DEFYING LOGIC

[Demonland 73,139]

DEFYING LOGIC 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

[Whispering_Jack 30,601]

It was a sensational win in the circumstances to the Casey Scorpions. Most of us thought they had no hope after all those changes at Melbourne left them with so few AFL players against a big list from Richmond including Tuck who is one of the competition's leading possession getters and Bowden who is still surely in Richmond's best 22.

It goes to show that the Demons, even with a depleted line up against the Swans must still be a show. Players like Miller, Newton, Valenti and first gamer Jordie McKenzie who have ought their way into the team will be fiercely determined to prove a point and, coming from a winning culture at Casey could cause some surprises this afternoon.

[H_T 3,049]

A very good win by Casey. Under trying conditions they started with a good solid 1st quarter against the wind. Robbo continued his form by showing hardly any interest for the pill and did not chase. Pete Donegan and David Rhys Jones were very critical by saying he clearly didn't want to be there. Clearly Robbo is struggling to come to terms with himself as a footballer for the melbournefc. When you don't help your team mates in a contest and fail to even put a little effort into chase -- something is up.

[Chelly 827]

Robbo pantsed by Rance.

[Big Kev 371]

What made the MFC/SFC alliance so strong was the quality of the SFC players. We look to have the same strength with our alliance with the Scorpions, they work very well as a team.

[MO FINE 171]

What made the MFC/SFC alliance so strong was the quality of the SFC players. We look to have the same strength with our alliance with the Scorpions, they work very well as a team.

What are the rules for qualification of AFL players for VFL finals?

[KC from Casey 7,113]

What are the rules for qualification of AFL players for VFL finals?

Good question Mo and I will try to find out the answer during the week.

[casey scorp 2]

I think that the AFL listed player must have played 8 matches in the VFL during the season to be eligible to be selected for the VFL team in a finals match

EXCEPT where the AFL team is also (still) playing in the finals in which case the player can be selected in the VFL finals team regardless of the number of VFL matches played during the season.

[KC from Casey 7,113]

The stats for yesterday's Casey games are out courtesy of the club and these are the highlights:

Casey had 188 kicks to Coburg's 171 but the Tigers had 198 handpasses to 126 and finished with 55 more disposals. They narrowly led marks taken 74-69 but the Scorps comfortably won both the tackle count 97 to 62 and spoils 31-11. The most interesting team stat (apart from the final scoreboard) was the inside 50s which had Coburg well ahead 59-39. Casey made the most of its low number of inside 50s into the wind when it booted three goals in the opening quarter and two in the third. Coburg managed only one goal into the wind and that came early in the second term. Clearly, the home side's more efficient use of the football was an important factor in helping it to set up the win.

On an individual level Ben MacReadie and Michael Stockdale both managed 24 disposals, the former having 10 kicks & 14 handballs and the latter had 16 kicks 8 handpasses. James Wall posted 20 disposals and first gamer Wade Lees finished with 19 disposals.

The Demons posted the following results:-

Simon Buckley 7 kicks, 11 handballs 1 mark

Danny Hughes 12 kicks, 2 handballs 6 marks 2 goals 1 behind

Jake Spencer 2 kicks 8 handballs 3 marks

Russell Robertson 3 kicks 5 handballs

Trent Zomer 6 kicks 2 handballs 1 goal

In the reserves Tom McNamara finished with 12 kicks 12 handballs and 5 marks. The team played half a dozen first gamers from local comps to cover the numbers now filling in at senior level.

[PeterJames 46]

lol robbo 3 kicks... He was horrible. Did anyone else hear him on triple M. Saying he didn't get delivery, that he lead a thousand times and wasn't honoured and blah blah..

the way he is going he might end up in the vfl 2's

[Rampaging Demons 1]

not a great day for forwards but at the same time, the 1%ers are there for you when having an off day... the spoil from behind, the chase down, the pressure....

robbo has been a great servant of the footy club but think that the pace of the game has gone past him - whether it be his injury????

give him the last game to retire and a send off he deserves!!

[Gorgoroth 13,016]

One of the funniest things I heard was Robbo on MMM before the Saints game saying that the reason the Saints were so good was the forwards chased hard and never let up on their opponents until they coughed it up.

So he knows what should be done..........

[Whispering_Jack 30,601]

Peter German's match review is up on melbournefc.com.au

Here's what he said about Tom McNamara – the only Demon to play in the Casey reserves:

He was solid. Tom played about 70 per cent of the game, but the most important thing was that he got through the game. He got through with some injuries, was sharp and good with his hands. He's a chance to come up and play VFL senior footy next week.