CASEY SCORPIONS SEASON PREVIEW

CASEY SCORPIONS SEASON PREVIEW by KC from Casey

The Melbourne-Casey Scorpions alignment moves into its third year tonight with the opening of the VFL season at Casey Fields when the home side takes on Geelong.

The alliance appears to be on somewhat shaky grounds over the Brendan Fevola controversy although that issue has been somewhat diffused as a result of the potential Scorpion recruit's erratic off field behaviour, his poor form in a reserves practice match and decision to play at Narre Warren this weekend. I don't think anyone, let alone the Fev knows what he's going to do next.

The situation does however, underline that times are tough for the VFL clubs on a number of levels and the situation has been emphasized by the push by some AFL clubs to have stand alone reserves teams rather than alignments. Casey's opponent tonight is one of those teams.

I believe that there are compelling reasons why an alignment can still work for both the Demons and the Scorpions.

Last year Melbourne signed an agreement with the Casey council which could extend as long as thirty years and involves the club's use of the ground and facilities at Casey Fields giving it a foothold in one of the country's fastest growing regions. The population in this area is set to grow to 400,000 and the influx of young families will help the club boost its currently poor supporter base.

Certainly, the club might chose to spurn the local VFL club, go it alone and still play at Casey Fields, but does that really constitute embracing the local community?

Similarly, the Casey Scorpions have the job ahead of them as well. The club has only recently arrived on the scene at Cranbourne after a long and proud history as the Springvale Football Club. The Scorpions also need to embrace and be accepted by the local community which has strong historical ties with its local clubs.

The association with the Under 18 TAC Cup team, the Gippsland Power which brings in an annual infusion of young, talented local players will help but there is still a lot of hard work needed to bring together all of the elements needed to make for a successful local VFL team at the Casey Scorpions.

It's understandable that Casey looked favorably on securing a personality like Fevola. Despite all of his failings, he has a following, is from the local area and certainly would be a drawcard bringing crowds through the turnstiles and publicity to the club. A potential 100 goal a year full forward wouldn't hurt the cause either. All of these things are dependent of course, on Fevola's physical and emotional well-being and his dedication to the team cause.

Unfortunately for the player, he's a fair distance from being in that place at this point in time and is currently not on Casey's player list although it is being reported that he will play the next two games at Narre and then resume his bid to play at Casey and ultimately in the AFL after that.

Tonight Casey kicks off the season with up to 15 AFL listed players in the team, an unusual situation given that this number has been rarely achieved over the past two injury wracked years at Melbourne. The Scorpions last two finals campaigns have been significantly hampered by the unavailability of their Demon listed players. This is a major reason why Casey needs to constantly replenish its playing list with talented footballers. The depth of a VFL team's playing list is vital to its on field success.

In Casey's case, the 2011 campaign begins without Ben MacReadie, Glenn Chivers, Ryan Creed and James Taylor who have left the club but it does have the benefit of two star players returning from long injury lay offs.

Courageous skipper Kyle Matthews is back after sustaining serious head injuries in an attack outside a nightclub last year and defender and State representative Michael Stockdale is also both after missing the last half of 2011 with a serious knee injury. Matthews will miss a few weeks through a hamstring injury incurred in the final practice match against Port Melbourne last week.

Other Scorpions players of note will be the consistent James Wall who has had a good preseason, defender Tim Mohr, last year's recruiting sensation Matt Fieldsend and classy small man Danny Nicholls. Evan Panozza will be steady as ever in defence.

Recruits in tonight's squad are promising Gippsland Power 18 year old Aiden Lindsay (182cm 78kg), Box Hills's Kieren McShane (178cm, 78kg), Jordan Pollard (170cm 75kg) who has followed Fieldsend from De La Salle and former Frankston player Aaron Purves (190cm 86kg).

Other newcomers include Nathan Allen (178cm, 67kg), Mitch Gent (182cm, 77kg) and Daniel Harrison (196cm, 97kg) from the Dandenong Stingrays, Blake Carew (178cm 75kg), Tom Corry (174cm, 70kg) and Brayden Salton (197cm, 90kg) of the Gippsland Power, Eastern Ranges youngster Luke McKenna (189cm 79kg) and local player Stef Baumgartner (180cm, 82kg) from Devon Meadows.

All of the newcomers to the club are in their teens or early twenties.

The concentration on talented youth is important for the Casey Scorpions and their partner, the Melbourne Demons. Although the senior season starts tonight for the Scorpions, the reserves side kicks off in a few hours time at Visy Park against the Northern Bullants with Demons Jack Fitzpatrick, Tom McNamara and Cameron Johnston selected in the line up. Stand alone sides do not have the advantage of easing young rookies or players coming back from injury back into the game at this level and this is another reason why a strong alignment can benefit both the AFL and VFL clubs.