SCORPIONS FEAST ON ANTS by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions retained third spot on the VFL ladder with a 13 point win over the Northern Bullants at Visy Park on Saturday. The hard fought victory in a game played in difficult conditions with swirly winds also secured the double chance that a top four finish brings.

Casey opened playing aggressive, attacking footy but they were off target early Matt Fieldsend's shot hitting the post. Addam Maric was on fire early with the first goal and when Matthew Bate kicked Casey's second, the team led by 15 points to nil halfway through the quarter. The Ants regrouped with goals to Jacobs and O'Hailpin and the visitors took a narrow three point lead into the first break.

Youngster Jack Grimes was in the hands of the trainers having his hamstring treated and was to take no more part in the game leaving Casey one player short and limiting its ability to use rotations for the rest of the day.

The Scorpions maintained their attack on the ball and it was goal for goal as the ball rebounded from end to end in the windy conditions. Goals to Jack Fitzpatrick and Rian McGough kept Casey's ascendency but the Bullants, with their strong contingent of AFL players surged to the lead late in the half to take a six point lead into the main break.

The arm wrestle continued in the third term with both sides adding goals until a Michael Newton purple patch of two goals in a minute gave Casey a 13 point lead. Newton and last week's 10 goal hero Brad Miller had been switching between a forward role and that of back up ruckman to beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick and the tactic was proving successful.

Meanwhile, down back Kyle Cheney, Evan Panozza and Cale Morton were proving effective. O'Hailpin scored his third goal late in the term to set up an exciting final quarter with the Northern Bullants trailing by a mere five points.

The big Irishman was doing his level best to get his team across the line and when he booted the first two goals for the final term to bring his tally to five, the Bullants were seven points in front and threatening.

The Scorpions managed to extricate themselves from a difficult situation last week against Gold Coast with two brilliant individual efforts at either end of the ground from Matthew Warnock at full back and Miller in the key forward post.

This week they saved the game from the fire with a complete team effort led by Cheney, Morton, McNamara and James Taylor who tightened up the defence and Maric and Bate providing the goals at the end that saw them safely home. Matt Fieldsend worked tirelessly to underline his improvement over the season into a fully fledged VFL footballer.

Casey plays Werribee in the final home and away match of the season next Sunday at Chirnside Park (Avalon Airfield Oval).

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Matthew Bate 16 kicks, 10 handballs, 6 marks, 2 goals - had a busy day up forward and around the ground. Kicked a goal to put his team in front near the end for the second week in a row.

Daniel Bell 10 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks, - another steady performance from Bell who used his strength and pace to advantage.

Sam Blease 8 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks - flashed in and out of the play and showed good pace on a forward flank but faded out later in the game.

Kyle Cheney 10 kicks, 5 handballs, 5 marks - started quietly but warmed up as the game unfolded. In the final quarter, he committed some game saving moves and was an important player in the team's victory.

Jack Grimes 1 kick, 1 handball - was in the hands of trainers by quarter time having his hamstring worked on and his day was over.

Jack Fitzpatrick 6 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks, 2 goals - continues to improve and held his own in an enthralling battle with Sam Jacobs.

Rhys Healey 7 kicks, 11 handballs, 4 marks - had a tough day at the office especially opposed to Andrew Walker but got a lot of the football himself.

Tom McNamara 15 kicks, 6 handballs, 7 marks - conceded a few goals but stuck to his task. Showed good hands and was more than handy at the finished.

Addam Maric 10 kicks, 2 handballs, 5 marks, 3 goals - flashed in and out of the game and when he was good he was really good. Three great goals, the last of them very timely.

Brad Miller 6 kicks, 9 handballs, 3 marks - obviously not as prolific as last week, Miller was well held and didn't kick a goal but made a contribution.

Cale Morton 7 kicks, 9 handballs, 2 marks - a strong disciplined game on the dangerous Brad Fisher who kicked 10.4 last week. Was outmarked once early in the game but kept him well covered.

Michael Newton 16 kicks, 1 handball, 5 marks, 3 goals - continues to impress in the role of ruckman/forward. Came to his team's rescue with a great third quarter when he kicked three goals.

James Strauss 16 kicks, 5 handballs, 4 marks - played his best game since returning from injury. Crisp delivery by foot a highlight.

Casey Scorpions 2.6.18 4.7.31 8.9.57 11.13.79

Northern Bullants 2.3.15 5.7.37 7.10.52 9.12.66

Goals

Casey Scorpions Maric Newton 3 Bate Fitzpatrick 2 McGough

Northern Bullants O'Hailpin 5 Fisher Jacobs Saad Walker

Best

Casey Scorpions Cheney Fieldsend Morton Panozza Taylor Bate

Northern Bullants Thornton O'Hailpin Anderson Walker Iacobucci Johnson

The Casey reserves won their sixth game for the season in convincing fashion with Luke McDonald and Will Petropoulos each booting three goals. Cam Purdy and Wade Lees were the best players in a great overall team effort.

Danny Hughes playing his first game after a long layoff with an ankle injury saw out the first half kicking a goal and pulling up well.

Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 5.6.36 13.11.89 19.15.129

Northern Bullants 5.4.34 8.6.54 9.7.6114.8.92

Goals

Casey Scorpions L McDonald Petropoulos 3 Clay Costigan M Dowse 2 Cleven N Dowse Hillberge Hughes Lees Lillie Purdy

Northern Bullants Dorman 6 Neaves Tiller Thomas 2 C Gianfagna Hall

Best

Casey Scorpions Purdy Lees Riseley Cleven Charalambous Tynan

Northern Bullants Dorman Thomas Mitchem Kerr Neaves Smith

Good to see Morton in the best...

Interestingly, or not so, the Herald Sun reported that Grimes got through the game unscathed. Obviously untrue. I suspect the next time we see young Jack in red and blue will be 2011.

Good signs from Fitzpatrick and I guess the injury to Davey makes room for Morton to return. Bate will also push for selection.

I suspect Moloney will return via the VFL or not at all now. Might be best to put him cotton wool seeing we are now out of the race for September.