PINK RIBBON DAY AT CASEY

[Demonland 64,811]

The first of the weekend's two missions against Collingwood has been accomplished.

PINK RIBBON DAY AT CASEY by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions held on to fourth place on the VFL ladder with a solid 42-point victory over a plucky Collingwood Reserves side at Casey Fields on Saturday.

The ground was in picture perfect condition for the club's annual Pink Ribbon Day promoting awareness for breast cancer and the match attracted a big crowd considering the game was televised live on ABC1.

The Scorpions led virtually from start to finish after a Lynden Dunn goal in the first minute of play and they took a stranglehold on the game by dominating the inaccurate Magpies against the breeze in an opening quarter in which Dunn booted three goals and young Demon Lucas Cook snagged two.

With Ricky Petterd playing a different but dominant role closer to the middle, the home side scored seven goals in the second term and, at one stage stretched its lead to nine goals before being reined in to 41 points with a couple of late Collingwood goals before the half time break.

The game was entertaining and its pace was frenetic at times but the afternoon was marred when Magpie goalsneak Brad Dick turned awkwardly and had to stretchered from the ground just before the siren sounded with what appeared to be a bad knee injury.

Dick's injury seemed to spur his team mates on as they won the third quarter with the wind at their backs and, after conceding the first three goals of the final term, outscored the Scorps for the remainder of the game. This was quite an achievement against a home side that had so many forward line winners and kicked its highest score for the year to date.

In the final analysis Casey would have content itself with a seven goal win although its last half failed to match the first for intensity. However, in the team's defence, it must be remembered that it was coming off last week's hard fought encounter with Sandringham in windy conditions after a six day break.

Petterd maintained his dominance for the full journey to complete the game with a superb 39 touches and 11 marks. He set up many forward moves with Dunn (five goals from 15 possessions and six marks), Cook (four goals) and Brendon Fevola (3.2 from nine possessions and six marks) proving to be a multipronged attack.

They were well backed up by Addam Maric and Tom McNamara (3 goals each) while Matthew Bate was always lively around half forward.

Fevola has settled in well, is doing the team things well and his presence adds to the potency of the Casey forward line.

Dave Collins continues to display some of his good form of recent weeks. His contribution to the Casey midfield has been underrated and deserving of far greater recognition.

Michael Stockdale played his best game yet since returning from a knee injury and he added a lot of run and carry which was instrumental in breaking up the Collingwood zones.

Matthew Warnock was again in superb form in the last line of defence and he was well backed up by Tim Mohr and Troy Davis.

However, the fact that five goals were conceded to the opposition in each of the last two quarters would not have pleased coach Brad Gotch and the backline will need to tighten up in future games when pitted against the competition's powerhouse teams.

Hawthorn premiership ruckman Robert Campbell was a true warhorse. Despite being clearly nursed into form after an injury-interrupted first half of his season, he showed good signs with some deft ruck work and was capably assisted by pinch hitters Mohr and Tom McDonald.

The team is at home again next Sunday and takes on the disappointing Coburg Tigers although it will still be without courageous co-skipper Kyle Matthews for several weeks. Fresh scans on his injured leg during the week confirmed he has a fractured fibula.

Matthews has been dogged with injury recently and deserves a change in fortune and a speedy recovery.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Matthew Bate - although not as dominant as last week, he worked really hard as a half forward with licence to roam further downfield.

Sam Blease - great when working on all pistons and attacking but still needs to work harder going the other way. This could be due to him not yet having sufficient endurance following an extended period when his training would have been restricted due to his foot injury. When he gets that part of his game right, Blease will be a very good player at the top level.

Robert Campbell - limited game due to being eased back after a long lay off and was getting treatment (hamstring tightness?) from the trainers when off the ground. Worked hard and was very good in the ruck and will be even better if he can regain full fitness.

Lucas Cook - presented well, was strong and showed good judgement in the air and was good when the ball hit the ground. Has a good kicking action and style and was a little unlucky not to finish with more than his four goals.

Troy Davis - didn't show out as much as in his two earlier games but is still finding his way at this level and, given time, looks to be a prospect beyond this level.

Lynden Dunn - ever the opportunist, Dunn returned to form with five goals and also gave a few away in an excellent display up forward.

Colin Garland - made a surprise early return from an ankle injury and had limited time on the ground. Was not prominent but did what he had to do well.

Kelvin Lawrence - showed a bit of toe early before succumbing to injury again. This was unfortunate as his absence highlighted the team's lack of pace through the midfield.

Addam Maric - flashed in and out of play. Delivered the ball well and made a contribution with three goals.

Tom McDonald - a very cool customer who is proving somewhat of a surprise packet. He is good in the air, on the ground and with his execution by hand and foot. Has also been doing some backup work in the ruck but I would like to see him settle in one position, possibly full back or centre half back.

Tom McNamara - played in the middle and kicked three goals going forward so it was a pretty good day for Tom. His goal from tight on a boundary line was a gem.

Ricky Petterd - a dominant four quarter performance. Relished a slightly different role around the middle and will be excused for a couple of lapses late in the game caused no doubt by tiredness, such was his workrate during the day.

Matthew Warnock - a typically solid and compsed game in defence where he has that extra bit of time at this level. Marked strongly and spotted players down the ground well.

Casey Scorpions 5.1.31 12.5.77 16.8.104 22.10.142

Collingwood 1.4.10 5.6.36 10.10.70 15.10.100

Goals

Casey Scorpions

Dunn 5 Cook 4 Fevola McNamara Maric 3 Blease Mohr Petterd Stockdale

Collingwood

Eddy Sundberg 3 Bolton Couch Farmer 2 Bull Dick Reilly

Best

Casey Scorpions

Petterd Warnock Dunn Cook Mohr Collins

Collingwood

Sundberg Couch Bolton Farmer Rounds Condy

HIGHLIGHTS

MARK OF THE DAY

GOAL OF THE DAY

The Casey reserves missed a golden opportunity to consolidate a top six position going down by 10 points to the third placed Werribee Tigers after leading for most of the day.

Clever forward Aaron Purves booted six goals while the improving Luke Tynan was his team's best.

Casey Scorpions 2.5.17 6.9.45 9.10.64 10.14.74

Werribee Tigers 1.3.9 4.8.32 8.10.58 12.12.84

Goals

Casey Scorpions

Purves 6 Waite 2 Petropoulos Pollard

Werribee Tigers

Allwright Chisholm Still 2 Davis Perkins Priest Rockefeller Schibeci Treloar

Best

Casey Scorpions

Tynan McShane Purves Salton McKenna Baumgartner

Werribee Tigers

Chisholm Rockefeller Saker Schroder Ruggles Prismall