THE FIRST STING

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THE FIRST STING by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions went into the new season very much an unknown factor with a new coach in Brad Gotch (the club's fourth in as many years) and with courageous skipper Kyle Matthews in the Alfred Hospital recovering from head injuries as a result of an incident outside a Hawthorn hotel last month. The club had a pressing need to cover for the departure of two quality key defenders in Alex Silvagni (Fremantle) and Peter Faulks (Williamstown) and there were residual issues following last year's finals fadeout in the face of a huge injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne.

Whenever, there's a new coaching regime in place, it takes time for all of the pieces to come together but when Gotch's charges came under intense pressure in their VFL season opener against Geelong on Saturday night they immediately showed the big crowd in attendance at Casey Fields their capacity to answer every challenge placed in their way with a brilliant come from behind eight point victory.

The Cats were quick out of the blocks with two early goals while the home team blazed away under the lights to kick five behinds in the first quarter. Geelong's early ascendancy was due mainly to its on ball division controlling the stoppages despite Jake Spencer's dominance in the ruck hit outs.

The second term opened in much the same way as the first with the Cats pushing forward and hammering home their advantage with two early goals. Casey struggled when it went into attack until a free kick from a ruck infringement to Spencer midway through the term finally helped his team to open its goal kicking account for the season.

This did not put an end to the Scorpions' wayward kicking for goal. Late in the term they had scored just one goal from eleven scoring shots before Stefan Martin hit the target. However, a Geelong goal on the siren maintained the Cats' 20-point at the main break.

Now was the time for the team to answer the challenge put to them succinctly by the coach at half time and this time it was to be the Scorpions scoring two goals to open the term and bring the deficit down to single figures. The Cats responded but the Scorpions came back at them and were finishing off much better with their tails up at the final break.

At this stage Martin had three goals, the defence was holding firm and young Michael Stockdale and ex-Collingwood recruit Danny Nicholls were getting on top of their opposition small men. The Scorps were ready for the first sting of the match.

The Cats momentarily regained their composure with a goal early in the final quarter but the Scorpions were now playing their best football for the night and some brilliant passages of play saw them gradually claw away at the gap between the teams. They peppered away at goal, hit the lead for the first time at the 21 minute mark and were still in attack at the final siren. The Scorpions had finished all over their opposition with the last three goals of the night.

The comeback victory was the result of a great team effort led by acting captain James Wall who never puts in a poor performance. He was well backed up by skilful left footer Ben Macreadie and the sublime youthful talent of Jack Watts who is destined for bigger things at another level of the game. Tom McNamara and Kyle Cheney who shadowed the dangerous Max Rooke were the pick of the defenders.

The result was even more pleasing considering that Casey produced several newcomers to its senior team. Scorpion listed Matthew Fieldsend, Danny Nicholls, Ricky Plummer and Cameron Purdy joined Demons Jordan Gysberts and Rhys Healey as VFL debutants. Mitchell Dowse took part in his first game as a Casey listed player having played once under the 23rd man rule when a member of the Gippsland Power Under 18s TAC Cup squad.

In the end it was a solid opening hit out for Casey which hosts first round loser Collingwood next Sunday.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Kyle Cheney - a solid game in defence from the tough redhead who nullified the dangerous Max Rooke.

Jordan Gysberts - quiet and unobtrusive but has good balance and gives the ball off well by hand or by foot and shows promise for the future as a link man.

Rhys Healey - not only did the job on Cats player Simon Hogan but showed out strongly with some creative play on the wing.

Paul Johnson - in the early days of his comeback after a severe foot injury, Johnson did some handy things during his time on the ground.

Tom McNamara - a solid game in defence and was close to Casey's best.

Addam Maric - started slowly but was better after half time and helped turn the game with a beautiful goal from fifty metres out near the boundary.

Stefan Martin - tall forward who, apart from a brief stint in defence, played deep and he could easily have kicked six but for the fact that he was off target early. Martin moved well and provided a target and his goal just before half time when he baulked an opponent and kicked accurately at last was a gem. He comes from a basketball background and still has a lot to learn but is shaping as a versatile customer who can play up forward, down back and in the ruck.

Brad Miller - had his moments but generally struggled to have an impact on the game.

Jake Spencer - dominated in the ruck for most of the game and worked hard around the ground. Kicked his team's first goal.

James Strauss - superb delivery of the ball was a feature. Started a telling move for goal during the Scorps' comeback and looks to be a player of the future.

Jack Watts - was in Casey's best playing at half forward and on wing. He picked up around 20 disposals, showed great pace and was both creative and effective. He is growing taller and bulking up and it won't be long before he returns to AFL ranks.

Casey Scorpions 0.5.5 2.10.22 6.11.47 9.18.72

Geelong 2.5.17 6.6.42 8.8.56 9.10.64

Goals

Casey Scorpions Martin 3 M Dowse MacReadie McGough Maric Spencer Taylor

Geelong Johnson 3 Firman Hogan Raidme Smith A Varcoe West

Best

Casey Scorpions McNamara Stockdale Cheney Nicholls Watts MacReadie

Geelong West Hogan Laidler Gillies Cuthill Christensen

The Reserves travelled to windswept TEAC Oval, Port Melourne and had a good first half holding an 11 point lead at half time. However, the Borough runners held sway after half time and the Scorpions dropped away in the third term with the home side running over the top of them in the end.

HOW THE DEMON DIDN'T FARE

Sam Blease was ill earlier in the week and was unable to shake it off so his debut for Casey has been held back another week. Ryan Creed was the team's best while Ben Waite was strong at full forward with three goals.

Casey Scorpions 5.4.34 6.6.42 9.8.62 11.13.79

Port Melbourne 0.1.1 4.7.31 7.8.50 16.14.110

Goals

Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Creed Smith 2 Clay Costigan Hillberge McDonald

Port Melbourne Debruin Sengstock 3 Casey-Leigh Keddell 2 Keely Muling Schultz Thornton Wall Woods

Best

Casey Scorpions Creed Jones Patti Leeds Tynan Burke

Port Melbourne Neville McLaren Thornton Sengstock Keely Keddell

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