IN THE PINK

[Demonland 70,247]

IN THE PINK by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions shook off a determined Sandringham in the mud and slush on Saturday at Casey Fields winning by 20 points; a victory that was significant in many ways, not the least of which was that it saw the Scorpions grab top spot on the VFL ladder at the halfway mark of the season.

Coach Brad Gotch was pleased with the way his players fought out the game with great discipline in trying conditions, tailor made for tight in-and-under football.

Gotch would also have been delighted with the performances of his VFL contingent as the team shrugged off injuries to Demons and Scorpions alike with four players - Ryan Creed, Geelong recruit Scott Simpson, Ben Waite and Gippsland Power youngster Ryan Pendelbury (a brother of Collingwood's Scott) - coming seamlessly into the side to contribute to a superb team effort on their season debuts. With Glenn Chivers and Tim Mohr returning from injury, it was a very different Casey team that took the field for its Round 9 game to renew it's strong rivalry with the Zebras.

While the game did not attract as much interest or as many spectators as the Karmichael Hunt show which was unfolding way over the other end of town, it was played for a very worthy cause. The Scorpion players wore pink outfits to mark the club's Pink Ribbon Day to aid breast cancer research and the colours certainly served as a clear contrast to those of their Zebra counterparts in heavy conditions on a day when the rain held off and most of the game was played in bright sunshine until heavy clouds came in late in the day. A goodly sum was raised for the cause and, as well as the financial benefit, the event helped to heighten community awareness about an illness which tragically affects the lives of too many women and a number of men and their families each year.

The visitors, who were early competition leaders but have gone through a rough trot lately, showed they had come out to play. They scored the game's opening two goals with the use of a strong breeze before Danny Nicholls took a heavy knock and then kicked truly to open the scoring for the Scorps. Addam Maric was lively early and snagged a nice goal as he and Austin Wonaeamirri showed it was possible to handle the footy in the heavy going but Sandy regained the ascendency in a tight contest just before the first break with the aid of some accurate kicking for goal.

Paul Johnson won the battle against Saints' ruckmen Steven King and Adam Pattison which helped the cause of the Casey small men who proved a handful, winning the clearances and causing havoc around the goals. The former Liston Medallist finished the game with 25 touches in a dominant display of ruckwork both at the stoppages and around the ground.

With Casey taking its turn to kick with the wind it didn't take long before the home side snatched back control of the game. Defender Joel Macdonald drifted to the wing and rammed home a couple of lovely goals. Ben Macreadie whose season keeps getting better and better kicked truly and the lead had stretched to 18 points. Sandringham fought back in what was becoming a scrappy affair and, thanks to its accuracy in front of goal, managed to peg back the deficit to a single goal as the half time siren sounded.

The all-important third term belonged to Casey which held firm and managed to outscore the visitors against the breeze. On a day made for tight, close in, defensive football it was Macdonald who eventually finished with 28 disposals and was the stand out player with his attacking skillset. He had plenty of support from the likes of Evan Panozza who kept multiple Frosty Miller medallist Nick Sautner goalless and under a tight rein all day, hard nut Kyle Cheney, a pesky James Taylor, state representative Michael Stockdale and strong marking Tom McNamara. They combined well and were backed up by solid contributions from Chivers, Mohr and Simpson. The fact that the Zebra forwards were held at bay allowed the smaller brigade of Creed (two goals), De La Salle recruit Matthew Fieldsend (14 disposals and a goal for the quarter) and speedster Tim Smith to do the damage all around the ground for the hosts although Sandy threatened again later in the quarter when a missed shot after the siren proved costly for them.

The breeze had moderated when the final quarter began and, though Sandringham continued to threaten, it was powerless in the face of Casey's tight and relentless defensive pressure. Johnson continued to dominate the ruck and young Demon James Strauss put on a display of silky disposal skills picking up 23 possessions while keeping a dangerous opponent in check and acting skipper James Wall picked up the pace and led by example with his one per centers. It took until mid-quarter for Casey to end a long goalless deadlock for the term and soon after Nicholls matched his opening goal with the game's last major in the darkening gloom to put the result beyond doubt.

Casey gained top place as a result of Williamstown's last gasp loss at North Ballarat but faces a challenge from the Seagulls next week as it travels to Point Gellibrand for what should be a fascinating encounter between the top-of-the-ladder teams that switched their coaches during the off season. It's a game which coach Gotch is looking forward to and will be the ABC's televised Match of the Day.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED by Whispering Jack

The Scorpions were down to nine Melbourne listed players this week as the Demon injury toll mounted. The last few weeks have seen Rohan Bail, Stef Martin, Michael Newton and Jake Spencer all suffer injuries at this level while Rhys Healey went down with a hamstring strain in the reserves last week. To their credit, the Scorpions covered these losses (and those who have gone up to AFL level) brilliantly with some of their own homegrown talent. At least things aren't as bad as they were late last year when Casey was down to only one or two Demon listed players. It's also comforting to know that there is some talent to return in coming weeks with Liam Jurrah, Sam Blease, Max Gawn and Luke Tapscott coming back from injury.

