NEIGHBOURS

[Demonland 70,326]

NEIGHBOURS by KC from Casey

The combatants were representing neighbouring municipalities on the fringes of Melbourne's metropolitan zones but the Scorpions gave the Dolphins a frosty welcome at Casey Fields yesterday. Not only did the hosts turn on freezing cold wintry weather but Casey also administered a stinging 98-point demolition on its hapless visitors from down the road.

The stand alone Dolphins have fallen on hard times since their famous old grandstand burned down in February last year cutting deep into their financial position. The global economic strife has also hit the Frankston region hard and last week the team suffered a major blow when ruckman Peder Whelan suffered a season ending injury. The Scorpions however, weren't inclined to extend their good neighbours any mercy when they met each other in their round 13 match up.

Frankston opened with the use of the strong breeze and scored the opening goal at the two-minute mark but Casey defended stoutly and it wasn't until mid quarter before the Dolphins scored their next goal. However, that was undone by a lack of discipline which conceded two fifty-metre penalties and set up a Danny Hughes goal. A turnover from Jack Watts conceded a late goal leaving Casey down by 13 points at the first break.

Paul Johnson dominated the ruck from the start and, as a consequence, the Dolphins were able to exert their influence at the stoppages and go forward at will. A goal to Ryan Creed narrowed the gap but Casey's inaccurate ways returned and it took them until the 20-minute mark to boot a second for the term and to take the lead for the first time through the agency of Michael Stockdale.

The goals began to flow. Clint Bartram, who was in everything, and Brad Miller (2) chipped in with goals and Matthew Wall, who had been impressive for Casey, moved forward to kick a late goal to give the home side a 27 point buffer at the main break. Suddenly, the game had been broken open.

The Scorpions opened the second half with steely determination, providing a hard attack at every contest in a scrappy game and they managed to achieve the aim of keeping the opposition in check despite the strong wind. James Taylor was doing a great job tightly marking the dangerous Justin Berry and skipper Kyle Matthews was busy on return from a leg injury.

The Dolphins struggled to score and then, at the 19-minute mark, the stuffing was knocked out of them when the first and only goal of the term came to Casey's Michael Newton. By three quarter time, the 33-point lead was insurmountable given that Casey had the strong wind advantage in the last.

The numbers weren't encouraging for Frankston either. After two quarters with the strong breeze it trailed in most key categories and had only 22 inside 50 metre entries to Casey's 37-a pointer to what had been a rather insipid and lifeless performance by the Dolphins.

Early in the final stanza the Scorpions started lining up for the goals. Matthew Whelan opened proceedings and was followed by Jack Watts and Brad Miller. Ryan Creed crumbed a pack for his second goal. Newton struck a purple patch with three goals in a short space of time. The only thing that would have upset coach Peter German was the fact that his charges were regularly spraying and missing their shots for goal.

Right at the end of the game it was fitting that skipper Matthews, still putting his body on line as usual, earned the last goal of the day from a free kick. Casey's winning margin had stretched to a percentage boosting 98 points.

The result capped off a big day for the Casey Scorpions. Earlier, the Minister for Sport James Merlino opened the new spectator facilities on the outer side of the ground and last week tenders were called for the construction of extensions to the existing main pavilion. These exciting developments will ultimately see the Scorpions and the Demons at the hub of the finest state of the art sporting facilities right in the middle of one of the fastest growing population regions in the country.

Not only is the long term future bright but after the vagaries of the VFL fixture gave Casey successive home match ups against cellar dwellers Bendigo and Frankston, the result has been a dramatic lift into the top four from the seventh placing it occupied just a fortnight ago. The Scorpions are however, by no means entrenched and they face tougher competition in the coming weeks if they are to hold their position.

