BLOWN AWAY

[Demonland 73,140]

BLOWN AWAY by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions dominated the scoreboard in the first half of their away fixture against the Box Hill Hawks but faded badly with the wind and heavy weather to go down by 11 points on a disappointing day for the club.

A blustery wind was blowing in roughly from the east as the game opened and, while the Hillmen, with a large contingent of AFL listed players had as much of the play as the visitors, it was Casey that dominated the scoring thanks to its better movement of the football when going forward and some classy football from young Demon rising star Jack Trengove who put on a clinic in the opening term with five kicks, five handballs and two goals from the midfield.

Trengove received solid support from his young Adelaide schoolmate Luke Tapscott, livewire small men in Neville Jetta and Addam Maric and the robust play of Ben MacReadie. Jetta was particularly creative around the ground and gave some beautiful passes to his forwards as the Scorpions held sway with a five goal to one opening term.

After the break, Box Hill set about narrowing Casey's 21 point lead and it threatened on a couple of occasions but the visitors always seemed to have the answers. Matthew Bate showed his class up forward and together with Brad Miller, was proving a handful for the Box Hill defence. James Wall was busy and beanpole ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick worked hard in the ruck against stronger, bigger bodied and more experienced opponents.

The Hawks were persistent but the likes of Matthew Wanock, Tom McNamara, Kyle Cheney and Evan Panozza stood firm in defence and, when Miller goaled from a difficult angle with his after the siren shot, Casey had managed to extend its lead to 26 points at half time.

The Scorpions achieved their lead despite being down on the inside 50 count for the half as a result of some free flowing style play and their willingness to switch play and to take risks. However, with dark skies threatening heavy weather during the half time break, the big question was whether the Hawks had the qualities necessary to mount a fight back under difficult conditions. The answer was most definitive

The good sized crowd witnessed an arm wrestle in the opening minutes of the third term and it was the home side that eventually prevailed as the pressure was applied and Casey committed some costly turnovers allowing a couple of goals and suddenly Box Hill had a sniff. The rain and hail that eventually came was preceded by heavy gusting winds and, in those circumstances, the initiative was taken by the Hawks who had the combined advantages of local knowledge, bigger bodies and the superior fitness that comes with having so many AFL listed players on their side. Their small contingent of VFL players proved invaluable with Hoegel and Kiel kicking six goals between them by the end of the day.

Casey was now struggling to go forward and when it did, its attacks were easily repelled by long, direct kicks. Box Hill prevailed, narrowed the gap and a snap kick that rolled through the goals late in the quarter was to prove invaluable as it brought the margin back to seven points. The Hawks had booted 3.2.20 to a solitary point for the quarter. They had completely taken the wind out of the Scorpions' sails.

The nightmare continued for Casey after the break with Box Hill dictating the play by dominating at the stoppages, applying the pressure and forcing errors. The inevitable happened when the Hawks took the lead early in the term and, by the time they kicked their lucky 13th goal for the match, the home side held a 19 point lead following seven unanswered goals.

A late rally by the Scorpions yielded a consolation goal to Bate in a rare last half foray into attack. A couple of points were added in a last ditch effort but it was all too little, too late. The game had been blown away.

For the Scorpions, MacReadie (23 touches), Warnock, Trengove (21 disposals) and Wall (19) were the best while first year player Matt Fieldsend was again in fine touch with 18 possessions.

All in all, it was a sad and sorry display against a team whose work rate was far superior when the going got tough. Casey will need to be at its best next Saturday when it meets the emerging Gold Coast Suns in its final home game for the season in what is a must win game if the Scorpions wish to secure the double chance going into the finals.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Matthew Bate 12 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 2 goals - proved a handfull for the Box Hill defenders in the first half. Kicked Casey's only goal for the second half played in difficult conditions for forward line players.

Daniel Bell 6 kicks 1 handball 2 marks - had a quiet day.

Kyle Cheney 8 kicks 8 handballs 1 mark - did well to marshall the troops, particularly when under intense pressure in the second half. His game was marred by a couple of costly defensive errors.

Jack Fitzpatrick 4 kicks 7 handballs 2 marks - had a tough assignment against Taylor. Handled himself well in the first half but battled in the second, especially when his back up Tim Mohr went off with an injury leaving him as a lone hand in the ruck.

Neville Jetta 12 kicks 7 handballs 1 behind - lively and hardworking in the first half but, like many of his teammates, faded when the foul weather came.

Tom McNamara 9 kicks 5 handballs 2 marks - good early and battled manfully when the Hawks mounted their assault in the third and final quarters.

Addam Maric 8 kicks 2 handballs 2 marks 2 goals 1 behind - was in everything and particularly dangerous in the first half. Another casualty of the team's second half fadeout.

Brad Miller 9 kicks 1 handball 6 marks 2 goals 2 behinds - dangerous up forward when Casey was on a roll and kicked a lovely goal at the main break to give his team the biggest lead of the day. After that the ball never got in his vicinity.

James Strauss 8 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks - back after a break with injury and will improve for the run.

Luke Tapscott 12 kicks 7 handballs 6 marks 1 behind - along with Warnock probably the best of his team's four quarter players. Tough and a strong mark, he will make his AFL debut before the season is out the way he's going.

Jack Trengove 13 kicks 8 handballs 6 marks 2 goals - a brilliant first half and kept plugging away under adversity after that. Far too good for this level.

Matthew Warnock 10 kicks 6 handballs 8 marks - superb in defence. Obviously must bide his time for a vacancy to present itself at Melbourne but otherwise his form warrants a promotion.

Casey Scorpions 5.2.32 11.4.70 11.5.71 12.7.79

Box Hill Hawks 1.5.11 6.8.44 9.10.64 13.12.90

Goals

Casey Scorpions Bate MacReadie Maric Trengove 2 McGough Nicholls

Box Hill Hawks J Hoegel 4 Fagan 2 Breust Lisle Milne Pedersen Peterson Shiels Suckling

Best

Casey Scorpions Warnock MacReadie Trengove Wall Tapscott Bate

Box Hill Hawks Peterson Muston Schoenmakers Lisle Suckling Pedersen

The Casey reserves were swept off the park when second placed Box Hill booted the first seven goals of the game. They fought back manfully but were generally outclassed. Mark Weekes was the best of the Scorpions.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Sam Blease 9 kicks 10 handballs 2 marks 1 behind - still working on his fitness after a long lay off and continues to improve. Was very good when he got the football

Max Gawn 4 kicks 1 handball 0 marks - played only a half. Took on three big men in Grimley, Renton and Robbie Campbell (yes, the Hawk who supposedly retired) and handled himself very well in the ruck contests.

Rhys Healey 8 kicks 12 handballs 7 marks - good on comeback. Worked hard.

Stef Martin - selected but did not play. Has been troubled by a hip injury and I would suggest his absence again this week could possibly puts the rest of his 2010 campaign in doubt.

Casey Scorpions 0.2.2 3.8.26 3.10.28 5.14.44

Box Hill Hawks 6.4.40 7.5.47 12.8.80 14.13.97

Goals

Casey Scorpions Clay 2 Sykes Waite Weekes

Box Hill Hawks Cass 5 Hoegel 4 George Johnston McGuinness Sierakowski Tobin

Best

Casey Scorpions Weekes Burke McDonald Riseley Cleven Creed

Box Hill Hawks Van Unen McGuinness Smithwick Cass George Tobin