SCORPIONS WIN BIG

The Casey Scorpions scored their biggest win of the season so far when they handed out a 73 point thrashing to the Coburg Tigers at Casey Fields on Saturday.

The Coburg encounter had been considered a danger game as the Tigers were coming off a win over the highly fancied Box Hill Hawks and a narrow away loss against ladder leaders Sandringham. However, as it turned out, the game was never really a contest.

The home side shot out of the blocks with an early goal to Jordan Gysberts followed by two more from young forward Jack Watts who was in fine marking form. He scored his first after a 50 metre penalty and kicked accurately from a good distance for his second. Coburg regrouped and came back with a goal to be 12 points down at quarter time.

The second quarter was all Casey as the undisciplined Tigers imploded against a tight defence and a hard working midfield that constantly fed the Scorpions' forward. Neville Jetta was in fine fettle during this period with two goals but a lot of the hard work was being done by Michael Stockdale (27 touches for the game) and Kyle Cheney down back. They were well supported by Tom McNamara and acting skipper James Wall in forming and almost impenetrable barrier that forced the ball to constantly rebound into attack.

Ben Macreadie was solid around the ground and the explosive but slightly off target Austin Wonaeamirri (three posters for the day) added a great deal of bite.

The Tigers tried hard to mount a comeback in the third quarter but Casey, with the classy Watts and Brad Miller dominating up forward was just too good. Young ruckman Chris Wylie kicked his first goal and the home team remained well in control at the final break.

Realising the importance of playing out the full four quarters, coach Brad Gotch exhorted his players to go on with it and to finish strongly and they proceeded to do exactly that. Miller, Watts and Newton were all tall targets and they combined well. Even defender Tom McNamara chipped in for a goal after following the play down the ground as the home team coasted to an easy victory.

The win lifts the Scorpions into the upper echelons of the VFL ladder with a vital game against the Northern Bullants at Casey Fields next Saturday. The club was further buoyed by the news that courageous captain Kyle Matthews was discharged during the week from Eppworth Rehabilitation Hospital and is well on the way to recovery after incurring serious injuries in an attack outside a hotel earlier this year. Teammate David Bell, who was also injured in the incident, played his first game with the reserves on Saturday.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Daniel Bell - came back after receiving a heavy knock early in the game. Marked strongly and put in a lot of hard work coming from off half back into the middle of the ground in just his second game after returning from an injury.

Kyle Cheney - formed part of a dominant defence and hardly let anything through. Combined well with the other defenders and was the hard nut who proved a stumbling block for the opposition forwards.

Jordan Gysberts - creative tall midfielder who relished the freedom of the midfield where his skills came to the fore. Disposed of the ball well by hand and by foot. Kicked the first goal of the game and set up a number of forward thrusts.

Rhys Healey - flashed in and out of the game as an interchange. Did some nice things including kicking a nice goal in the third quarter.

Neville Jetta - after being a bit wasteful around goal last week this was much improved game from Jetta who was also productive further afield. His best game for the season so far.

Joel Macdonald - a strong workmanlike performance from a player who was a trifle unlucky to be out of the AFL side.

Tom McNamara - another solid performance good game across half back from the hardworking half back who will need to bide his time because of the Melbourne's current strong stocks in defence.

Addam Maric - the nippy Maric was a headache for the Coburg defence roaming far and wide through the forward line and combining well with both Jetta and Wonaeamirri at the feet of the taller forwards.

Brad Miller - continued his good form with three goals in a strong marking performance. Combined well with Watts and Newton to earn the praise of his coach who described the forward line as the "best forward line he has ever coached". Remember, Gotch is a multiple premiership coach at this level!

Cale Morton - it seems to have become almost a policy for most players returning from lengthy periods affected by injury to be nursed through the seconds at Casey. Not so in the case of Morton, noted for his big engine. Although he had limited game time, he was a good contributor, kicked a goal, had a hand in at least one other and it will not be long before he's back in the big time.

Michael Newton - presented well and worked hard throughout the game but might struggle to work his way into the Demons' forward set up with Miller and Watts ahead of him at this stage.

Jake Spencer - was the dominant ruckman on the ground and marked strongly.

Jack Watts - Dean Bailey wanted to see him kick goals at Casey and he did just that and more. He kicked four of his own, gave a couple away and kicked a couple of points, one of which hit the post. The goal he kicked to start the third quarter was an absolute gem and even had the Coburg fans applauding. I would have liked to see some pack marking but he was often double and triple teamed in contests. He now weighs around 90kg and must be close to being ready on that form.

Austin Wonaeamirri - stepped up to this level without any apparent concerns. Showed his skills and wasn't afraid to tackle. Still needs another game or two so it might be touch and go as to whether he makes it into the Melbourne side for its game against Port Adelaide in Darwin in a fortnight's time.

Casey Scorpions 3.5.23 9.8.62 13.11.89 18.17.125

Coburg Tigers1.5.11 2.7.19 5.11.41 6.16.52

Goals

Casey Scorpions Watts 4 Miller 3 Jetta 2 Gysberts Healey McGough McNamara Maric Morton Newton Wall Wylie

Coburg TigersGriffiths 2 Hislop Jordon Kahlefeldt Roberts

Best

Casey Scorpions Stockdale Watts Wall Jetta Gysberts Spencer

Coburg Tigers Gourdis O'Rielly Connors Rayson Jordon Carnell

Reports Nil

The Reserves had an absorbing battle with Coburg and were in a position to win at three quarter time but let the game slip from their grasp when the Tigers piled on the goals early in the last. To their credit, they came back strongly but were one point light when the final siren sounded.

Ben Waite with four goals continued his fine form up forward and talls Luke McDonald and Scott Simpson were the team's best.

HOW THE DEMON FARED

Sam Blease - left the ground early with shin soreness and sat the rest of the game out as a precaution.

Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 4.7.31 9.8.62 14.9.93

Coburg Tigers 2.2.14 4.3.27 7.4.46 14.10.94

Goals

Casey Scorpions Waite 4 Sykes 3 Jones Petropoulos 2 M Dowse Simpson Tynan

Coburg Tigers Gestier Lawton 3 Dennis 2 Cattapan Duhau Gilligan Meroli Sarlo Westhoff

Best

Casey Scorpions McDonald Simpson David Bell Fieldsend Weekes Waite

Coburg Tigers Duhau Dahl Cattapan Lawton Hicks Fahey

Reports

Casey Scorpions Scott Simpson - Engaging in rough conduct

Coburg Tigers Nil

Thanks for the detailed review.

Cheers for the review mate.