FIXING A HOLE

FIXING A HOLE by K C from Casey

The scenes in the home side's change rooms at half time at Casey Fields must have been interesting. Casey had been outplayed in virtually every facet of the game and the score line had it trailing the lowly Gold Coast Suns by 44 points after a nine goals to four second quarter. The Scorpions had dug a big hole for themselves and Brad Gotch now expected his charges to work their way out of the mire. With the finals in sight, the team's hard fought position in the top four of the VFL ladder was at stake. A loss in the its final home game of the season was simply unacceptable and nothing less than a comprehensive team effort was necessary to extricate itself from this position.

The Suns had started the game in brilliant fashion showing great pace, fierce tackling and a great measure of youthful enthusiasm. The crowd witnessed a team that had some of the nation's truly elite teenage talent mixed with a sprinkling of seasoned footballers who tackled and harassed the Scorpions and ran them off their feet in a frenetic opening half. By contrast, Casey was hesitant and slow, often messing up its switches of the play and lacking in confidence.

The Suns first draft pick, David Swallow opened proceedings with a long goal that bounced through but that was answered by Danny Nicholls who goaled from a free. The lead see-sawed early but only because the Suns were off target in front of goals. Brad Miller and Michael Newton were in good marking form and their goals kept their team in the game as it ended the first term two goals in arrears with only Matty Warnock at full back and Ben MacReadie able to hold their heads high. Gold Coast had ten scoring shots to three at that stage.

The second quarter was a procession for the visitors who scored at will and played as if they were one of the competition's leading flag contenders rather than the occupant of one of its bottom rungs. The Suns put two goals on the board within minutes but Luke Tapscott and Miller replied to momentarily get the Scorpions back into the contest before Gold Coast went into a goal kicking spree that included one from rugby league recruit Karmichael Hunt who was playing in midfield. A goal on the siren gave the Suns a lead in excess of seven goals and left the home crowd stunned.

Gotch used the half time break to address a few matters. Changes were made and the players were asked to improve their work rate. Tapscott went onto the dangerous Matera, Matthew Bate and Evan Panozza started on the wings and things started to happen. Miller turned on a master class in the third quarter seeing off several opponents including Hunt. The ball only had to be delivered somewhere near him and he was going to kick a goal. He booted six of his team's seven goals for the term (Tom McNamara scored the other) and the Scorps momentarily hit the front in a stunning fight back. A late goal by Swallow had the Suns clinging to a narrow three point lead at the final break.

As good as Miller was at his end of the ground, the fans were also treated to an equally great performance at full back from Warnock. His ability to read the flight of the ball, out position his opponent and take a relatively comfortable mark is surely the best seen in the competition this season. Newton's assistance in the ruck to young Jack Fitzpatrick was also crucial at this juncture.

The Suns made one further stand and drew away to a fourteen point lead with the first two goals of the final stanza. A Nicholls snap saw the Scorpions narrow the gap and, with newcomer Sam Blease showing great pace and Bate and Miller combining well, the Scorpions grabbed back the lead and then held on to record a famous victory for the club.

The final quarter effort from Casey was pleasing as many players lifted against a wilting opposition. Kyle Cheney produced some brave saves while Ben Macreadie (14 kicks, 11 handballs, 9 marks and a goal), Evan Panozza (12 kicks, 8 handballs, 7 marks) and Matt Fieldsend (14 kicks, 4 handballs and 2 marks) were the best of the Casey listed players.

This was the last of two encounters between Casey and the Gold Coast Suns who will, in just over six month's time, begin their campaign in the country's leading competition. In the meantime, the Scorpions have more immediate business over the coming month.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Matthew Bate 10 kicks, 5 handballs, 7 marks, 1 goal - quiet in the first half but was in his element in the second roaming far and wide between half forward and wing. Will find it tough to gain promotion with the intense competition for places at the club.

Daniel Bell 10 kicks, 13 handballs, 7 marks, 1 behind - had a consistent game. Strong in the clinches and clever with his use of the ball by hand and foot.

Sam Blease 10 kicks, 4 handballs, 1 mark - started on the bench in his first VFL senior game and was slowly eased into the game. Looked at ease on both sides of the body and, although some of his kicks went wide of the mark he kept going and, by the final quarter, was having an influence on the game with his pace and ball movement.

Kyle Cheney 13 kicks, 5 handballs, 5 marks - continued with his fine form at VFL level with a steady game in defence. Held his ground brilliantly with some strong saving marks when things were tight at the end.

Jack Fitzpatrick 7 kicks, 6 handballs, 3 marks, 2 behinds - continued to work hard in the ruck and up forward. Shaded in his ruck work but is coming along well on a long learning curve.

Neville Jetta 5 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 marks - had a quiet day by his standards and to make matters worse, injured his shoulder in the last quarter and will have scans taken today.

Tom McNamara 11 kicks, 2 handballs, 5 marks, 1 goal - another who was beaten early but came back in the second half to play a role in his teams comeback.

Addam Maric 10 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks - disappointing in the first half and did better and ran more freely in the second half with some handy contributions to the team's forward efforts.

Brad Miller 19 kicks, 6 handballs, 11 marks, 10 goals, 4 behinds - saw off a number of opponents of different sizes and ages in a polished performance at full forward that beckons a call for promotion.

Michael Newton 13 kicks, 4 handballs, 9 marks, 1 goal - starting to mature after several years at the club. Has also found his niche in a second ruck/forward who can take a strong mark and is adequate in the big man department and this was a good performance after several weeks out with injury.

James Strauss 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 4 marks - another player just returning from a fair stint out with injury and his fairly anonymous display down back, particularly in the first half was testament to this.

Luke Tapscott 7 kicks, 1 handball, 2 marks, 1 goal - started at half forward and had a relatively quiet day but he did a few nice things that suggest he has an edge of quality and hardness about him. Impressive when he threw himself into the fray and, at one stage, he had the crowd holding their collective breaths with a clever diving mark.

Matthew Warnock 12 kicks, 9 handballs, 11 marks - superlative four quarter effort at full back.

Casey Scorpions 3.0.18 7.2.44 14.9.93 18.11.119

Gold Coast Suns 4.6.30 13.10.88 14.11.95 17.13.115

Goals

Casey Scorpions Miller 10 Nicholls 2 Bate McGough McNamara MacReadie Newton Tapscott

Gold Coast Suns Swallow 5 Matera 3 Magin D Stanley 2 Fowler Hunt Lock Smith J Stanley

Best

Casey Scorpions Miller Warnock Cheney Newton MacReadie Panozza

Gold Coast Suns Swallow Smith Crawford Matera D Stanley Lock

The Casey Reserves were outclassed by Box Hill for the second week in a row. Will Petropolous was his team's best. Young ruckman Max Gawn suffered a setback when he strained a medial ligament in his knee.

Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 3.8.26 7.12.5.Box Hill Hawks 7.5.47 9.6.60 14.9.93 17.11.113

Goals

Casey Scorpions Plummer 2 Costigan Lees McDonald Petropoulos Waite Weekes

Box Hill Hawks Orr 4 Smithwick 3 Burnage Johns Renton 2 Duryea George Johnston Kitchin

Best

Casey Scorpions Petropoulos Riseley Plummer Healey Patti Costigan

Box Hill Hawks Sierakowski Mirra Walker Duryea Williams Orr