Axis - in 14 days the Olympics will start. Add about 7 days for the athletics, and you will see a track full of hard runners - that doesn't mean they'd be any good at AFL. For me, Pickles hasn't shown a huge amount to warrant an upgrade to our primary list at the end of this season. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's make or break for him as a rookie his year isn't it?

I have no idea of the relevance of the upcoming Olympics, or any past Olympics, Tour de Steroids France or Soccer World Corruption Cup, Wimbledon etc for that matter, to any AFL players. It sounds as if you are suggesting that say Judd or Pendelbery are duds because they don't run as fast as the last qualifier for the Olympics!

Pickles has shown a lot of pace and dash, by AFL yardsticks, in his limited appearances.

Gees reminds me of junior school house footy

Blue Vs Red

Green Vs Gold

Next week ...ah I think you get the picture...

Bendigo Gold... Absurd!

It's a nice beer apparently

How is Tynan going? I loved his intensity at the start of the year, but can rarely get down to Casey games

Had a few injuries (ankle, concussion), but his brother seems to be flying. Won the Casey reserves B&F last year, and has been in the bests many times this year. Wonder if he'll be a rookie prospect this year.

Hoping for a good showing from Cook tomorrow.

C'mon now Dr, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. Yes, he played very well at Casey - regularly in their best, and deserved his call up. His first AFL game he was great - 27 possessions. He played 3 more after that, with 12, 15 and 5 posessions respectively.

We have a lot of luck with our rookie-listed players, probably more so than most Clubs I'd imagine (without knowing for fact). I just don't get too worked up over rookies when I am looking at my best 22 for future years. If someone pops up out of the blue, just like Junior, Jordie, LJ, etc, then fantastic.

Evans showed us that he is quick and can get the ball, both very useful tricks at as a footballer. Whether he makes it or not is anyone's guess and of course he may not, but I don't think anyone's really getting "worked up"; we (or at least, I) am pleased to see him back because we're a lot more likely to find out if he's got anything to give if he actually gets a few games under his belt.

Scorpions Development team lose a close one to the Northern Blues at Preston. The Blues' senior side had a bye and they were able to get 6 Carlton listed players into their team.

Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 8.5.53 9.6.60 13.10.88

Northern Blues 5.2.32 6.3.39 12.6.78 14.6.90

Goals 

Casey Scorpions Lindsay 3 McFarlane 2 Allen Chin  Collins Gent Johnston  Petropoulos Rosier Weekes

Northern Blues Bell 3 Casboult Lambert 2 White  Visser  Toman  Lincoln  Dorman  Soncin  Petroro 

Best 

Casey Scorpions Collins Allen Lindsay Petropoulos McFarlane Cleven

Northern Blues Lambert White Heyne Lincoln Bell Wilson

The team lined up without James Strauss who has replaced Luke Tapscott at Melbourne. Josh Tynan is also out of the selected side.

Casey opened brightly with the first goal of the game and appear to be kicking against the breeze. It's about 12 or 13 minutes in and they lead 2.2.14 to Bendigo 1.0.6 with goals to Fitzpatrick and Page.

Bendigo dominated the last half of the opening quarter in windy conditions but only hold a 6 point lead with the weather threatening.

Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 Bendigo 3.2.20.

Best of the Scorps in the opening quarter were Gysberts, Page and Fitzpatrick.

Gysberts a good first quarter.

Very interesting game today. Great to see it on the TV.

Fitzpatrick goal was awesome. Jetta started well but faded out later in the quarter. Gys in everything and leading our disposal count. Moloney hasn't done all that much. Morton is involved but not getting enough ball and it's great to see Evans on the field again.

As KC says, Bendigo really took control in the second half of the quarter. Winderlich made a real difference for them. Casey also made some silly kicking errors to give them free counterattacks.

Bendigo lead by 11 points in the mid stages of the second term and are well on top.

Bendigo lead by 3 goals after Evans goals.

It's a bit of a repeat of their earlier game with the Scorps getting beaten everywhere except in the ruck but Bendigo sharking a lot of the hit outs.

Morton goals and it's 12 points the difference.

Williams marks and goals and it's only 6 points the difference at 26 minutes in.

Lucas Cook marks just on the siren and doesn't even score. Casey trail 5.5.35 to 6.5.41 at the main break.

Shocking attempt by Cook after the siren. Could have been level at half time. Casey have no right to be this close, but it gives them a chance going into the second half.

Morton starting to influence the game. Had a big hand in the comeback.

Evans is getting a bit of the ball.

Moloney finding a bit of it as well and is hard in traffic. Williams had an influence in the forward line. Forgot to mention his tap on for a goal in the first. Very nice awareness.

Bendigo back on top with the first two goals of the second half.

Second goal to Jack Fitzpatrick. Casey down by 2 goals.

Fitzpatrick marks, plays on and it's a point. Bendigo goes coast to coast and goals. Possibly a defining point in the game as its Bendigo by 22.

Casey butchering the football and making it easier for Bendigo to clear.

A Bendigo push in the back goes unnoticed and the mark is paid. Goal and it's 28 points the difference with Bendigo dominating late in the term.

Three Quarter Time: Bendigo Gold 11.7.79 to Casey Scorpions 6.8.44.

It's a tough ask for the Scorpions but the wind has picked up so they have the advantage in the final term.

Evans gets his second but it's tough going. Scorps trail by 22 points.

Now the umpire pays a mark to Bendigo that was touched but they fail to score. Bendigo dominating possession but Casey's defence is holding.

Mitch Gent goals and the game is still alive. Bendigo by 17 points at 17 minutes.

Williams goals after a good passage of play and it's now 11 points. Casey now has a sniff as Bendigo appears to be tiring. They're not running anywhere near as hard as in the first three quarters.