Australian Football

Casey

Springvale was originally invited to enter a team in the VFA in 1961, when the Association introduced a two division format. However, the club was happy to continue in the Federal Football League, where it was the reigning premier.

Springvale continued to compete in the FFL for another twenty-one seasons, further honing its winning culture during that time by claiming another half a dozen senior premierships. When finally admitted to the VFA in 1982 the competition was significantly weaker than it had been two decades earlier, and the Vales took a mere twelve months to find their feet, downing Brunswick 17.9 (111) to 13.16 (94) in a fiery second division grand final in 1983 before rapidly consolidating at the top level. That consolidation process was furthered in 1987 when Phil Maylin captain-coached the side to a 14.16 (100) to 7.20 (62) demolition of Port Melbourne in the first division grand final.

Since then, the Scorpions have been consistent finals participants in both the VFA and its replacement competition, the VFL, with grand final defeats of Sandringham in 1995, Frankston (1996), Werribee (1998) and North Ballarat (1999) representing the ‘icing on the cake’.

Along with the majority of other clubs in the VFL, the Scorpions aligned themselves with an AFL partner, initially St Kilda in their case, an arrangement that existed between 2001 and 2008. Since 2009, the club's AFL affiliate has been Melbourne.

In these volatile times there is no such thing as long term security for any football club but Casey Scorpions, as the club became known in 2006 following its relocation to a new $4.5 million home ground at Casey Fields in Cranbourne East, appear to be as well equipped as any of their VFL compatriots to confront the challenges which the future will inevitably bring, and still be around to talk about it.

The Scorpions reached the finals in 2007 only to bow out of premiership contention in the first week after a 13 point loss to Port Melbourne.

Following their 2007 finals appearance the Scorpions endured four mediocre seasons, finishing fifth in 2008, seventh in 2009, fifth in 2010 and sixth in 2011. In 2012 they claimed the minor premiership after winning 14 out of 18 home and away matches but they underperformed badly in the finals. Opposed in the qualifying final by Werribee they managed only 3.10 (28) in going down by 3 goals. It was a similar story on the following week's semi final which Williamstown won at a canter, 11.9 (75) to 5.8 (38). Casey Scorpions thus bowed out of the flag race after being the best side all year. To add insult to injury both their finals losses occurred at Casey Fields.

Since 2009 the club has played as the Casey Demons, reflecting its alliance with Melbourne.

The side again succumbed to straight sets finals elimination in 2013, with their conquerors being Geelong reserves and Werribee. After slumping to second from last in 2014 Casey again qualified for the finals in 2015 but their involvement was fleeting as they lost an elimination final to Essendon reserves. 

The 2016 season was a case of so near but yet so far. Just as in 2012 the Demons won the minor premiership with a 14-4 record. They then accounted for Footscray reserves in a qualifying final by 70 points, 20.8 (128) to 8.10 (58). Williamstown in a preliminary final were their next opponents and once again the Demons were comfortably superior, cruising home by 7 goals, 12.13 (85) to 5.13 (43). The win booked Casey a grand final appointment with a Footscray side who had struck a rich vein of form since going down heavily in the qualifying final. This time the boot was firmly on the other foot as, after an evenly contested first half, the Bulldogs pulled away to record a comfortable victory with scores of 13.19 (97) to 10.6 (66).

The Casey Demons coach in 2016 was former Burnie Dockers, Richmond and St Kilda footballer Justin Plapp while they were captained by Jack Hutchins.

The 2017 season saw the Demons again qualifying for the finals but losses in successive weeks to Williamstown and Richmond brought their season to an end. A year later they made it all the way through to a grand final clash with Box Hill but after leading at every change they failed to capitalise and ended up losing by 10 points. There then followed something of a fall from grace in 2019 when the Demons' tally of nine wins from 18 matches saw them finish ninth, one place sdrift of finals qualification.