INDIAN SUMMER

[Demonland 73,164]

INDIAN SUMMER by KC from Casey

The Indian summer came to Casey Fields on sunny Autumn Sunday afternoon for the game between the Scorpions and the Magpies in a game where the home side sought to avenge the humiliation of a massive defeat by in last year's VFL elimination final.

Back then Casey was struggling for experience under the weight of the large injury toll at AFL affiliate Melbourne which left it well behind the eight ball in comparison to the opposition in terms of height strength and experience.

This match was completely different and while the Magpies got the early jump they were soon pegged back and the match was even on the scoreboard at quarter time and the Scorpions took a seven point break into the rooms at the first break thanks to some clever play from their small men Michael Stockdale, former Pie Danny Nicholls and a touch of brilliance from Neville Jetta. Danny Hughes was in everything early setting up scoring opportunities and kicking a goal himself. Defender Tom McNamara went down with what appeared to be a rib injury in the first quarter and, though, he did return to the field, he was nowhere near as effective as last week.

Acting skipper James Wall was solid as usual and a big factor in his team's ascendency at the half.

Casey came out after the break full of running and appeared to have Collingwood's measure as it jumped ahead to lead by 20 points at three quarter time. Stefan Martin was dangerous up forward and repeated his three goal effort of round one. The visitors still had a fair bit of the ball but kicked 2.7 for the quarter so the Scorpion lead was probably a little deceptive and, to make matters worse, injury struck with centre half back Tim Mohr dislocating a shoulder during the third

term final and Wall also looked proppy. Unfortunately, this set the scene for a disastrous final quarter for Casey.

The Scorpions were going down like nine pins at the end. Apart from those mentioned above, Rhys Healy cramped and Danny Hughes, who had played well, also looked injured and was noticeably limping. The Woods took control and dominated the stoppages with their strength, experience and superior run to the Scorpions whose rotations were limited with a diminished bench. They finished all over Casey scoring 4.8 to 0.2 in the final term to run out winners by ten points.

The loss of Mohr proved crucial as the Scorpions had to reshuffle the line up in a vain search for a match up for Collingwood's big key forward in Dawes. The limited flexibility in the midfield in the hot conditions also hurt and the home side can consider itself fortunate that the opposition kicked so poorly for goal in the second half.

From a Casey perspective Stockdale was played back, forward and rotated through the midfield and finished with three goals. The former Gippsland Power pocket dynamo is continuing the form he displayed last year and is improving his versatility. Nicholls showed again that he will be a great pick up in 2010, playing well through the midfield and forward before weight of numbers got him in the end.

The Scorpions unveiled another first gamer from the Gippsland Under 18 TAC team in Luke Tynan who looked a senior VFL player in the making, particularly as he has had a limited pre-season. He had a few lapses with his ball use but will only get better with experience.

Casey now embarks on the VFL's longest road trip with a game at Eureka Stadium at the weekend followed by a journey north to Labrador on the Gold Coast in a fortnight's time so the Scorpions can expect a continuation of the vastly different weather conditions they have been experiencing after one game under lights and another in the warmth of the Indian summer.

Casey Scorpions 4.4.28 8.8.56 13.10.88 13.12.90

Collingwood 4.4.28 7.7.49 9.14.68 13.22.100

Goals

Casey Scorpions Martin Stockdale 3 Jetta Nicholls 2 Hughes Taylor Wall

Collingwood Dawes 3 Buckley Corrie 2 Frost Hunter McNamara O'Bree Reed Wood

Best

Casey Scorpions Wall Stockdale Nicholls Johnson Strauss Cheney

Collingwood Dawes Blight Sundberg O'Bree Goldsack Brown

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Kyle Cheney - solid, strong defender who was in his team's best again this week.

Jordan Gysberts - tall for a midfielder, Gysberts showed some signs of class and poise without dominating. He played the role of link man well and worked hard throughout and got better as the game went on.

Rhys Healey - had a great duel with his opponent and showed some potential.

Daniel Hughes - it was groundhog day for the club's longest serving rookie who marked strongly and moved well

Neville Jetta - first game back after being out for several weeks with a groin injury and was eased into the game. When on, he was a livewire

up forward and finished with two goals.

Paul Johnson - marked strongly and was a good back up for Spencer in the ruck.

Tom McNamara - sustained a rib injury that didn't look good early and while he came back but was not as good as last week.

Addam Maric - had a mixed day with a couple of brilliant patches but was wasteful in front of goals which is disappointing as he was considered deadly in this aspect of his game at junior level.

Stefan Martin - another good game up for Martin who marked stronly and booted three goals. Pushing for AFL selection.

Brad Miller - spent time in both attack and defence but not at a level sufficient to gain promotion to the Melbourne team.

Jake Spencer - still developing, Spencer was probably the best ruckman on the ground.

James Strauss - constructive, creative and excellent with his disposal by foot, Strauss enhanced his prospects for promotion in the near future with a strong game.

Jack Watts - Watts got a dozen-odd possessions but was hot and cold and was beaten on the day.

RESERVES DOWN IN CURTAIN RAISER

The Reserves battled hard against a good side in Williamstown going down by 39 points in a high scoring curtain raiser. Like their senior counterparts, they struck injury problems losing three players to injury during the first quarter but they fought on well to minimise the damage to half time, especially as at one stage in the second quarter they were trailing by seven goals and looked as though they would be thrashed. The third quarter was very entertaining football with Willy kicking seven goals to Casey's six and the final result was not as bad as the scoreboard might have suggested given the Scorpions' limited bench in trying conditions.

Ricky Plummer showed the right stuff and was Casey's best. Michael Riseley and Michael Johnson, both new to the club in 2010, played well for the second week in a row. Ben Waite, in his second game back from a foot injury kicked three and showed he isn't far from senior selection and lanky young Demon Jack Fitzpatrick started his career after a brief lay off with injury.

Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 6.1.37 12.3.75 15.8.98

Williamstown 3.4.22 10.4.64 17.9.111 21.11.137

Goals

Casey Scorpions Hillberge Smith Waite 3 McDonald 2 Fitzpatrick Petropoulos Plummer Riseley

Williamstown Young 4 Dimartino 3 Cravino Fenton Panos Purton-Smith Rampe 2 Florance Lee McCallum Marangon

Best

Casey Scorpions Johnson Riseley Burke Plummer Clay Smith

Williamstown Sing Purton-Smith Lee Cravino McCallum Mugavin