HARD WORK FOR THE WORKHORSES by KC from Casey

Despite another spirited performance at the weekend by the Casey Scorpions, this time against the Box Hill Hawks, Peter German's youngsters have again missed out on a win by a narrow margin and will play Collingwood in an Elimination Final at TEAC Oval on Saturday.

The final result, a 1 point defeat was the team's fourth of the season by a margin of less than a goal and left the Scorpions in sixth place on the VFL ladder as fans were left lamenting what might have been but for a rotten run with injuries in the latter part of the season.

The conditions were overcast and breezy at the Box Hill City Oval and the home team bounced away to an early lead in a sometimes spiteful opening stanza that saw Casey first gamer Scott Virtue felled and stretchered off after a sickening mid air collision. Box Hill took the ascendency to lead at the first change by 17 points with the Scorpions' two goalkickers were skipper Kyle Matthews and the versatile Alex Silvagni who was relishing the opportunity to move further afield after making a name for himself in defence.

Box Hill kept up the pressure in the second term and appeared to have too many big guns for the visitors who were again restricted in their available list of AFL players to two seniors and two rookie listers. The best of them was Paul Johnson who did well in the ruck and around the ground. A late surge of goals from Glenn Chivers, Silvagni and Ben Waite saw the Scorpions still in the hunt at half time with the Hawks holding onto a narrow lead of just eight points.

The news from elsewhere was not good for both clubs as they were relying on an upset by the Dolphins over the Bullants at Frankston to open the door for a top four berth to the winner of this game. Instead, the boys from Cramer Street had opened up a big lead shutting the door completely on that possibility.

Box Hill with its AFL contingent firing up forward took a firm grip on the game in the third quarter and skipped away to a 27 point lead at the final break. James Taylor managed a couple of handy goals to keep Casey's chances alive at the final change.

The young Scorpions were inspired as they made their charge and 21 minutes into the final term, a snap goal to Ben MacReadie saw them hit the lead by 3 points. The home side responded to regain the lead for the Hawks who bottled up the game well enough to prevent a repeat of last week's come from behind heroics at Casey Fields. The Scorpions had their chances but were unable to penetrate the Box Hill defence and were still attacking when the final siren sounded to signal their defeat by the narrowest of margins.

German told reporters after the game that despite "mastering the art of losing the close ones" his team was a young side and still learning. He added that while his team didn't have the star players, "we've just got a bunch of guys who are just workhorses really."

That might well be the case but some of the "workhorses" are starting to accumulate "star" numbers. MacReadie with 35 disposals was again in sparkling form for Casey and he was well backed up by James Wall (14 kicks, 17 handballs), Wade Lees who had 26 touches, Even Panozza (23) and Matthews who gathered 12 third quarter possessions on his way to a total of 31 for the match.

Apart from the loss and the injury to Virtue, the day was also soured by the reporting of Pierce Liddle who earlier in the week was invited to the Northern Territory draft screening camp to be held in ealy October.

Casey now takes on an in form Collingwood in Saturday's cut throat final as the business end of the season gets well and truly under way. All fans are asked to come to TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne to support the team as it starts its finals campaign.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

This is how Peter German rated the handful of Melbourne listed players at his disposal on Sunday on the Melbourne Football Club website:-

Paul Johnson – "Johnno rucked for most of the game. He did a lot of work around the ground, but he had two or three disposals that didn't find the target at critical times, which detracted a bit from his game. But otherwise, he worked hard over the four quarters."

11 kicks 6 handballs 1 mark 2 tackles 28 hit outs

Stef Martin – "Stef was a little bit down. We played him across half-forward, a bit in the ruck and wing as well, so we threw him around a bit. He fumbled a little bit, which was unusual, so we would've liked him to have had a greater impact."

3 kicks 9 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 1 goal

Shane Valenti – "Shane started slowly but built himself into the game, but his work around the stoppages was good."

6 kicks 10 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles

Trent Zomer – "Trent paid the price for having too many talls in the side, so he only played 60 per cent of game time. He got a bit of the ball early and had a shot at goal late, which could've put us in front, but he didn't make the distance. Trent is a player who needs to make every post a winner."

