FOOL'S GOALED by Ice Station

[Demonland 8,896]

The Casey Scorpions travelled to Eureka Stadium in search of gold but returned with nothing because they failed in the basic test of football - kicking for goal.

The tone for the game between the Scorpions and North Ballarat was set by the end of the first quarter when the visiting team dominated play but, by virtue of its inaccuracy, trailed by a point. The Roosters goaled with all three shots at goal and the Scorpions were only successful with only two of seven, both to busy small man Jay Kennedy-Harris.

And so the pattern continued for the rest of the game. The Roosters certainly had the better of the second quarter but, after half time, they kicked five straight goals to three goals six meaning they had stretched their lead at the main break by another goal to win by twenty points.

The winners kicked straight but for Casey it was as they say in the classics, a case of "bad kicking is bad football" and one that got away after winning some close tussles in recent weeks.

Thanks to the long run of injuries, Casey had only nine AFL players at its disposal including three rookies. They were fortunate to have Mark Jamar who dominated the ruck contests against two inexperienced big men from the country side but, after a few good outings at this level, must surely have written a ticket back into the AFL with that game. Kennedy-Harris showed out with his class at times and rookie James Harmes did some nice things but the Casey midfield really failed to take advantage of the Russian's domination in the ruck.

The Casey defence worked hard, led by skipper Evan Panozza. He was well backed up by key defenders Jack Fitzpatrick who marked everything at centre half back and local lad Oscar McDonald who is no stranger to Eureka Stadium. Bryce Rutherford, co-opted from the development league team, was handy on the day.

The defeat was a big blow to Casey which remains in the middle of a big field of final contenders and could ill afford to lose a game to a team that had previously lost four in a row.

The team has a bye next weekend.

2015 Peter Jackson VFL

Casey Scorpions 2.5.17 3.6.24 5.10.40 6.12.48

North Ballarat 3.0.18 6.2.38 10.2.62 11.2.68

Goals

Casey Scorpions Kennedy-Harris 2 Hutchins King Morris Smith

North Ballarat Hooper 3 Tsitas Bacon George Sewell McKenzie Marshall Black Rippon

Best

Casey Scorpions Smith Kennedy-Harris Fitzpatrick Byrnes Rutherford Jamar

North Ballarat Bastinac Rippon Kiel Lockyer Hooper Black

Jack Fitzpatrick 27 disposals 16 kicks 11 handballs 10 marks 2 tackles 106 dream team points

James Harmes disposals 12 kicks 8 handballs 5 marks 7 tackles 96 dream team points

Mark Jamar 18 disposals 15 kicks 3 handballs 6 marks 4 tackles 54 hit outs 136 dream team points

Jay Kennedy-Harris 2 goals 3 behinds 26 disposals 18 kicks 8 handballs 6 marks 8 tackles 135 dream team points

Max King 1 goal disposals 8 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 4 tackles 11 hit outs 76 dream team points

Viv Michie 1 behind 19 disposals 7 kicks 12 handballs 2 marks 7 tackles 72 dream team points

Oscar McDonald 15 disposals 9 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 49 dream team points

Dean Terlich 14 disposals 9 kicks 5 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 50 dream team points

Mitch White 14 disposals 9 kicks 5 handballs 4 marks 2 tackles 57 dream team points

Earlier, the Development League team wilted in the end after a good first half

2015 AFL Victoria Development League

Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 7.3.45 8.5.53 9.8.62

Coburg Lions 3.4.22 4.4.28 9.7.61 12.11.83

Goals

Casey Scorpions Rennie 3 Anderson Gawley Fisscher Lang O'Brien Rosier

Coburg Lions Cooper Gleeson Madden Robertella 2 Schraven 2 Holdsworth Sturgess

Best

Casey Scorpions Wilson O'Brien Gains Keilty Hillard Rennie

Coburg Lions Williams Totino Sortino Sturgess Madden Robertella