FREEFALL by KC from Casey

[Demonland 64,757]

A lacklustre Casey Scorpions side lasted only one quarter of its top of the table clash with the rampant Cats from Corio before they were blown away in comprehensive fashion to the tune of 66 points at Casey Fields. Such is the domination of Geelong on the competition that it has gone three games clear on top of the ladder ahead of Williamstown, Box Hill and Casey, all on 10 wins with three rounds left to play.

The teams went goal for goal in the opening term with the Scorpions looking for boom forward Jesse Hogan and finding him enough to warrant a switch of opponents before the first break by which time he had 2.1 on the board and his team led by 3 points against the straight shooting visitors.

However, from quarter time onwards it became a one way street with the strong Geelong line up penetrating the midfield and kicking straight to rack up 6.3 to a solitary point to take a commanding lead into the sheds at half time. As they had done on one or two occasions before this year, the Scorps had gone into freefall in the second quarter.

Any hopes of a Casey revival was soon snuffed out with the visitors snaring the opening two goals of the third quarter with AFL premiership players Chapman and Christiansen showing out for Geelong. The Scorpions were not spent yet making one final dash with a three goal spree in mid term through the agency of Jake Best (2) and Neville Jetta but the Cats regained their composure amid the dark and the gloom kicking six of the last seven as the game finished under lights and a thick black sky. It was their eighth consecutive win since they lowered their colours to the Scorpions by 13 points at Simonds Stadium in round 7.

For Casey, Dan Nicholson picked up 29 touches. James Magner (25) and Sam Blease (22) battled hard.

After playing three stand alone AFL affiliates in consecutive matches, the Scorps now take on a stand alone VFL club in a danger game next Sunday against the rapidly improving Dolphins at Frankston. They must win to secure a spot in the top four.

Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.4.28 7.8.50 8.11.59

Geelong4.0.24 10.3.63 16.8.104 19.11.125

Goals

Casey Scorpions Best Hogan 2 Jetta Magner Nicholson Page

Geelong Kersten 5 Hartman Murdoch Walker 2 Bathie Chapman Christensen Corrigan Hollmer Howe Stringer Thurlow

Best

Casey Scorpions Nicholson Magner Strauss Blease J Tynan Hill

Geelong Murdoch Kersten Walker Stringer Bews Brown

The Casey Development League team cemented its place in the top six and the finals with a 25 point win over Box Hill.

Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 6.6.42 9.10.64 12.12.84

Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 4.2.26 4.4.28 9.5.59

Goals

Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Anderson Corry Fowler Macdonald Lang Lindsay Pollard Rosier Troutman

Box Hill Hawks Monkhorst Northe 2 Cunningham Exon Frank Goodwin Wood

Best

Casey Scorpions Lindsay Pollard Macdonald Clay Riseley Smith

Box Hill Hawks Thompson Collins Cunningham Exon Graham Miles