THE WEIGHT OF NUMBERS

THE WEIGHT OF NUMBERS by KC from Casey

The season ended on Saturday for the Casey Scorpions in the VFL Second Semi Final when they lost to the Northern Bullants by 11 points in an enthralling, hard fought encounter at TEAC Oval.

The Scorpions had beaten the Bullants twice during the home and away season but a number of forced changes left Casey short on experience but by no means short on endeavour or fighting spirit. Indeed, the team's gritty fight back in tough conditions might have ended differently had everything gone right during the tense latter stages of the game but in the final analysis, the weight of numbers won out.

The numbers that really mattered of course were the numbers on the scoreboard that showed the Northern Bullants had scored 10.11.71 to Casey Scorpions 9.6.60 at the end of the game.

The Bullants deserved the victory as they won statistically in most areas, particularly in the ruck hit outs and at the stoppages where most games are won, especially those played in the trying conditions that prevailed on Saturday.

The wet, wild and woolly weather that hit the State of Victoria overnight created a ground that was soft and muddy underfoot with a gluepot in the centre. The gusting winds that favoured the end to which the Ants kicked in what turned out to be a long opening quarter also had a significant influence in a game that turned out to be a hard slog for both sides.

The Scorpions worked hard in the early going and went goal for goal with their more experienced opponents. Brad Miller kicked their first and, when James Wall scored from a free, Casey were looking confident in the way they were holding their ground.

A long 70 metre bomb with the breeze from Bullant Joe Anderson was required to put a dent in that confidence and some inspired play from the Carlton contingent led by the dominance of ruckman Shaun Hampson, the early sharpshooting of Irishman Setanta O'hAilpin and the hard in an under work of Brock McLean turned the game around. Two goals deep into an opening quarter that lasted almost 38 minutes gave the Bullants what turned out to be a significant twenty point lead at the first break.

Casey worked hard to break back into the game in the second term but for all of the hard work of Ben MacReadie, Tim Mohr and Matt Fieldsend, the gap was narrowed by only one point to half time. By then the Scorps had suffered another blow losing key defender Tom McNamara for the day with an ankle injury.

When the Bullants booted two goals in the opening moments of the third quarter, things were looking grim for the Scorpions and it was a credit to the persistence of Brad Gotch's young Scorpions team that they would not concede another goal in almost a full half of football from that point.

It was the younger brigade that led the revival. Michael Riseley started things moving for the Scorpions when he accepted a pass, played on and slotted through a goal from a difficult angle but while Casey attacked, the deficit remained at 25 points through to the final change after shots at goal from Miller and Sam Blease both went wide of the big sticks. Utility Wade Lees who has only a handful of games to his credit was another youngster who was showing great endeavour.

First gamer, Gus Patti, an undersized ruckman from the Dandenong Stingrays was working in tandem with Tim Mohr who spent most of the season in defence when not hampered by a shoulder injury. They toiled manfully and showed great heart against the much taller Hampson and, while they did not win the hit outs they put their bodies in at the clinches to lift the side with their tireless efforts.

Ryan Creed goaled from a snap to open up proceedings in the final term. The Ants were now completely on the defensive but the Scorps pushed through for a goal from the hardworking Matt Fieldsend, who was playing a fantastic game. The margin had been reduced to 13 points at the 12 minute mark and the game was winnable.

The Bullants mounted a counterattack and while they were held to a few points, the clock was winding down. A last desperate lunge produced a Rhys Healey goal but it proved all too late and time eventually took its full toll.

In the end, the Northern Bullants had the numbers, especially in terms of experience with their AFL contingent having an aggregate of 567 games under their belts while the Casey Scorpions could only muster a mere 217.

The Scorpions had been hit hard by injury, their ruck stocks decimated by the loss of Paul Johnson (shoulder) and Michael Newton (calf). Addam Maric's ball getting ability was sorely missed after he was ruled out with a groin injury and livewire Austin Wonaeamirri was a late withdrawal.

Their places were filled by a quartet of players who would have imagined their seasons were over a fortnight ago when the reserves lost their final round match at Werribee. Between them Patti, Mitch Dowse, Will Petropoulos and Luke Tynan had less than 10 senior VFL games to their names but they performed more than creditably as did young Riseley who was playing only his third senior game with the club.

The experience gained by the younger contingent should be invaluable for the club next year when we should see the return, among others, of injured skipper Kyle Matthews, interstate representative Michael Stockdale (who led the early Liston Trophy voting before his knee injury) and boom recruit Scott Simpson who was restricted to just one senior game this year.

The spirit displayed by the young Scorpions and the example they set under trying circumstances will hold them in good stead as they plan their campaign for season 2011.

Casey did manage one consolation from a season of great promise on Liston Trophy night when it was named the VFL's best conducted club. Perhaps next year, it will have the full weight of numbers on its side and then go on to win the big one.

The Casey Scorpions were down to only seven Melbourne listed players, two of them rookies and one (Sam Blease) coming off very limited preparation this year. The result against the Northern Bullants who fielded a team with more than double Casey's AFL experience was an inevitable loss but the closeness of the result was a testament to the Scorpions' determination and fighting spirit.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Daniel Bell - played well as a hard, defensive midfielder in a team that was being beaten in the ruck. His approach to the game and demeanor both on and off the field in a difficult year was a credit to the man whose career prospects were cruelled by injuries over recent years.

Sam Blease - had limited impact and needs a full preseason to help kickstart his fledgling career.

Kyle Cheney - toiled manfully under pressure in defence and was probably the best of the Demons.

Rhys Healey - not the best of days but had one or two bright spots.

Danny Hughes - was needed to get goals but didn't get any on the day. Missed a couple of shots, one from close in.

Tom McNamara - kicked a goal in the first quarter and then went down back but got injured.

Brad Miller - double and triple teamed and was made to work hard for his two goals.

Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 5.5.35 6.6.42 9.6.60

Northern Bullants 6.3.39 8.6.54 10.7.67 10.11.71

Goals

Casey Scorpions Miller 2 Creed Fieldsend Healey McNamara MacReadie Riseley Wall

Northern Bullants O'hAilpin 3 Anderson Fisher Hampson Johnson McLean Saad Thomas

Best

Casey Scorpions MacReadie Fieldsend Lees Riseley Patti Mohr

Northern Bullants McLean McCorkell Johnson Dare Morgan Arrowsmith

2010 VFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Backs Michael Stockdale (Casey) Peter Faulks (Williamstown) Adam Iacobucci (Nth Bullants)

Half backs Michael Hibberd (Frankston) Sam Pleming (Port Melb) Cameron Richardson (Nth Ballarat)

Centreline Ben Davies (Williamstown) Brett Johnson (Williamstown) Sam Power (Coburg)

Half forwards David Swallow (Gold Coast) Callum Sinclair (Port Melb) Stephen Clifton (Nth Ballarat)

Forwards Zac Smith (Gold Coast) Matthew Little (Williamstown) Shane Valenti (Port Melb)

Rucks Orren Stephenson (Nth Ballarat) Myles Sewell (Nth Ballarat) Ed Curnow (Box Hill)

Interchange Russell Gabriel (Frankston) Dom Gleeson (Werribee) James Wall (Casey) Toby Pinwill (Port Melb) Jonathan Simpkin (Geelong) Ben Jolley (Williamstown)

Coach Gerard Fitzgerald (Nth Ballarat)