There's a log jam of clubs lining up directly behind them so Casey cannot afford to take anything for granted and next week's ABC Match of the Round at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval against Collingwood looms as a real danger game.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Rohan Bail - started at half back and improved as the game went on and was a useful contributor when pushed forward later in the game. Clint Bartram - a best on ground performance from the prolific ball winner. Playing on the ball, he was in everything and was clean with his ball handling and disposal skills and was rarely under any real pressure.

Kyle Cheney - strong and tight down back, he kept his opposition forwards well in check. Was given the luxury of a run further up the ground later in the game and did a few nice things including assisting in a goal.

Danny Hughes - played on a flank and was gifted a goal in the first quarter. Was creative and solid throughout and was involved in setting up some nice passages of play.

Paul Johnson - dominated in the ruck all day and gave the Casey onballers an armchair ride. Picked up his fair share of the ball although not completely decisive with his ball use.

Jordie McKenzie - started on the interchange and was played in the midfield rotation. Not as prolific a ball winner as Bartram but he got his share of the hard ball out of the middle and could be a chance for promotion to the Demons' senior list.

Brad Miller - a strong, solid performance with 4 goals, 3 behinds at centre half forward. Marked strongly, used his body well and was just too good for the Frankston defenders.

Michael Newton - started poorly when he sprayed a shot at goal and soon after gave away a stupid free kick. Regained his composure and worked hard to set up scores for his team. Tackled and chased well and then took the initiative kicking four last half goals.

Shane Valenti - a solid on ball performance until he received a knock on the hip during the third quarter which ended his day.

Jack Watts - demonstrated his prodigious talent by consistently accumulating possessions playing off halfback and wing. Showed great composure and agility and despite the odd turnover he maintained a generally high level of skill and creativity in the windy conditions not normally conducive to those 196cm tall. Kicked a goal early in the final quarter before a minor ankle injury prematurely ended his day.

Matthew Whelan - the veteran of 146 games has too much class to be playing at this level. Enough!

The Coach's Report (it seems everyone was good!)

Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 7.7.49 8.9.57 17.21.123

Frankston 3.3.21 3.4.22 3.6.24 3.7.25

Goals

Casey Scorpions Miller Newton 4 Creed 2 Bartram Hughes Matthews Stockdale Wall Watts Whelan

Frankston Magner Purves Whelan

Best

Casey Scorpions Bartram Johnson Taylor Creed Whelan Chivers

Frankston Lombardozzi Marigliani Hibberd Magner Purves Winterton

In the reserves it was the third placed Dolphins against fourth team Casey and the importance of the contest could not be underestimated.

The story of the game was that Frankston used the breeze much better booting 7.6 to 0.2 in the opening term while Casey kicked 3.9 when its turn with the wind came. At three quarter time the difference was 9 goals and Casey simply didn't have the time to make up the deficit.

Ruckman Gus Patti, James Blaser and the ever-reliable Ben Waite were the best of the Scorps.

HOW THE DEMON FARED

Trent Zomer - conditions were not the best for big men and Zomer performed creditably. Booted two goals.

Casey Scorpions 02.2 3.11.29 3.11.29 9.15.69

Frankston 7.6.48 7.6.48 12.11.83 13.13.91

Goals

Casey Scorpions McLeod MacReadie Zomer 2 Lees Scanlon Waite

Frankston Limbach 3 Conroy Keely 2 Barnes Burns Clark Conroy Lean Ongarello

Best

Casey Scorpions Patti Blaser Waite Snow MacReadie McLeod

Frankston Conroy Keely Gill Corp Burns Barnes

[Luck Lucy 0]

It's very hard to draw a line on the form of any of our players after Casey's last two matches. The opposition has been absolutely pathetic. You can tell how bad Frankston were in the third quarter when they could only kick 2 points when they had a 100km gale at their backs so we shouldn't get carried away.

[PeterJames 46]

Bit harsh on hughes' goal being a gift... yeah he did get a 100 metres penalty, but it was a good mark in defense and he was 35 metres out and into that breeze it was a 70m kick! He was the only one to kick a goal at that end in the first half when the breeze was strong! i also noticed he spent a bit of time on the bench especially late in the game. Went into the rooms a few times. hopefully not another injury!!!

