The Casey Scorpions have the opportunity to redeem themselves after last week's disappointing 97 point qualifying final capitulation at the hands of undefeated premiership favourite Port Melbourne in Saturday's first semi final against the Werribee Tigers.

The Scorpions hope to be boosted by the return of some of the eligible MFC listed players for the game against Werribee which is one of the two VFL clubs affiliated with North Melbourne which are still in the premiership race.

The teams have met twice this year with honours even.

The first meeting was at Chirnside Park, Werribee when the home side upset the Scorpions in a spiteful game marred by an all in brawl five minutes before the final siren.

The Tigers led from the outset and despite a flurry of last quarter goals, the Scorpions left their run far to late going down by two goals.

Saturday, 2 July, 2011

Casey Scorpions 1.3.9 4.7.31 6.12.48 13.12.90

Werribee Tigers 3.4.22 6.9.45 12.11.83 15.12.102

Goals

Casey Scorpions Dunn 3 Bartram Fevola Gawn 2 Bate Cook McGough Mohr

Werribee Tigers Castello Warren 3 Schibeci 2 Daw Harper McIntosh Mangan Mather Ross Urquhart

Best

Casey Scorpions Maric Davis Mohr McNamara Tapscott Gawn

Werribee Tigers Tarrant Mather Tighe Tuck Ross Hartigan

The teams met again in the penultimate round of the season at Casey Fields. Honours again went to the home side with the Scorpions dominating a game in which Brendan Fevola kicked six goals. The 44-point victory elevated Casey into fourth place on the VFL ladder.

Saturday, 20 August, 2011

Casey Scorpions 5.0.30 10.4.64 13.9.87 17.11.113

Werribee Tigers 1.4.10 4.7.31 7.8.50 10.9.69

Casey Scorpions Fevola 6 Bate Jetta Lawrence 2 Fitzpatrick Gawn McGough Nicholls Panozza

Werribee Tigers McIntosh 3 McKinley 2 Daw Harding Mangan Rockefeller Warren

Best

Casey Scorpions Jetta Warnock Lees Campbell Bate McNamara

Werribee Tigers McIntosh Ross Mather O'Dwyer Tighe Hartigan

A big crowd is expected for this week's game. The winner goes into the Preliminary Final against Williamstown on Sunday week.

• Team selection will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10

VFL SENIORS FIRST SEMI FINAL

CASEY SCORPIONS v WERRIBEE TIGERS TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne 2:10pm (ABC1TV,SEN2-Aussie Digital)

CASEY SCORPIONS

Backs Bail Warnock Stockdale

Half backs McDonald Mohr Lees

Centreline McGough Nicholson McNamara

Half forwards Bate Dunn J Wall

Forwards Nicholls Fevola Gawn

Followers Campbell Matthews Collins

Interchange (from) Bolton Davis Fitzpatrick Lawrence Lindsay* McShane Newton Panozza Petropoulos

WERRIBEE TIGERS

Backs Ross Hartigan O'Dwyer

Half backs Chisholm Wormald Harding

Centreline Urquhart Tuck Macmillan

Half forwards Mather Daw Martiniello

Forwards Warren McKinley Castello

Followers Tighe Sharp Gleeson

Interchange (from) Dickson

Laracy Mangan Prismall

Rockefeller Ruggles* Saker Still Sullivan

* 23rd player

The winner plays Williamstown in 2nd Preliminary Final at TEAC Oval on Sunday 18 September

It looks as if the MFC have made the full suite of eligible players available this time around. I'm particularly interested in how the boys who've had a bit of a taste of AFL level footy go in the rest of the VFL finals, in particular Gawn, Fitzpatrick, McDonald and Nicholson.

I reckon Bail is the only one in that side that doesn't belong there. It's a stroke of luck for Casey that he's eligible.

Good luck Casey.

Is Jetta ineligible or injured?

Great to see some decent support from the Dees.

On my reckoning the players eligible who might have been selected but weren't were Sam Blease (concussion from last week), Neville Jetta and Addam Maric (leg) along with rookie Cameron Johnston.

