PEAR SHAPED

[Demonland 73,140]

PEAR SHAPED by KC from Casey

So yet again a season that promised so much for the Casey Scorpions ends pear shaped after a disappointing finals series with the senior team making a straight sets exit on Saturday, beaten this time by 62 points by the Werribee Tigers.

The centre was muddy and it was windy again at TEAC Oval but the conditions could hardly be said to suit either team and yet Casey struggled all day with the ground where they have so often in recent years faced their downfall.

The inclusion of some well performed players from Melbourne proved of little assistance to the Scorpions who started tentatively and were never allowed to get their game going.

After conceding the first three goals of the game to a keener, sharper and more enthusiastic Tiger combination, Casey struggled throughout and its key players were kept in check for most of the day.

Even in the early stages the Tigers looked switched on while the Scorpions played indirect football. Their hesitancy led to inefficient movement of the football, fumbling and turnovers despite them having plenty of use of the football.

It took much of the first quarter for Casey to threaten as it did when Tom McNamara finally marked from a Matthew Bate pass for the first goal but that was the only joy for the term and McNamara, who had been playing well in the midfield, was soon limping off for treatment to what appeared to be a foot injury. At quarter time, the Scorpions trailed by 25 points.

A courageous skipper's goal from Kyle Matthews got things going early in the second quarter after some early shots at goal were missed but it was the Tigers who were making every post a winner. Two quick goals seemed to knock the resistance out of the Scorpions who simply couldn't match Werribee's run out of the middle. The uncertainty continued and by the main break a despondent Casey trudged into the rooms seven goals down and looking beaten.

A Brad Gotch rev up at half time saw the team run out with more purpose but even an early goal to Lynden Dunn failed to bring about a turnaround in the team's fortunes. Werribee responded with a snapped goal and thereafter the Tigers closed the game down with Casey struggling to score and failing to make any leeway.

The final quarter saw things open and the Scorpions managed a few more goals but the life had been strangled out of them; the final result representing a 106 point turnaround from the last meeting between the teams less than a month ago at Casey Fields.

On that occasion, Brendan Fevola booted six goals and received great service from the team’s midfield. However, this time the movement and delivery forward was poor, Werribee dropped two or three players back to assist their full back and a frustrated Fevola was kept goalless. He ended up on report, a bad ending for the player who had hardly put a foot out of place in his attempt to rejuvenate his career and one can only wish him well in his battle to regain a place on an AFL list.

A measure of the disappointment of the way the season ended was the fact that all of Casey’s better players on the day were in the defence. Michael Stockdale worked hard and gave good run coming off the backline and Matty Warnock and Tim Mohr did their prospects for the future no harm with solid games.

A disappointed Brad Gotch found it hard to say what went wrong and was quoted in the Melbourne Age as follows:

''You've got to look at your leadership, just the individual players that you've got, do we have the right mix of talent? Maybe we've got a lot of similar type players and are they good enough to take it to that next step in September?''

The end of the season has come quickly and next September is far away. The Casey Scorpions have plenty of time to regroup and plan for next year with the memory of past seasons’ disappointments spurring them on to better things in the future.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

This is probably the toughest one of the year. The team played poorly and the Melbourne contingent with one or two exceptions really struggled to have an impact. Eleven MFC listed players took the field while Kelvin Lawrence and Michael Newton were selected in the squad but did not play. A few medium sized players like Sam Blease, Neville Jetta and Addam Maric who all qualified under the eligibility rules for the finals would have been handy but they were injured.

Rohan Bail - showed good pace at times but his disposal let him down.

Matthew Bate - tried hard, marked strongly and kicked a nice goal but was always working against the odds.

Robert Campbell - a disappointing game but his finals campaign was disrupted by injury which kept him out last week. If he can stay healthy over the summer, he could be a surprise packet next year.

Troy Davis - a reasonable game in a defence that was under pressure all day. Promises a fair bit for the future.