Batram was fantastic and will be pushing for selection... his speed is a big bonus for him, as he gains confidence and hopefully learns his limitations will be a good player.

PJ was really good, he was against little oppposition but did dominate.

Newton and miller were average. yes they kicked 4 but were late in the game and did little in the first half.

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

Bit harsh on hughes' goal being a gift... yeah he did get a 100 metres penalty, but it was a good mark in defense and he was 35 metres out and into that breeze it was a 70m kick!

Too true. But without the two 50 metre penalties it would have been a 170m kick which, with all due respect to Danny, might have been just outside his range .

[Deeman 1,479]

Too true. But without the two 50 metre penalties it would have been a 170m kick which, with all due respect to Danny, might have been just outside his range .

Still a good game from Hughes. Hope he gets the call soon.

[Akum 2,660]

PJ certainly dominated the hit-outs, but he had such a clear height and strength advantage that I would have liked him to vary it a bit more, he seemed to put them all at his feet.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

PJ certainly dominated the hit-outs, but he had such a clear height and strength advantage that I would have liked him to vary it a bit more, he seemed to put them all at his feet.

PJ dominating at VFL has about as much to do with the dees as it did when Jamar made the VFL his own a few years ago. It's just a completely different proposition at that level.

[Rogue 585]

PJ dominating at VFL has about as much to do with the dees as it did when Jamar made the VFL his own a few years ago. It's just a completely different proposition at that level.

I agree with the gist of what you're saying.

Fwiw, PJ won the Liston a few years back.

[Akum 2,660]

PJ dominating at VFL has about as much to do with the dees as it did when Jamar made the VFL his own a few years ago. It's just a completely different proposition at that level.

That's my point. Nobody should be fooled by the fact he had 40 or 50 taps; with the advantages he had, he should have done much more with them if he was quality.

[KC from Casey 7,042]

The official club stats from Saturday's game:

BAIL, Rohan 7 kicks 9 handball 4 marks 6 tackles

BARTRAM, Clint 17 kicks 14 handball 2 marks 7 tackles 1 goal 1 behind.

CHENEY, Kyle 8 kicks 12 handball 3 marks 6 tackles

HUGHES, Daniel ® 11 kicks 10 handball 4 marks 5 tackles 1 goal 1 behind

JOHNSON, Paul 11 kicks 7 handball 2 marks 2 tackles 1 behind

MCKENZIE, Jordie ® 10 kicks 9 handball 0 marks 6 tackles 1 behind

MILLER, Brad 8 kicks 12 handball 3 marks 1 tackles 4 goals 2 behinds

NEWTON, Michael 19 kicks 3 handball 9 marks 2 tackles 4 goals 1 behind

VALENTI, Shane ® 9 kicks 7 handball 4 tackles

WATTS, Jack 15 kicks 8 handball 2 marks 3 tackles 1 goals 1 behind

WHELAN, Matthew 14 kicks 13 handball 5 marks 2 tackles 1 goals 1 behind

Casey Reserves

ZOMER, Trent ® 18 kicks 7 handball 5 marks 3 tackles 2 goals 2 behinds

[KC from Casey 7,042]

The Casey Scorpions are certainly getting plenty of television exposure. Last week at home to Casey, this week at Trevor Barker Beach Oval v Collingwood and next week back at home v Coburg Tigers.

Now the AFL announces the Round 17 game v North Ballarat has been moved to Saturday 8 August down the Princes Highway to Morwell - yet another ABC Match of the Round.

[H_T 3,032]

Do you have Bails stats KC ? I agree with the TV exposure on Abc. Its great.

Edited July 15, 2009 by High Tower

[KC from Casey 7,042]

Do you have Bails stats KC ? I agree with the TV exposure on Abc. Its great.

Rectified.