THE LUCK OF THE BOUNCE

[Demonland 70,328]

by KC from Casey

History is starting to repeat itself for the Casey Scorpions. As has been the case on a number of occasions already this year, they again had a big scalp in their grasp on Saturday at Point Gellibrand against Williamstown and again they allowed it to slip away with some careless play and crucial skill errors. This time they fell by four points after leading for most of the second half and at one stage in the third quarter they were almost seven goals in front.

The problems started for the Scorpions in the first quarter when they dominated the general play but couldn't buy a goal. They did however, manage to amass seven points but allowed the Seagulls' Declan Stack to slip away for two goals in mid quarter so that the scoreboard embarrassingly gave the home side a xx point lead despite having double the number of entries inside the fifty metre arc, a fact that would come back to bite them hard later in the game. Casey lifted its intensity in front of goals in the second quarter with a couple of quick goals to Shane Valenti and Addam Maric to momentarily grab the lead but it was short-lived as the home side regained its composure. Late in the quarter the momentum started swinging back to the visitors when disaster struck. Maric, who is usually a straight shooter, marked 15 metres out and was poised to put the team in front when he kicked into the man on the mark. On the rebound the Seagulls moved the ball the whole length of the ground to goal and, though the Scorpions were to get one back through Lynden Dunn, the two goal turn around was to prove decisive later in the game.

After the break Casey showed it was capable of producing a high standard of football. The forwards started hitting their targets and skipper Kyle Matthews, clearly inconvenienced by injury, were inspirational. He kicked one himself and had a hand in a few others. Newton ran in for a couple of opportunist goals and Daniel Hughes was also lively up forward. When James Strauss bounded through the centre square and goaled with a long, straight kick at the 21 minute mark, Casey's lead was closing in on seven goals.

The Scorpions were winning all over the ground. Recruits Peter Faulks and Michael Stockdale were impressive, James Wall and Alex Silvagni were playing their usual strong games and Clint Bartram was blanketing Seagull skipper Brett Johnson. Even a late Willy goal was not enough to dampen the spirits as Casey took a 35 point lead into the final break.

However, coach Peter German was wary of underestimating the opposition when he addressed the players at the huddle warning them not to take any notice of the scoreboard. Unfortunately, they failed to take any notice because they allowed Williamstown to kick a couple of quick goals and the uncertainty began to creep into their game. A goal to Newton appeared to steady the ship but the Seagulls kept coming and the Scorpions kept on making skill errors and needlessly turning over the football. Silvagni made some uncharacteristic errors kicking off and the team missed their skipper who was by now off the ground.

Willy struck at the 29 minute mark to take back the lead for the first time since the early moments of the third quarter and then Casey was hit by the irony of their day when Hughes broke away from a pack and the luck of the bounce of the ball from the kick that decided his team's fate went the wrong way. The Seagulls were home by four points.

The only good news for the day was that the Scorpions held their place in the top eight, courtesy of the fact that Coburg was thrashed by Sandringham.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Rohan Bail - there was nothing special on show from the Queenslander who celebrated his 21st birthday this week. When he came down after the draft, he had a reputation as a running player but didn't show it in this game.

Clint Bartram - played one of his better games this week and held dangerous Seagulls' skipper Brett Johnson. His disposal and decision-making were both much better this week.

Daniel Bell - after a shaky start and some early errors, Bell worked his way back into the game with some strong, hard tackling and even produced some creative handball to set up some good forward moves.

Kyle Cheney - gave Stack too much latitude early in the game and this proved very costly in the final analysis. Regained his composure for the second and third quarters and took some strong safe marks and, at times, showed out with some strength in defence.

Lynden Dunn - had another good day apart from missing some vital shots at goal in the early going. Too good for this level and due for a call up against the Eagles next week.

Daniel Hughes - under size for a key position but has a good pair of hands and has obviously put a lot of work on his pace and fitness. A big improver.

Addam Maric - injured his shoulder early on looked to be labouring under some discomfort. Kicked a nice goal, fluffed a shot when he kicked into the man on the mark, had a hand in some goals but generally didn't do enough.

Jordie McKenzie - not as clean in the packs as he has been in earlier in the season and didn't attack the ball as well as he has in past games. Spent a lot of time on the interchange bench.

Michael Newton - we've tended to be hard on Newton because he showed a lot of potential early on and hasn't produced the goods to date. A few easy missed shots stood between him covering himself and his team with glory. He is working a lot harder these days and his 3.3 for the day might just be enough to get him back into a Demon guernsey.

James Strauss - quiet early but pressed with his neat crisp disposal once his game under way. His long goal on the run in the third quarter was a gem.

Shane Valenti - played another of his trademark hard, in and under games that is well suited to this competition but some feel won't fly at AFL level. Since he shows an uncompromising commitment for the football he deserves a chance, if only to set an example to those who have supposedly better credentials but aren't producing much these days.

Paul Wheatley - showed his experience with a few good runs out of defence but he clearly hasn't had enough preparation due to his injuries and he desperately needs a lot more match practice.

Trent Zomer - kicked a goal but otherwise struggled to impose himself on the game.

Casey Scorpions 0.7.7 4.10.34 11.13.79 12.14.86

Williamstown 2.4.16 5.6.36 6.8.44 13.12.90

Goals

Casey Scorpions Newton 3 Hughes 2 Dunn Maric Matthews Stockdale Strauss Valenti Zomer

Williamstown Little 4 Stack 3 Cordy Davies Everitt O'Keefe Reid Stretton

Best

Casey Scorpions Bell Faulks Valenti Panozza Wheatley Bartram

Williamstown Callan Davies Addison Reid Gotch Everitt

Casey Reserves were competitive against top team Williamstown and trailled by only 11 points at half time but were swamped in the second to go down by 46 points. Glenn Chivers, David Collins and Luke Williams have all been consistent performers this year and were the team's best while Ben Waite booted three goals.

Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 9.4.58 11.6.72 14.9.93

Williamstown 7.3.45 10.9.69 13.17.95 19.25.139

Goals

Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Dean Scanlon 2 Chivers Clay Mildren Oldmeadow Matheson Virtue Williams

Williamstown Joyce 3 Cravino Egan Georgiadis Grossman Jones Lynch Meyer 2 Cartelli White

Best

Casey Scorpions Chivers Collins Williams Blaser Lees Snow

Williamstown Wood Cravino Cartelli Boumann Shaw Lynch