A CHILLY WIND AT CASEY by KC from Casey

The cold wind that howled down the ground at Casey Fields on Sunday became an ill wind for the Scorpions who suffered a surprise 10 point defeat at the hands of the lowly Coburg Tigers.

In conditions that require a dominant midfield, Casey regained Demon Michael Evans but suffered a blow with the loss of the in form David Collins and the withdrawal of Dan Nicholson for AFL duties.

The Scorpions had the breeze behind their backs in the opening term and, despite dominating the general play, were unable to exploit it to full effect.

Matthew Bate (2) and Wade Lees were the two goal kickers for the term but the feeling was that a 3.7.25 to 0.1.1 quarter time lead was never going to be enough.

Casey defended dourly into the wind and it took ten minutes for Coburg to score its first goal of the game. This provided the Scorpions with the spur for an all out attack during which time it played its best football of the match resulting in three in the space of five minutes to Tim Mohr, Lynden Dunn and Brendon Fevola. The home team was ahead by 33 points in midterm and appeared to be headed for a comfortable win.

While most would have expected a bottom three team to drop their heads and capitulate, the Tigers did the exact opposite. They hustled their way through the situation and, despite finding it hard to score goals in the swirling win, managed to score three goals and another seven behinds to scrap their way back to a deficit of eight points at the main break.

Coburg maintained the momentum going into the third term and doggedly kept out a listless Casey which struggled to break through for a goal until well into the quarter when Rian McGough kicked truly to give the Scorps a 16 point lead. They Tigers were not to be denied however, and they struck back against the wind with the last two goals of the quarter to go into the final break with their tails up. They were four points down and had the use of the stiffening breeze.

Coach Brad Gotch called for a supreme effort and his charges responded with the strength of their defence early in the final term. It paid dividends when Tim Mohr kicked truly and by midway through the quarter, it was Casey by two goals. As in the second quarter, the effort of defending against the strength of the winds proved too great and Coburg gradually whittled away the lead finally taking over not long after twenty-two minutes had passed. The Scorpions were not done yet and had their opportunities but they went begging and a final goal to the Tigers saw them go down by ten points in a disappointing result that cost them their place in the top four.

Tim Mohr (8 Kicks, 7 handballs) was the pick of the Casey players, defending stoutly when down back and kicking two goals in his forays forward. He is fit this year and his performances this year have been a revelation. Matthew Bate (28 disposals) was involved in a great battle with his opponent and Sam Blease used his great speed to effect picking up 27 touches. Michael Stockdale was strong in defence and worked well with Matthew Warnock in frustrating many Coburg attacks which co-skipper James Wall was a steadying influence throughout the day.

Ironically, the Scorpions kicked as many goals into the strong gale as it did against it and that summed up their dismal day.

Casey now has a fortnight in which to regroup from the setback of a loss at home to a side that is virtually out of contention for the finals. When they do their next assignment will be in hostile territory against the VFL's other Tigers, Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday 2 July.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Matthew Bate (11 kicks, 17 handballs, 5 marks, 2 goals) - another good game from Bate and, although his best work was done early when he booted two goals in the first quarter, he worked hard all day.

Sam Blease (20 kicks, 7 handballs, 8 marks) - has heaps of pace and skill and this was a perfect day to use his talents and use them, he did.

Robert Campbell (6 kicks, 7 handballs, 2 marks) - a reasonable game from Campbell but has he got his body right? Spent time during the game in the hands of the trainers but saw the game out well.

Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks) - a quiet game in conditions not made for marking forwards.

Troy Davis (7 kicks, 14 handballs, 5 marks) - worked hard in defence in trying conditions. Marked strongly.

Lynden Dunn (13 kicks, 5 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - kicked a nice goal and did some handy work in patches but not enough to earn promotion.

Michael Evans (12 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks) - busy in the middle but didn't have much help.

Cameron Johnston (7 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks) - still finding his feet at this level.

Addam Maric (12 kicks, 7 handballs, 3 marks) - a workmanlike effort but tried to do too much at times and needs to keep it simple.

Tom McDonald (4 kicks, 3 handballs, 1 marks) - a quiet day at the office.

Tom McNamara (7 kicks, 5 handballs, 3 marks) - struggled to get into the game.

Matthew Warnock (15 kicks, 16 handballs, 9 marks) - defended stoutly, marked strongly and worked hard to frustrate the opposition forwards.

Casey Scorpions 3.7.25 6.7.43 7.12.54 8.14.62

Coburg Tigers 0.1.1 4.11.35 6.14.50 9.18.72

Goals

Casey Scorpions Bate Mohr 2 Dunn Fevola Lees McGough

Coburg Tigers Wheeler 3 Murphy 2 Jordan Lynch Morton White

Best

Casey Scorpions Mohr Bate Blease Warnock Wall Stockdale

Coburg Tigers Gourdis Wheeler White Tuck Power Graham

Aaron Purves was in fine form with five goals and David Bell was best on ground against an inaccurate Coburg Reserves to set up a 68 point victory in the battle for fifth spot on the ladder.