2 kicks 2 handballs 2 marks

Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 6.3.39 9.3.57 14.5.89

Box Hill Hawks 5.1.31 7.5.47 12.10.82 13.12.90

Goals

Casey Scorpions McGough Silvagni Taylor Waite 2 Chivers Liddle MacReadie Martin Matthews Smith

Box Hill Hawks Lisle 5 Williams 3 Curnow Fagan Iles Suckling Taylor

Best

Casey Scorpions MacReadie Panozza Chivers Matthews Faulks Wall

Box Hill Hawks Lisle Williams Markovic Whitecross Curnow Tuck

Reported Pierce Liddle (Casey Scorpions) for allegedly charging Edward Curnow (Box Hill Hawks)

Unfortunately, the reserves were really struggling for numbers and the patched up side could do little to prevent what was a predictable slaughter against the top side, Box Hill.

Casey Scorpions 0.2.2 1.7.13 2.9.21 2.10.22

Box Hill Hawks 4.3.27 6.6.42 15.10.100 24.18.162

Goals

Casey Scorpions Clay Wall

Box Hill Hawks Hoegel 7 Renton 6 Parker 3 Conyers Nye 2 Bull Dell Aquilla Marcius Peterson

Best

Casey Scorpions Patti Clay Matheson Wall Aziz McDonald

Box Hill Hawks Cross Kitchin Renton Marcius McGuinness Hoegel

Reported

S Grasser (Casey Scorpions) for allegedly striking J Cross (Box Hill Hawks) in the second quarter

VIDEO OF THE GAME FROM VFL FOOTY

FROM THE CASEY SCORPIONS FOOTBALL CLUB

ELIMINATION FINAL AT PORT MELBOURNE

CASEY SCORPIONS V COLLINGWOOD @ TEAC OVAL

1:10pm on Saturday 5th September – live on ABC TV

Admission to Finals: $15 adults or $10 concession / under 15years free

Gates open at 12noon

Support the Scorpions on Saturday at Port Melbourne and wear red, white & blue

GO SCORPIONS!

Ah, we'll knock the Pies off!

Who from the Deez will be playing?

Who from the Deez will be playing?

Very difficult to say because a number of players who are qualified have been injured recently and there's no guarantee that they'll be available.

In reality, we won't know until team selection on Thursday and even then, who knows?

What are the chances of Matthews getting picked up in the draft this year?

Not that great. Was probably better the previous couple of years than this year. imo he's too good for VFL but most clubs will shy away from his age (25?) and stature (178cm and 70kg).

Pretty sure the S Grasser reported is Simon Grasser from Knox. Wouldn't wanna be on the end of a punch from him. Kid is a man mountain

Just wondering if the other clubs with alignments to AFL clubs have as much trouble getting players from those teams to play at finals time.

Just wondering if the other clubs with alignments to AFL clubs have as much trouble getting players from those teams to play at finals time.

Helps if the club in question doesn't have injury problems. Here's the list of players eligible by way of having played the prerequisite number of matches. I have crossed out the definite outs i.e. the ones who are reported to have suffered season ending injuries and have made notes on some others. Judge for yourself how many Demons are likely to play:-

* Rohan Bail

* Simon Buckley - last played in VFL round 18 v North Ballarat (he was the only senior listed Demon in the team that day) and reported to be carrying a hip injury.

* Kyle Cheney

* Rhys Healey

* Danny Hughes

* Liam Jurrah - missed a few games with an ankle injury before returning to play the last three games with Melbourne. Will he be put in cotton wool for the 2010 pre season?

* Jordie McKenzie - reported to be headed for "minor foot surgery"

* Tom McNamara - didn't play last week. Emergency for the AFL?

* Michael Newton - out for the past few weeks with an Achilles injury. Selected for the Scorpions last week but did not play

* Jake Spencer - injured in round 22 v St. Kilda (jarred hip)

* Shane Valenti

* Jack Watts - injured v Collingwood VFL in round 14 and now concentrating on year 12 studies

* Paul Wheatley - worked hard to get up for his farewell game. Still a chance despite some injury problems given that he worked hard

to ensure he became eligible for the finals

* Matthew Whelan - played round 22 with a hammy. In those circumstances, he's unlikely to play now that he's hung up the boots.