Lynden Dunn - uncharacteristically off target on the day with one goal three behinds. It just wasn't his day.

Jack Fitzpatrick - struggled early in conditions that did not suit. Pushed forward for a goal in the last quarter but otherwise had a quiet day.

Max Gawn - a strong performance in the ruck underlining his potential to be a leading exponent of ruckwork at the highest level when he matures in body and in mind.

Tom McDonald - had a bit of a shocker with his disposal early and was responsible for a couple of bad turnovers but fought back well.

Tom McNamara - was an important player for the Scorpions in the opening stanza and kicked their only goal during this period. After injuring his calf, he received treatment but was unable to return and the team missed his drive in the

midfield.

Daniel Nicholson - started in defence but was required in the midfield where he worked hard in difficult circumstances.

Matthew Warnock - as usual played a strong game in defence despite the enormous pressure of playing with a losing midfield.

Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 2.8.20 3.12.30 6.15.51

Werribee Tigers 5.3.33 9.8.62 11.12.78 16.17.113

Goals

Casey Scorpions Bate Dunn Fitzpatrick McNamara Matthews Nicholson

Werribee Tigers Ross 4 McKinley Tighe Warren 2 Castello Gleeson Harding Sharp Sullivan Tuck

Best

Casey Scorpions Stockdale Lees Warnock Panozza Mohr Nicholson

Werribee Tigers Mangan Ross Harding Sharp Martiniello McKinley

[drdrake 3,187]

Why wasn't this game played at Casey? The VFL should be like the AFL and reward the team that finished higher with the home final. Port Melbourne is passed its used by date, VFL/AFL players should have to play finals at a ground that still has cricket pitches, it was a disgrace that you have to move the centre to the wing out of the mud.

On Casey, to me it looked like a lot of players couldn't wait for the season to be over. It high lighted the lack of depth for both Casey and Melbourne in the midfield.

[KC from Casey 7,117]

Shane Valenti became the third player in VFL history to claim consecutive Liston Medals, winning the League's best and fairest award by 10 votes last night.

Valenti was previously a rookie with Melbourne and also played for Sandringham and the Casey Scorpions respectively during the time he was a Demon and those clubs were alignment partners. Valenti won the count with 25 votes, with Melbourne's Matthew Bate coming in second.

Valenti is considered a chance to join Tom whatsizname on the Giants list next year.

Carlton's Brock McLean who was favourite, failed to reach double figures in the vote count.

Casey's Tim Mohr (back pocket) and James Wall (interchange) made the VFL Team of the Year.

Congratulations to Casey's long serving president, John Sharkie, who has been awarded life membership of the VFL.

[H_T 3,049]

I thought that Ben Ross played very well. Opportunist who took his chances in front of goal with some great snaps.

North Melbourne listed.

[DemonDave 1,089]

I thought that Ben Ross played very well. Opportunist who took his chances in front of goal with some great snaps.

North Melbourne listed.

He was actually delisted earlier that week! A good response from him nonetheless.

Terribly disappointing way to finish the season, but all of your reports through the year are greatly appreciated KC!

[Whispering_Jack 30,640]

VFL: Casey Scorpions out in straight sets

[H_T 3,049]

He was actually delisted earlier that week! A good response from him nonetheless.

Wow. That was a good response then. He looks a darn sight better kick at goal than Lindsay Thomas.

[KC from Casey 7,117]

Melbourne academy coach Kelly O'Donnell runs through the Demons who played for the Scorpions in  the ill-fated First Semi Final -

Semi-final Casey player review

[KC from Casey 7,117]

Brad Gotch has been great in his two years as coach of the Scorpions but, as the MFC's coaching set up for next year is being unveiled, he waits for word on his future.

Nervous wait for Casey Scorpions coach Brad Gotch

I think he's done a fantastic job along with reserves coach Steve O'Brien and I hope the association continues.

The last thing we want to see is a situation such as the one that occurred between St. Kilda and Sandringham where the VFL alignment partner was poorly treated under Ross Lyon.