CASEY STRIKES BACK by KC from Casey

Things weren't looking very good for the Casey Scorpions during the first break of their game against the Werribee Tigers at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee. The team was coming off a hiding a fortnight earlier at Williamstown, had been temporarily banished from its home ground at Casey Fields on account of its poor condition and it was already 19 points in arrears of the Tigers after a fifth consecutive single goal quarter. The opening half hour of the game had seen a team bereft of confidence in the face of intense Werribee pressure, conceding the first four goals of the game before a late major from Rohan Bail, who along with the busy Michael Stockdale had been the Scorpions' best player for the term, at least made the scoreboard respectable.

Coach Brad Gotch calmly addressed his players at the huddle, giving them instructions and requiring them to increase their intensity and apply more pressure on the opposition. He pushed Cale Morton behind the ball, gave Michael Newton the relief rucking role to help out young Jack Fitzpatrick and generally opening up the forward line. The effect was immediate.

The game had begun in reasonably good conditions with the ground mainly firm under foot apart from a bit of a gluepot in the centre. The Tigers had the early advantage of the wind but, with the change of ends, the Scorpions took the initiative with Colin Sylvia and Liam Jurrah in devastating form up forward. Sylvia booted two goals and Jurrah one in the first nine minutes and the gap had been bridged. 

Together, the duo set the game alight and returned life to their team. Suddenly, players were running, switching the play and using all their skills to advantage. Newton was giving a lot of drive and Jurrah was back to his magical best kicking goals, setting them up and giving them to teammates. Ryan Macreadie and Danny Nicholls were also important players and acting skipper James Wall was steady and strong in defence. By half time the locals were left stunned in the wake of Casey's seven goal to nil second quarter.

The Tigers were not done yet. After an early goal to Newton, Werribee retook the initiative with four consecutive goals to creep to within eight points before the Scorpions regrouped with a series of goals later in the term to give them a strong lead of 29 points at the last change.

Injuries to James Strauss, Austin Wonaeamirri and Luke McDonald left Casey with a bench of only two. With limited rotations, the final quarter became something of a slog as the darkening light was replaced by the Werribee floodlighting and Casey cruised to a 41 point win.

The win lifted the team's percentage above 110% after last week's debacle but left it in third position with 9 wins and 2 defeats. Next week the Scorpions visit lowly Frankston but it must not let its guard down against its neighbouring traditional rival. With some doubt about the status of its home games in coming weeks, Casey will need to make every post a winner in the road home to the finals.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Rohan Bail (13 kicks, 7 handballs, 3 marks, 1 goal) - probably Casey's best player over the full four quarters. Kept his team in the game when it was down early, marked well, used the ball cleverly and was in good touch.

Daniel Bell (8 kicks, 9 handballs, 5 marks)- had his usual run with role and acquitted himself well in that regard but was prone to make his usual mistakes.

Jack Fitzpatrick (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks) - tall and gangly, he was given the early ruckwork and showed a little bit before appearing to run out of steam.

Liam Jurrah (8 kicks, 6 handballs, 6 marks, 3 goals)- took a little while to get going but, when he did so early in the second quarter, he turned the game on its head with his sparkling ball control, his spectacular goals and goal assists.  

Addam Maric (16 kicks, 5 handballs, 7 marks) - busy around the flanks and wings, featured in several passages of play and got a lot of the football but was probably overshadowed by the sheer brilliance of teammates Jurrah and Sylvia.

Brad Miller (5 kicks, 7 handballs, 7 marks, 1 goal) – took a few marks and kicked a goal but was not influential in terms of the game.

Cale Morton (11 kicks, 7 handballs, 9 marks) – started slowly but seemed to gain confidence when moved into defence where he used his ability to find the ball, coupled with great vision and execution to hit targets.

Michael Newton (17 kicks, 4 handballs, 8 marks, 2 goals) – after a slow start, Newton produced one of his better games at this level after he was moved into the ruck and upped his work rate considerably. He marked well all around the ground and is showing continued improved in almost all facets of his game.

James Strauss (6 kicks, 2 marks) – had limited influence on the game before coming off with a hamstring injury.

Colin Sylvia (14 kicks, 7 handballs, 8 marks, 3 goals) – on that performance, I have absolutely no idea why someone of his calibre was required to make his come back through the VFL. 

Austin Wonaeamirri (2 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 mark, 1 goal) – injured his shoulder and had little influence.

Matthew Warnock (9 kicks, 7 handballs, 7 marks) - at best workmanlike. Made a few mistakes in defence but didn't really have any major challenges on the day.

Casey Scorpions 1.4.10  8.8.56  13.12.90  17.15.117

Werribee Tigers 4.5.29  4.10.34  8.13.61  10.16.76

Goals

Casey Scorpions Jurrah Sylvia 3 MacReadie Newton 2 Bail Fieldsend L McDonald Miller  Nicholls  Wall Wonaemirri

Werribee Tigers Chisholm 3 Castello 2 O'Keefe  Obst Priest Prismall Sharp

Best

Casey Scorpions Bail Wall Sylvia Newton Morton MacReadie

Werribee Tigers Dickson Obst Castello Tarrant Sharp Rockefeller 

The reserves played third placed Werribee and stayed with the Tigers in the first half but fell behind when the "hosts" produced a stunning eight goal third quarter to put the game beyond their reach. 

Three Demons took part in this match, all of them coming back from injury. Sam Blease showed blistering pace and kicked two early goals before being rested at half time. Luke Tapscott was hard in and under and should add some much needed grunt when fully fit and Stephan Martin had a satisfactory return and scored a goal.

Casey Scorpions   3.5.23  6.9.45  7.11.53  13.14.92

Werribee Tigers  4.2.26 7.5.47  15.9.99  21.11.137

Goals

Casey ScorpionsHillberge 4 Blease 2 David Bell Jones Martin Patti Petropoulos Purdy Smith

Werribee Tigers Henderson Perkins 5 Denton 3 Laidlaw 2 Baddeley Bongetti  Garland McKerracher Meredith Moloney

Best

Casey Scorpions Patti Smith Costigan Weekes Cleven Tapscott

Werribee Tigers Moloney Harrison Denton Henderson Hartigan Baddeley

good report KC. I was impressed with the werribee lighting down there. not a bad set up since my last visit. they have done soem work around that ground.

good to see jurrah find some touch. bail should be very close to a recall and perhaps sylvia to add some firepower against the bombers. newton looked ok, strangely enough.