DEFYING LOGIC

[Demonland 73,140]

by KC from Casey

When the Casey selectors sat down to pick a side for yesterday's round 15 game they had to contend with plenty of headaches. A spate of injuries had dramatically reduced the number of both AFL and VFL listed players available and the prospect of coming up with a revamped side augmented by inexperienced VFL listed players against a Coburg Tigers team replete with AFL footballers was a daunting one.

In the end the selectors came up with eleven changes to the team that beat Collingwood last week including three first gamers (James Blaser, Wade Lees and TAC Cupper Chris Wiley from the Gippsland Falcons) in an already inexperienced lineup and in the circumstances, logic dictated that they would not come out with a win.

But the Scorpions defied logic and triumphed by 33 points in a famous victory for the club that was a tribute to the self-belief of the players, their determination, some great leadership and inspired coaching.

For Casey it was a case of simply refusing to allow the many changes to have an unsettling effect on them after their recent surge of strong wins had carried them into the top four. This self-confidence carried them through an opening quarter which saw them in front at the first break despite kicking against a strong northerly wind, a lead they held onto against a team with far greater experience in terms of age and senior games played.

Once again the wind was a major factor but at least this time the ground was bathed in brilliant sunshine with the Scorpions kicking into the face of a strong northerly breeze at the start of the game. Despite the adverse conditions the hosts were able to draw first blood when a James Wall pass found full forward Ben Waite right in front of goal. The defence held on stoutly and it took a free kick and fifty metre penalty before it conceded its first goal for the game. Pocket dynamo Michael Stockdale chipped in with a goal after accepting a pass from hard working skipper Kyle Matthews, then Trent Zomer turned his opponent inside out with the goal of the day.

Coburg momentarily took the lead early in the second quarter courtesy of yet another fifty metre penalty but the hosts regrouped thanks to their solid core of leaders headed by Matthews, Wall and the ever-reliable Silvagni and a bunch of enthusiastic youngsters. They scrapped their way forward in blustery conditions not suited to good ball movement and regained the lead with an opportunist goal to Danny Hughes in the goal square followed by a Ryan Creed snap to go 13 points ahead. Ben MacReadie who was showing great endeavour chipped in with a left foot goal at the 22 minute mark and Simon Buckley's goal on siren from outside fifty metres capped off a fantastic half of football for the home team. The four goal lead was well earned by a team of players who kept their eyes on the ball and showed great courage.

The game was still there to be won and the question was whether the Casey youngsters had the fitness and strength to match it with an experienced group that boasted a goal to goal line that could easily have represented Richmond earlier in the season. Grim defence was in order particularly in the first five minutes after half time when two goals were conceded to Coburg's Nick Liddle. The Scorps fought back with a great pass from Matthews to Waite for his second but it was tough going against the wind as defenders tried to lock the ball in packs. A free in the goal square to the Tigers narrowed the margin down to ten points by mid quarter and by the twenty minute mark the lead had been pegged back down to just three points. It was now time for Casey to dig deep into their resources.

The loss of ruckmen Paul Johnson (injury replacement for Mark Jamar at Melbourne) and Tim Mohr to injury had hit Casey hard. Big Jake Spencer came into the side on the back of just one run in the reserves after missing over a month with injury and he was backed up by young Wylie who stands at 196 cm. Although beaten on the day they battled manfully against the Coburg giants and provided a good contest. The backs led by Wall, Peter Faulks and Silvagni and containing sturdy defender James Taylor and unheralded youngsters in MacReadie and Glenn Chivers held firm. Stockdale seemed to be everywhere drifting back and forward and the Scorpions pushed forward for a Pierce Liddle goal late in the term giving them a handy eight point buffer coming home with the wind.

The final half hour fittingly belonged to Casey as the visitors were shut down to a single point just before the final siren while the Scorpions added two more goals to Waite and one each to Hughes and Faulks. It was a tribute to the astute coaching of Peter German that his team defied the odds with unrelenting football to produce a memorable win for the club which still faces a tough month or so with mounting injuries and encounters with top four and finals aspirants still to come.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Melbourne's injury woes, the suspension of Colin Sylvia and the need to take Rohan Bail to Canberra as an emergency left only six players available for selection at Casey. Tom McNamara remained in the reserves after showing some frustration there last week on return from injury but Simon Buckley and Jake Spencer were rushed in on the back of limited preparation. Trent Zomer also came into the side after doing reserve duty for most of the season. That left rookie Danny Hughes as the only regular Casey playing Demon in the side while Robbo was there in body if not in spirit.

Simon Buckley - ideally should have had another week at reserves level but aquitted himself well in the circumstances and got into the action kicking a beautiful long goal on the half time siren. Hopefully will have time and the fitness for another crack at AFL selection before the season ends.

Danny Hughes - a good contribution from one of the team's big improvers who must be a chance for an AFL call up in coming weeks.

Russell Robertson - his performance at Casey answered critics who claim that by dropping him the Demons are tanking. More is expected from a player who has had such an illustrious career at the club.

Jake Spencer - in only his second game back from injury (and his first in the seniors) Spencer toiled hard in the conditions against two big men with ruck experience for Richmond this year. He's very raw and has a long learning curve ahead of him but looks a likely type for the future.

Trent Zomer - apart from a briliant goal that will certainly make his personal highlights reel, Zomer had a minimal impact on a day not made for big men.

Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 7.6.48 9.7.61 13.9.87

Coburg Tigers 2.5.17 3.6.24 7.11.53 7.12.54

Goals

Casey Scorpions Waite 4 Hughes 2 Buckley Creed Faulks Liddle MacReadie Stockdale Zomer

Coburg Tigers Liddle 3 Hughes Pettifer Raines Thomson

Best

Casey Scorpions MacReadie Stockdale Faulks Collins Waite Wall

Coburg Tigers Rance Tuck Coughlan Polak Liddle Horne

The undermanned Casey Reserves with a number of players lost to the senior team got off to a good start but were overwhelmed against the wind in the second quarter. They fought back in the second half but the windy conditions and a stronger Coburg outfit containing a few AFL listed players who kicked ten of their fifteen goals prevailed. Brad Sykes kicked four goals and Gareth Snow was best for the Scorpions.

Casey Scorpions 7.3.45 7.5.47 12.7.79 13.7.85

Coburg Tigers 2.1.13 10.5.65 10.8.68 15.13.103

Goals

Casey Scorpions Sykes 4 Clay 3 Williams 2 Dean Smith Tiberi Virtue

Coburg Tigers Gourdis 5 Gilligan 3 Putt 2 Jordon 2 Bassi Kellett Morgan

Best

Casey Scorpions Snow Dean Clay Dearaugo Mildren Sykes

Coburg Tigers Cattapan Jordon Putt Rayson Ambrose Gourdis