PINK

by KC from Casey

Supporters of the Casey Scorpions can be forgiven for viewing yesterday's ABC Match of the Round through rose coloured glasses.

The club dedicated the day to the Pink Ribbon Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness with the team wearing a special pink guernsey against the Werribee Tigers to honour the occasion and by the end of the day the Scorpions celebrating on several fronts.

They won both of their matches by comfortable margins with the seniors recording their biggest victory for the year so far to get back to an even keel with a 4/4 record and a percentage of over 100.

The fund raising and public awareness aspects of the day were highly successful and, to cap things off, the club and its alignment with the Melbourne Football Club won huge plaudits from the media and the public over the announcement the day before of the Demons' 30-year deal to move their training operations to Casey Fields.

While the Scorpions lost Kyle Cheney, Russell Robertson and Jack Watts to the AFL and Shane Valenti to injury, the inclusion of Stef Martin and Brad Miller bolstered the goal to goal line and the close-checking of Clint Bartram added to their defensive stocks, particularly at the stoppages.

The match itself was a dour affair lit up by the brilliance of Liam Jurrah who got the team off to a good start booting the first two goals and finishing with four, the strength, aggression and marking of Brad Miller and the versatility of 50 gamer Alex Silvagni who was moved from defence onto the ball when ruckman Jake Spencer had to leave the ground after he took a heavy knock in the second quarter.

Vice Captain Silvagni has been at the Scorpions for four years and is an integral part of a young Casey defence. His 50th game was among his best and he selflessly answered the call to go into the ruck and handled himself well against bigger opponents and even booted a vital goal late in the second term.

Before the game Casey football manager Craig Lees said. "Alex is a wonderful competitor, he is very strong and he is hard to beat in a one on one contest. His continually working on his disposal and to be honest, there is no doubt in my mind he has the ability to play at the next level." Silvagni is one of only two Casey players on its young list to have reached 50 games (the other being skipper Kyle Matthews who only recently achieved that milestone).

And the youngest man on the ground was 17 year old rover Mitchell Dowse from the Gippsland Power who was the team's 23rd man under the initiative whereby selected players from the TAC Cup competition are given the opportunity to play senior football. He turned on a good display and booted a goal in the third quarter.

The pattern of the game was set by Jurrah's goals, which allowed Casey to open up a two to three goal buffer that was virtually maintained throughout the first three quarters.

It was a case of the home side holding sway in most positions but lacking what was required to shake off its dogged opposition helped by conceding too many missed opportunities by wasteful play in front of goal in a scrappy first half. This earned the team the displeasure of coach Peter German who would not have been happy to see so many easy chances to score goals go begging.

The Scorpions were well served by skipper Kyle Matthews and fellow on baller Jordie McKenzie, dangerous forward Neville Jetta and the hard working Ben MacReadie. Lynden Dunn and Ricky Petterd also provided plenty of drive.

It was a long goal from Paul Wheatley late in the third quarter that broke a long period in which both defences were on top when the game threatened to become an arm wrestle. This set the tone for the home side to establish its dominance and the Scorpions kept their best till last.

The final quarter saw the Scorpions kick away with seven goals to one, dominated by the aerial strength of Miller, the brilliance of indigenous duo Jetta and Jurrah and the steadiness of Silvagni, James Wall and Michael Stockdale. In the end, German would have reason to be pleased with the team effort of his charges who responded well in the second half.

The 50 point win leaves his charges just outside the top eight and their big challenge comes next Sunday at Visy Park with a must win game against the in form Northern Bullants.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Rohan Bail - worked hard but his game was marred by some poor disposal, especially in front of the big sticks where he fluffed a few gettable shots at goal.

Clint Bartram - started slowly but eventually found his rhythm and finished the game strongly with several solid defensive efforts and was deservedly named among the team's best.

Lynden Dunn - continues to play well at this level and appears to have heeded the wake up call given by his omission from the Demons' team. Showed great hunger for the ball, picked up 23 possessions, a nice goal, played a role in a number of others and showed some good aggression.

Daniel Hughes ® - Hughes missed some easy shots at goal and, despite picking up 20 touches, was never really able to impose himself on this game.

