FINALS BOUND

[Demonland 66,532]

FINALS BOUND by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions cruised their way into the VFL finals series with a 38 point win over the Werribee Tigers at Avalon Airport Arena at the weekend - a similar result give or take a few points to their last encounter at the same venue earlier last month.

And the similarities didn't end there - just as the Tigers put up a great fight last time they met, Werribee gave the visitors a tough welcome and took a 10 point lead into the first break and then Casey fought back to record a comprehensive win. This time, the Scorpions are finals bound.

Casey kicked the opening two goals but went into a shell as the home side controlled the middle and had an unblemished goal kicking record of six straight goals when the quarter time siren sounded.

After the break the Casey on ball brigade, led by Paul Johnson in the ruck and with classy small men Danny Nicholls and Matt Fieldsend taking full advantage of his dominance, gave their key forwards Matty Bate and Brad Miller plenty of the ball and the next two quarters saw the Tiger resistance melt away.

By three quarter time Bate and Miller had each scored five goals thanks to some splendid teaming together and with the assistance of some lively play up field from Addam Maric, Ben MacReadie and Rian McGough.

Acting skipper James Wall marshalled the troops well throughout the day and Kyle Cheney and Tom McNamara were as steady as ever in defence.

With a solid three quarter time lead and the finals beckoning for one team and Mad Monday for the other, the last term turned into a lacklustre affair. Werribee won the quarter in a fitting tribute to its retiring coach Simon Atkins.

Injuries have not been kind to Casey so far this year with key players in skipper Kyle Matthews, young VFL representative Michael Stockdale, defender Tim Mohr and forwards Scott Simpson and Matt Moore all out along with several Melbourne AFL listed players so it has been extremely pleasing to see the likes of Fieldsend, Nicholls, MacReadie and McGough step up. For the final game of the season another youngster in Michael Risely was given an opportunity along with West Gippsland youngster Blake Carew.

In the end, the afternoon belonged to three players - Brad Miller who took 13 marks and kicked five goals five behinds, Matthew Bate with 26 disposals included in his five goal performance and emerging recruit from De La Salle, Matt Fieldsend who had the ball on a string and finished with 31 touches for the day.

The Casey Scorpions face a difficult first up finals challenge in their qualifying final against North Ballarat who have won the last two VFL premierships. The game will be played at TEAC Oval on Sunday at 2.10 pm.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Casey had only eleven Demons available at the weekend thanks to injuries and impending surgery. James Strauss who is booked in for an operation next week played in the Casey Reserves. Jack Fitzpatrick is also due to go under the knife and missed out, as did the promising Sam Blease. This is how the rest went:

Matthew Bate 21 kicks 5 handballs 12 marks, 5 goals - was in the play constantly through the game whether up forward or in the midfield. Kicked five goals and had a hand in a few others as he put his hand up high for AFL selection.

Daniel Bell 4 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks - had a defensive role in the midfield and carried out his duties in the normal solid manner.

Kyle Cheney 7 kicks 8 handballs 5 marks - a strong game in the last line of defence against Mitch Thorp, who he beat hands down despite his opponent's significant height advantage.

Rhys Healey 6 kicks 13 handballs 3 marks, 2 goals - probably his best game for the club which is a good thing on the eve of the finals.

Danny Hughes 15 kicks 6 handballs 12 marks, 1 goal - an excellent first up game from Hughes who seemed to have licence to roam around the forward line.

Paul Johnson 16 kicks 5 handballs 4 marks - a dominant performance in the ruck.

Addam Maric 17 kicks 4 handballs 8 marks - quiet early but finished as one of his team's best. He was lively around half forward and looked to share the ball around with his teammates. Could be back with the Demons for the final game.

Tom McNamara 10 kicks 1 handball 3 marks - played his usual tight defensive game.

Brad Miller 16 kicks 3 handballs 13 marks, 5 goals - the stats said it all. Ten shots at goal, five majors and a few given away to others.

Luke Tapscott 0 kicks 4 handballs 1 mark - after missing last week with a shoulder injury, Tappy hurt his shoulder again and barely saw out the first half. Not a likely starter in next week's final.

Casey Scorpions 5.2.32 10.5.65 17.8.110 19.11.125

Werribee Tigers 6.0.36 6.3.39 9.5.59 13.9.87

Goals

Casey Scorpions Bate Miller 5 Healey 2 Creed Hughes MacReadie McGough Nicholls Plummer Taylor

Werribee Tigers Costello Gleeson Henderson 2

Best

Casey Scorpions Bate Johnson Hughes Miller Fieldsend Wall

Werribee Tigers Gleeson Martiniello Hartigan Rockefeller Dickson Chisholm

An undermanned reserves were pole axed to the tune of 110 points by finals bound Werribee. Will Petropoulos was named as his team's best.

Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 2.4.16 3.5.23 5.10.40

Werribee Tigers 4.1.25 9.4.58 19.8.122 23.12.150

Goals

Casey Scorpions David Bell Clay M Dowse N Dowse Petropoulos

Werribee Tigers Perkins 7 Daw Lunardi 3 Baddeley Gardiner Mather Simpson 2 Moloney Priest

Best

Casey Scorpions Petropoulos Tynan Bedggood Dowse Hillberge Costigan

Werribee Tigers Scott Perkins Mather Moloney Gardiner Garland

[mauriesy 6,860]

The Casey Scorpions face a difficult first up finals challenge in their elimination final against North Ballarat

I think it's a qualifying final, not an elimination.

[Demonland 66,532]

I think it's a qualifying final, not an elimination.

Thanks - now corrected.