If they want to win the flag they probably need the likes of Blease, Jetta and Maric in the team. I think the latter might be done and dusted for 2011 though.

I reckon Bail is the only one in that side that doesn't belong there. It's a stroke of luck for Casey that he's eligible.

I agree.

As an aside, given he's missed so much footy this year it's good for him to get some games.

BacksBail Warnock Stockdale

Half backs McDonald Mohr Lees

Centreline McGough Nicholson McNamara

Half forwards Bate Dunn J Wall

Forwards Nicholls Fevola Gawn

Followers Campbell Matthews Collins

Interchange (from) Bolton Davis Fitzpatrick Lawrence Lindsay* McShane Newton Panozza Petropoulos

Lets hope the interchange is: Davis Fitzpatrick Lawrence Panozza.

Surely Panozza wouldnt get overlooked after his good game last week? I feel Juice has played his last game for Casey as an

MFC rookie given the amount of talls already in our forward line. The side does lack balance without a small forward of note,

Nicholls merely a resting onballer, so youd think Lawrence would be tailor made for that spot.

Robbie Campbells return is warmly welcomed he was missed last week.

Seriously, how is Jetta not named?

If he's not injured, I just don't get it...

Will Campbell get up?

I'd really rather see Gawn & Fitzy both play, for their development, even though I know that might not be best for Casey's chances.

Come on Guys what is the margin tomorrow.

Casey by 11 points is my tip.

At TEAC Oval there's an entertaining reserves game nearing its end with Port Melbourne leading Box Hill by a point and a Hawk player has just marked ...

...and goaled.

It's over and they're a happy team at Box Hill.

Meanwhile, Brendan Fevola prepares for the game with earphones listening to his favourite music and he's also barefooted.

Juice Newton misses out today. He's here in the crowd talking with Jake Spencer and former teammates Paul Johnson and Kyle Cheney.

Apparently, Kelvin Lawrence is also out of the squad named on Thursday night which leaves Casey with just 11 AFL listed players.

Jordie McKenzie, Jack Grimes and Sam Blease have arrived at the ground.

Sam is eligible to play but he's been crook all week so was forced to miss. Nev Jetta went in for a shoulder operation this week so his season is over. I believe it's also over for Addam Maric.

And ... no ... Tom Scully hasn't been sighted so there's no reason to merge this thread

The final team:

CASEY SCORPIONS

Backs McDonald Warnock Stockdale

Half backs Panozza Mohr Lees

Centreline Bail Bate J Wall

Half forwards Petropoulos Dunn McGough

Forwards Fitzpatrick Fevola Matthews

Followers Gawn McNamara Nicholson

Interchange Campbell Collins Davis Lindsay* Nicholls

* 23rd player

After a scrappy start to the game, the Tigers take their opportunities and kick the first three goals of the game. Even at this early stage they look more switched on than the Scorpions who are fumbling the ball and turning it over with regularity.

Tom McNamara marks a long Bate pass for Casey's first goal - the Scorps trail 1.1.7 to 3.0.18.

Late in the quarter and Werribee have added two more goals and lead by 24 points. Casey's poor disposal and inefficiency going into attack is hurting while the Tigers are playing with more purpose and intensity. The Casey forwards are being well held and are struggling to get any touches.

Quarter Time:

Casey Scorpions 1.2.8

Werribee Tigers 5.3.33

Goal to Tom McNamara who seems to be stuggling with an injury. He was limping on the boundary and has had attention to what could be an ankle or a calf?

A courageous skipper's goal from Kyle Matthews gets them going early in the quarter after some missed shots.

Radio stream:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=15921136&sectionID=60264

Werribee making the most of their opportunities. Kick two quick goals and the lead is 31 points.

Shades of last week.

Sounds ugly now.

The Casey players simply can't overcome their fit of fumbles. They are playing hesitant, indirect football and the turnovers continue. To make matters worse, the umpire pays an incredible 50 metre penalty to give Werribee a lead of 6 goals.

Looks like Casey have left their worst till last.

Half time:

Casey Scorpions 2.8.20

Werribee Tigers 9.8.62

Goals McNamara Matthews

Tom McNamara looks done for the day.