal of the day.

It was a strong performance to end the season on a high. Perrett impressed in her first VFLW game, leading our disposal count with 28, followed by Sherritt and Taylor, who were also strong all day.

CASEY DEMONS 0.1, 3.2, 3.4, 5.4 (34)
SANDRINGHAM 6.0, 8.1, 11.5, 12.8 (80)

Goals
Barbakos 2, Bibby 2, Membrey 2, Caris, Fielder, Forbes, Kearns, Sherritt, Skinner

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