TIGERS TAMED

by KC from Casey

After a slow start to the season the Casey Scorpions have continued to gather momentum and in front of a big crowd at ABD Group Stadium on Saturday they recorded a resounding 42 point win over the Coburg Tigers.

The Burgers had a long string of top level AFL players in their line up headed by Ben Cousins, Troy Simmonds, Kane Pettifer, Andrew Raines, Jay Schultz, Jake King and Trent Cotchin but it was the evenness of the Casey combination that won the day. Exactly half of the Scorpions team were AFL listed (three of them rookies) and they included number 1 draft pick Jack Watts for the first time.

The Tigers made the early running winning the clearances through Simmonds' strong work in the ruck, which allowed them to control possession all around the ground. They booted the first two goals and were doing most of the attacking but strong defensive work from Alex Silvagni, Kyle Cheney and Matthew Whelan enabled Casey to keep Coburg in check and a fine snap by Watts late in the opening quarter saw them trailing by seven points at the first change.

The Scorpions lifted their intensity in the second quarter with Matthews and Valenti taking control of the middle. This allowed the team to play a more free flowing open game and, with Wall having an influence and Newton starting to convert (he added three goals for the term), Casey went into the rooms at the main break holding a narrow lead.

Valenti continued to shine with a magnificent third quarter and managed to overshadow Cousins and Cotchin as Casey took control of the contest through the agency of some string marking from Danny Hughes who booted three goals for the term. The siren sounded with the visitors 29 points in front and this heralded an interesting few minutes of pushing and shoving in front of the social club as frustration set into among the Tiger camp.

However, if any complacency had crept into the minds of the Scorpions, the home side took just four minutes to sow some seeds of doubt in their minds with two Coburg goals early in the final term. The team-lifter for Casey came when the youngest player on the ground won the ball from a ruck contest, paddled the ball, turned to the left and swung through an amazing snap goal to restore his team's advantage to 22 points. It was Jack Watts' third goal on a very impressive senior debut and was awarded VFL Goal of the Day for Round 4.

Coburg was quick to reply but a Valenti leg break sealed the issue. Silvagni continued to produce good work in defence and defender Peter Faulks was playing his best game since coming to the club at the start of the season from the Sydney Swans. Newton came off the interchange to add two goals to make his tally five for the game earning him the ABC award for best on ground.

Valenti continued to win the ball and finished with 29 touches and youngsters MacReadie and McGough were impressive. Hard working young ruckman Tim Mohr (24 disposals, 6 marks) improved as the game went on and forward Matt Moore underlined his promise kicking the last two goals as Casey ran out easy winners by 42 points.

The Scorpions now have a week's rest courtesy of the bye and resume hostilities in a fortnight's time at home to the Box Hill Hawks.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Rohan Bail (6 kicks,10 handballs, 6 marks) - has good pace, sure hands, reads the play well and makes reasonably good decisions. Needs to work a little on his disposal but looks a likely type.

Daniel Bell (6 kicks,12 handballs, 4 marks) - coming back from a badly broken thumb, Bell was right into the thick of things tackling strongly in the midfield and getting involved particularly in the packs, winning a fair bit of the contested ball and dishing it out well. Gave away a few free kicks but all in all, it was a good comeback game for Bell.

Kyle Cheney (10 kicks, 11 handballs, 4 marks) - started like a house on fire and was strong and sure in defence all day. Pressing for a return to higher ranks with that display.

Jack Grimes (12 kicks, 11 handballs, 4 marks) - the unsung Jack in Casey's team against Coburg, Grimes went about his work with a minimum of fuss but was a very effective player on the day. Creative and efficient, Grimes quietly pressed his case for promotion to the AFL next week.

Daniel Hughes (13 kicks, 4 handballs, 8 marks) - continues to work hard in his quest to make up time for lost time after a couple of horror seasons with injury. Had a great third quarter scoring all three of his goals.

Jordie McKenzie (8 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks) - the young rookie worked hard at ground level, is a good decision maker, kicks well on both sides and has been a real surprise packet at the club this year.

Tom McNamara (10 kicks, 10 handballs, 4 marks) - a solid game from the young defender who has had his share of injury worries. Ran forward well and generated options and had a few shots on goal, including a pearler that split the middle from the boundary line in the third quarter. Made good decisions and was sure with this ball handling.

Michael Newton (10 kicks, 2 handballs, 5 marks) - kicked five goals (it could easily have been seven) and was one of the best on the ground. Juice was allocated a number of tasks during the game and even did some of the early ruck work. If he can gain some confidence in aspects of his game where he was found wanting at the higher level it could be the making of him as a player.

Shane Valenti (21 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks) – worked really hard, got a lot of the football and was influential in turning an arm wrestle into a triumph for Casey after half time.

Jack Watts (10 kicks, 6 handballs, 3 marks) - Casey coach Peter German was effusive about the youngster when he spoke to reporters after the game:

"Jack showed his class, I can't remember him fumbling the ball.

"He showed why he was Melbourne's number 1 draft pick."

Matthew Whelan (8 kicks, 9 handballs, 4 marks) - all class in defence as he makes his return from injury. Looked a little proppy every time he came off the ground but never once let his team down.

Austin Wonaeamirri (5 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks) - struggled to get into the game with Jake King wearing him like a glove and niggling him all day long. Still, the main thing from his point of view was to make it through a game after a long lay off through injury.

Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 7.6.48 11.11.77 17.13.115

Coburg Tigers 2.2.14 7.4.46 7.6.48 11.7.73

Goals

Casey Scorpions Newton 5 Hughes Moore Watts 3 McNamara Valenti Wall

Coburg Tigers Hislop Liddle Pettifer 2 Allan Connors Horne King Schulz

Best

Casey Scorpions Newton Mohr McKenzie Faulks Watts Silvagni

Coburg Tigers Edwards Cousins Simmonds Morgan King Caruso

The reserves led for most of the day and had to withstand a spirited last quarter comeback from the Burgers to win by two points. Luke Williams was again solid and Augustine Patti showed the benefit of some seniors experience in a good quality reserves game.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Four Melbourne listed players took part with Strauss the pick of them. His disposal was excellent but he was reported during the game. Rhys Healey continued to show good form but needs to improve his kicking. Trent Zomer had an interesting battle against Cleeve Hughes who finished with six goals. On the comeback trail after injuring himself after round 1 in the AFL, Simon Buckley showed some dash.

Casey Scorpions 2.4.16 9.5.59 16.7.103 17.7.109

Coburg Tigers 3.6.24 6.10.46 11.11.77 15.17.107

Goals

Casey Scorpions Scanlon 4 Vernon 3 Bolton Chivers Healey 2 McLeod Oldmeadow Patti Taylor

Coburg Tigers Hughes 6 Browne Clifton Deledio De Sousa Kandilakis Kellett Hislop Polak Rayson

Best

Casey Scorpions Williams Patti Strauss Healey Chivers Vernon

Coburg Tigers Hughes Ambrose Groves Browne Rayson Cattapan