Neville Jetta - flashed in and out of the game but proved dangerous up forward where he chimed in with some opportunist goals finishing with a productive bag of four for the day.

Liam Jurrah - set the early tone for the day with some strong marks and by chasing, tackling and harassing the opposition to set up a couple of nice early goals for himself and the team. We all love the players who can do the freakish, who can think and act with lightning precision and do the seemingly impossible. Liam Jurrah is just such a player and simply needs a bit of polishing in one or two areas before he is unleashed on the AFL stage where he is sure to make an impact.

Stefan Martin - made a solid but unspectacular contribution and looked to be at his best and most comfortable when down back.

Jordie McKenzie ® - from the beginning McKenzie who was first pick in last year's rookie draft, has been quietly making a case for promotion onto the main list. The timing is just right for this clever utility because a new rule automatically opens up a place for a rookie next week and his performance yesterday with 30 deft disposals including some creative handball and strong clearance work has placed him in the box seat.

Brad Miller - probably a bit unlucky to lose his spot at Melbourne, Miller ensured that his absence would be temporary with a dominant performance of 21 possessions, 15 strong marks and three goals. His strong tackling and hard bumping softened up the Werribee defence and the only knock on his game would be with respect to his kicking for goal because he should have finished with six or seven.

Michael Newton - overshadowed by Miller in what was a top heavy forward half early on but he did contribute and did what the match committee has been expecting of him in terms if chasing and tackling which are aspects of his game that have been previously lacking. Needs to develop some confidence in himself as he is inclined to do some strange things from time to time (remember the banana kick for goal against Adelaide?). Yesterday, he took a mark at 50m and declined to play on though he had a paddock in front of him. Then he gave it off to Ricky Petterd who missed the shot anyway. A more confident forward would have backed himself to play on and slot the goal in the first place.

Ricky Petterd - creative, 18 possessions but produced his usual mixed bag of good and poor disposal.

Jake Spencer ® - we're getting used to Spencer's aggression and once again he put his body on the line and took a hit or two including one knock in the second quarter that curtailed his game time. His ruckwork was generally very good but he is still ungainly around the ground. Good big men take time to develop. Spencer will be no exception but the wait might prove to be worthwhile.

James Strauss - a relatively quiet game from the youngster but it was enough to highlight his exquisite foot skills which will hold him in good stead as his development progresses.

Paul Wheatley – was playing in his first senior game after a long lay off with injury and was rusty to start off with but came back well in the second half.

Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 8.11.59 10.13.73 17.18.120

Werribee Tigers 2.4.16 6.7.43 8.10.58 9.16.70

Goals

Casey Scorpions Jetta Jurrah 4 Miller 3 Dowse Dunn Newton Petterd Silvagni Wheatley

Werribee Tigers Goldstein 2 Baddeley Barlow Denton Howard Obst Pask Speight

Best

Casey Scorpions Silvagni Miller MacReadie Bartram Wall McKenzie

Werribee Tigers Barlow Black Pask Goldstein Martiniello Gleeson

The Casey reserves kicked off a big day for the club with a comfortable 47 point victory over the Werribee Tigers with Nick Scanlon and Trent Zomer each kicking three goals. After a tight first quarter, the Scorpions took complete control in the second term and had doubled the Tigers' score by the main break. They went on with the job after half time and won in a canter to establish themselves as strong challengers for the double chance. James Taylor and Ryan Creed were the best on the day in an even team effort.

Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 10.13.73 13.17.95 16.19.115

Werribee Tigers 3.2.20 5.5.35 9.6.60 10.8.68

Goals

Casey Scorpions Scanlon Zomer 3 Bolton Waite 2 Chivers Creed Clay Costigan Hillberge McLeod

Werribee Tigers Tarrant 3 Adams 2 Banjanin Kennedy O'Keefe Palmer Robbins

Best

Casey Scorpions Taylor Creed Lees Collins Scanlon Bolton

Werribee Tigers Kennedy Adams Magnabosco Robbins Kovacevic Lawson

ROUND NINE ABC HIGHLIGHTS - CASEY V WERRIBEE