The Demon nine from this game were:

Daniel Bell - did some strong, heavy work, won plenty of clearances and linked up well in the heavy going in the midfield but made one or two of his characteristic errors. With the emphasis at Melbourne on up and coming young midfield talent you get the impression that Belly might find it hard to break into the team.

Kyle Cheney - for a bloke considered by some to be lacking in pace and not up to AFL level skillwise, I have rarely seen him put in a bad game. He always beats his opponent, attacks the ball strongly and, even in difficult conditions, marks strongly. He's a stout defender who deserves a chance and will no doubt get one sooner or later.

Danny Hughes - on a day when conditions didn't really suit players whose forte is their marking, Hughes tried hard but couldn't really rise above the ordinary although he did present well on a lead. Appeared to injure an ankle during the third quarter game but wasn't really a major factor at any time in the game.

Paul Johnson - more than matched King and Pattison in the ruck duels and was damaging around the ground against more cumbersome opponents. PJ has been around for a long time now. He won the J. J. Liston Trophy for the best and fairest senior player in the VFL in 2005 and is still playing at this level. His problem is that while Mark Jamar is killing it at Melbourne he will struggle to break into the team because the contemporary game style doesn't really allow for a player of his ilk to take on the role of second fiddle in the ruck.

Joel McDonald - I had him down as best on ground. He showed clean hands all day and played the attacking rebounding role off half back and wing to perfection. His two goals early in the second quarter swung the game in his team's favour and, on this performance, it will be mighty hard to keep him out of the Melbourne team after the break.

Addam Maric - his ballhandling in the muddy conditions was exceptional, particularly in the early part of the game. He's a good reader of the game, kept plugging away despite the tag, was creative around the ground and kicked a nice early goal. With small forwards the flavour of the month in the AFL, he really has something he can bring to the table and just needs the opportunity.

Tom McNamara - a dour defender who kept his opponent in check for most of the game after a bit of a shaky start. Teamed well with rest of the very solid Casey defence and took some telling marks in the back line. Smothered and punched the ball well to the frustration of the Zebra forwards.

James Strauss - is coming along nicely at Casey and has a role to play in the future at Melbourne. Had a tagging role on the dangerous David Gallagher and kept him relatively quiet while his own creative and deadly disposal set up opportunities for teammates further afield. So good is his disposal that any player in the game would relish playing in front of someone of his skills.

Austin Wonaeamirri - had most of the Jetta family in support behind the place where I viewed the game and I think he's finally turned the corner as far as his fitness is concerned. His ball handling skills in the conditions were immaculate and a couple of his pick ups were pearlers. On top of that he applied pressure and worried his opponents into making errors. Should be much better when he next gets his chance with the Demons.

This Age photo of Paul Johnson in full flight also shows the muddy conditions at Casey Field on Saturday

Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 6.7.43 9.7.62 11.9.75

Sandringham 4.0.24 6.1.36 8.3.51 8.7.55

Goals

Casey Scorpions Creed Macdonald Nicholls Smith 2 Fieldsend MacReadie Maric

Sandringham Magner Cahill Dempster Lynch Pattison Tregear Winmar

Best

Casey Scorpions Johnson Strauss Macdonald Creed Wall Panozza

Sandringham Ferraro Pattison Miles Irving Tregear Cahill

Reports

Casey Scorpions Nil

Sandringham Tom Simpkin for allegedly striking.

Casey Reserves held the upper hand in a scrappy first half but allowed a winning opportunity go begging with their inaccuracy in front of goal and the Zebras finally kicked away in the last quarter. Coincidentally, the winning margin in both games at Casey Fields was 20 points.

Exciting youngster Luke McDonald put in another fine performance and was his team's best while Matt Moore's comeback after being sidelined for a year with a knee injury was marred by a report for alleged rough conduct.

HOW THE DEMON FARED

Jack Fitzpatrick - a reasonable performance given that the conditions really didn't suit tall men and the fact that he was coming back after suffering from a corkie last week.

Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 5.6.36 6.9.45 6.10.46

Sandringham 2.1.13 5.1.31 7.3.45 10.6.66

Goals

Casey Scorpions Cleven Jones Fitzpatrick Leeds Lees Sykes

Sandringham Geary 2 Allan Andrews Boland Cathcart Hardiman Jones McGrath Waller

Best

Casey Scorpions L McDonald Cleven Purdy Fitzpatrick Weekes Jones

Sandringham Waller Hunter Andrews Johnston Cathcart Allan

Reports

Casey Scorpions Matt Moore for alleged rough conduct.

Sandringham Nil