* Trent Zomer - reading between the lines of the coach's comments quoted in my article, not a certainty for selection

It wouldn't surprise me if the club prevented players who will not be on the list next year from playing. That means that Wheatley and Whelan aren't likely to play, and you'd think McNamara, Cheney and Buckley might be in doubt for that reason as well. It'd be nice if the club offered some compromise to Casey in that regard.

I would think Jurrah, McKenzie and Newton would all be available for selection assuming fitness, but that's pretty slim pickings.

Selection this week will be interesting I think.

It wouldn't surprise me if the club prevented players who will not be on the list next year from playing. That means that Wheatley and Whelan aren't likely to play, and you'd think McNamara, Cheney and Buckley might be in doubt for that reason as well.

But Wheatley played a couple of games in the Casey reserves to qualify for the finals so you would think he would be available if fit.

Not much there.

Only Cheney, McNamara, Valenti and maybe Newton are a chance.

They couldn't possibly play Jurrah he's too important.

Unless Newton is still injured he should play, he needs to show us something.

Not that great. Was probably better the previous couple of years than this year. imo he's too good for VFL but most clubs will shy away from his age (25?) and stature (178cm and 70kg).

He's 23, 24 by the start of the season. He reminds me of McDonald but a bit quicker there is nothing of him but he is totally fearless. That game against Willy when we lost by a goal he was awesome that day if he didn't get injured he would of won the game single handedly. I've never been more impressed by a VFL player than I was of him that day.

There's no mention of him ever being on an AFL list. Muture aged rookie perhaps? Warnock never made it until he was 24.

But Wheatley played a couple of games in the Casey reserves to qualify for the finals so you would think he would be available if fit.

Possibly may only play if he signs a release for the club.

I seem to remember a similar situation with Jeff White and Adem Yze last year because of the collective bargaining clause that deals with payment in the year after a player finishes if they suffer a serious injury.

Edited September 2, 200916 yr by Kit Walker

Just wondering if the other clubs with alignments to AFL clubs have as much trouble getting players from those teams to play at finals time.

Copping a bit of flack in the local Star News - Part-time partners frustrate Scorpions.

"Communication between officials from both clubs also seems to be seriously lacking.

Casey coach Peter German has chosen not to comment on the issue after each of the club’s past two clashes, but is visibly frustrated with the number of Demons’ players at his disposal.

One high-ranking Scorpions’ official was heard saying ‘they’ll be hearing from me’, in reference to their AFL affiliate, after their round 17 loss to North Ballarat in Morwell.

Melbourne players Lynden Dunn, Clint Bartram and Brad Miller did not play in the AFL or the VFL last weekend despite not appearing on the Demons’ injury list last week or this week."

Did oooze play?

Copping a bit of flack in the local Star News - Part-time partners frustrate Scorpions.

"Communication between officials from both clubs also seems to be seriously lacking.

Casey coach Peter German has chosen not to comment on the issue after each of the club’s past two clashes, but is visibly frustrated with the number of Demons’ players at his disposal.

One high-ranking Scorpions’ official was heard saying ‘they’ll be hearing from me’, in reference to their AFL affiliate, after their round 17 loss to North Ballarat in Morwell.

If true, it's not the best start to a 30-year relationship!

Copping a bit of flack in the local Star News - Part-time partners frustrate Scorpions.

"Communication between officials from both clubs also seems to be seriously lacking.

Casey coach Peter German has chosen not to comment on the issue after each of the club’s past two clashes, but is visibly frustrated with the number of Demons’ players at his disposal.

One high-ranking Scorpions’ official was heard saying ‘they’ll be hearing from me’, in reference to their AFL affiliate, after their round 17 loss to North Ballarat in Morwell.

Melbourne players Lynden Dunn, Clint Bartram and Brad Miller did not play in the AFL or the VFL last weekend despite not appearing on the Demons’ injury list last week or this week."

Can we draw conclusions from this last point? Maybe a little premature at this stage, but you never know.

The "vibe" is not good for the inaugural 30 year relationship.