STINGING THE BLUES by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions strengthened their claims for a finals berth with a dominant second half leading to a comprehensive 47 point victory over the Northern Blues at Ikon Park on Saturday afternoon.

In cool but calm conditions, the Scorpions opened up strongly with three of the first four goals. The Casey big men were on top in the ruck with Mark Jamar and in front of goal with Jake Spencer booting the first and Max King scoring late in the term to give the team a 14 point lead at the first break.

Casey kept up its dominance with an early second quarter goal to Matt Jones which was met by a swift reply before Jamar, resting up forward, booted another at the six minute mark to restore a 20 point lead. The game lapsed into something of a scramble with lots of stoppages and very few bright passages of play and the visitors let their grip on the game slip when they conceded two goals after time on began. As has often been the case this year, Casey rallied late with goals to Jayden Hunt and a second to Spencer, both after the thirty minute mark and suddenly they were 22 points in front at half time.

The confidence that those two late goals brought to the team was priceless and led by their winning ruck which amassed 71 hit outs between them (Jamar 46, Spencer 25) to give the midfield an armchair ride, the Scorpions swept to a 46 point lead at the final break, with Hunt booting two more for the quarter. Elusive and genuinely quick, Hunt does not get a great deal of the football but what he does with it is particularly damaging.

The experience of Jack Grimes, Jordie McKenzie, Matt Jones and Viv Michie gave Casey the midfield edge whilst Dean Terlich, Evan Panozza and Jack Hutchins were steady in defence in a strong team effort that gave the team a comfortable win.

The victory was handy because it gave the Scorpions a two game buffer inside the top eight, with only one of the six remaining games left to be played against a team outside of that group.

2015 Peter Jackson VFL

Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 7.7.49 11.13.69 15.15.105

Northern Blues 1.2.8 4.3.27 5.3.33 9.4.58

Goals

Casey Scorpions Hunt 4 Jamar 3 Spencer 2 Byrnes Grimes M Jones King Michie Rutherford

Northern Blues Johnson Johnston Jaksch 2 Dirago Murray Watson

Best

Casey Scorpions Jamar Grimes McKenzie Hunt Hutchins Panozza

Northern Blues Jones Roberts Ballard Johnston Armitage Whiley

Statistics

Rohan Bail disposals 9 kicks 4 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 71 dream team points

Jack Fitzpatrick 6 disposals 2 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 1 tackles 27 dream team points

Jack Grimes 30 disposals 13 kicks 17 handballs 2 marks 7 tackles 115 dream team points

Jayden Hunt 4 goals 1 behind 11 disposals 6 kicks 5 handballs 5 marks 68 dream team points

Mark Jamar 3 goals 13 disposals 9 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 4 tackles 46 hit outs 122 dream team points

Matt Jones 1 goal 27 disposals 17 kicks 10 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 116 dream team points

Max King 1 goal 2 behinds disposals 5 kicks 2 handball 1 tackle 26 dream team points

Oscar McDonald 9 disposals 5 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 30 dream team points

Jordie McKenzie 1 behind 29 disposals 13 kicks 16 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 119 dream team points

Viv Michie 1 goal disposals 16 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 2 tackles 90 dream team points

Ben Newton 1 behind 14 disposals 8 kicks 6 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 50 dream team points

Jake Spencer 2 goals 11 disposals 5 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 25 hit outs 87 dream team points

Dean Terlich 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 5 marks 1 tackle 80 dream team points

Jimmy Toumpas 2 behinds 18 disposals 13 kicks 5 handballs 4 marks 7 tackles 92 dream team points

Mitch White 1 behind 12 disposals 7 kicks 5 handballs 4 marks 2 tackles 52 dream team points

The Development League team controlled the game against the Blues from start to finish winning by 67 points. Like the senior side, they have some tough encounters to come before ensuring a place in the finals.

2015 AFL Victoria Development League

Casey Scorpions 8.3.51 13.7.85 15.10.100 18.11.119

Northern Blues 1.4.10 2.5.17 4.8.32 7.10.52

Goals

Casey Scorpions Anderson Fisscher Gains Muir Thwaites 2 Hannon Kent Lang Page Rosier Scott Walmsley Wyatt

Northern Blues Malone Walton 2 Jordan McDonald Peet

Best

Casey Scorpions Gains Muir Corrigan Scott K Wilson J McDonald

Northern Blues Toman Gleeson Ercolano McDonald Jenkins Bolger