Casey Scorpions 2.1.13 8.5.53 11.6.72 19.10.124

Coburg Tigers 3.8.26 3.11.29 5.19.49 6.20.56

Goals

Casey Scorpions Purves 5 Dowse 3 Bell Waite 2 Carew Clay Corry Fieldsend Gent Hill Purdy

Coburg Tigers Daniels Lirosi 2 Barrack Cartelli

Best

Casey Scorpions Bell Fieldsend Allen Patti Gent Purves

Coburg Tigers Daniels Fahey Cartelli Ambrose Ambrose Lirosi

I'm working on my report on the MFC players. It was a difficult day to assess them but here are the stats:-

Matthew Bate (11 kicks, 17 handballs, 5 marks, 2 goals)

Sam Blease (20 kicks, 7 handballs, 8 marks)

Robert Campbell (6 kicks, 7 handballs, 2 marks)

Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 2 marks)

Troy Davis (7 kicks, 14 handballs, 5 marks)

Lynden Dunn (13 kicks, 5 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal)

Michael Evans (12 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks)

Cameron Johnston (7 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks)

Addam Maric (12 kicks, 7 handballs, 3 marks)

Tom McDonald (4 kicks, 3 handballs, 1 marks)

Tom McNamara (7 kicks, 5 handballs, 3 marks)

Matthew Warnock (15 kicks, 16 handballs, 9 marks)

It's now up.

Hopefully, there will be an infusion of talent in the next fortnight as a number of injured players make their way back into the game.

It's now up.

Hopefully, there will be an infusion of talent in the next fortnight as a number of injured players make their way back into the game.

Can you give more detail re Blease

Can you give more detail re Blease

Yes.

I and others have been critical of how he plays when he hasn't got the ball. I felt that he on Sunday he worked a lot harder and used his talents in an all round manner. This, combined with the fact that he was in a team that was under the pump for most of the last half and stood out, suggests that the penny may have dropped. Perhaps, it's his friendship with Tom Scully that is starting to pay dividends and he's realising how hard you have to work to get into the elite class.

Perhaps not next week, but we'll see him in the colours soon.

I and others have been critical of how he plays when he hasn't got the ball. I felt that he on Sunday he worked a lot harder and used his talents in an all round manner. This, combined with the fact that he was in a team that was under the pump for most of the last half and stood out, suggests that the penny may have dropped. Perhaps, it's his friendship with Tom Scully that is starting to pay dividends and he's realising how hard you have to work to get into the elite class.

Perhaps not next week, but we'll see him in the colours soon.

Excellent to hear. Thanks, KC.

Yes.

I and others have been critical of how he plays when he hasn't got the ball. I felt that he on Sunday he worked a lot harder and used his talents in an all round manner. This, combined with the fact that he was in a team that was under the pump for most of the last half and stood out, suggests that the penny may have dropped. Perhaps, it's his friendship with Tom Scully that is starting to pay dividends and he's realising how hard you have to work to get into the elite class.

Perhaps not next week, but we'll see him in the colours soon.

Cheers

Great Stuff KC....

Keep up the good work!!!

I and others have been critical of how he plays when he hasn't got the ball. I felt that he on Sunday he worked a lot harder and used his talents in an all round manner. This, combined with the fact that he was in a team that was under the pump for most of the last half and stood out, suggests that the penny may have dropped. Perhaps, it's his friendship with Tom Scully that is starting to pay dividends and he's realising how hard you have to work to get into the elite class.

Perhaps not next week, but we'll see him in the colours soon.

Cheers KC. I hope to see him in the colours soon.

Thought I'd add this report from Casey coach Brad Gotch for some extra perspective.

Casey Player Review

• Sam Blease - yes there was that clanger but when you're getting the ball that many times, there's going to be the odd glitch. All in all, a very good game from Sam and he's been well rewarded with emergency status for the Demons this week. There's only one way to go from there and it's up.

• Michael Evans - Gotch makes a good point. Pickles has had a few weeks at AFL level but I think he's been the Sub a couple of times in that stint and I'm sure that it will hold him in good stead. In the short term however, it's obviously interrupted his rhythm a little.

• I wasn't aware about Dunn not making it to the ground so late. Another disruption and yes, he was pretty good at the end.

• Again, with Tom McDonald, I didn't know he wasn't all that well before the game. Perhaps he shouldn't have played at all in those circumstances.

Casey has its third bye for the season and has been a little off the pace recently. Losing to Coburg has put it right under the pump as far as top four is concerned but the week's rest will be a bit of a tonic for some of the players.

Hopefully, with players returning from injury (both Melbourne and Casey players), the team will gather strength in the second half of the season.