Melbourne fans upset about the events of the opening rounds of the AFL season have something to be optimistic about in the form of youngster Jesse Hogan who the club picked up in last year's GWS mini-draft.

Hogan, who is ineligible to play for the Demons under the AFL draft rules booted four goals and took 13 marks in a best on ground performance for the Casey Scorpions who dominated the first three quarters of their game against North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium. It looks like the club has certainly struck gold with the strongly built youngster.

The Scorpions, who lost Tom Couch, Jack Fitzpatrick and Will Petropoulos before the game and were unable to use any of the three Melbourne emergencies for the AFL game, wilted in the end against the fast finishing Roosters but held on to retain their unbeaten record for the season.

Demon fans will also be heartened by the performance of Max Gawn who is on the comeback trail after his second knee reconstruction. Gawn, whose preseason was also affected by hamstring problems has had to shoulder most of the ruck responsibilities in the absence of Fitzpatrick and Jake Spencer who has twice been the emergency for the AFL game and has dominated with his ruckwork and sound play around the ground.

James Strauss, with his run out of defence and accurate passing also impressed along with WA youngster Dean Kent while James Magner again put in a solid performance in the midfield.

Best of the Scorpoon listed players was the much improved Mitch Gent and tough small man Danny Nicholls.

Casey has a tough game coming up next Saturday at Winfy Hill against the stand alone Bombers who split with Bendigo Gold at the end of last year.

Casey Scorpions 2.7.19 10.11.71 13.12.90 13.17.95

North Ballarat 2.5.17 4.7.31 7.11.53 12.14.86

Goals

Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Smith 2 Barry Best Blease Page Pollard Strauss Taggert

North Ballarat Clifton 3 George 2 Black Darmody Driscoll Jacobs Rippon Schache Searl

Best

Casey Scorpions Hogan Gawn Nicholls Strauss Panozza Kent

North Ballarat Clifton George Sewell Keeble Driscoll Jacobs

The Casey Development League team celebrated their first win for the season in the curtain raiser.

Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 5.7.37 9.9.63 11.10.76

North Ballarat 1.0.6 2.3.15 5.5.35 6.9.45

Goals

Casey Scorpions Long Meadows 3 Drew Fowler McFarlane Matthews Troutman

North Ballarat Baird Carey Graham Murphy Semens Youl

Best

Casey Scorpions Lindsay Hill Corry Rosier Rutherford Drew

North Ballarat Horbury Currie Graham Carey Scott Youl

All welcome to pick holes in the positional line up this 2014 team but you I dont think you can deny they all have talent.

Jetta. Mc Donald. Frawley

Strauss. Clark. Trengrove

Toumpass. Viney. Howe

Watts. Hogan. Tapscott

Silvia. Dawes. Blease

Gawn Grimes Evans

Anyone know how Taggert played - You usually can't take to much from the MFC Casey reviews (because every player plays very well)

All welcome to pick holes in the positional line up this 2014 team but you I dont think you can deny they all have talent.

Jetta. Mc Donald. Frawley

Strauss. Clark. Trengrove

Toumpass. Viney. Howe

Watts. Hogan. Tapscott

Silvia. Dawes. Blease

Gawn Grimes Evans

Clark CHB?

narrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Also don't you rate a guy called Nathan Jones? Arguably our best player.

We nay also have 2 (priority pending) high draft picks.

But i'll play along, that squad does look nice.

All welcome to pick holes in the positional line up this 2014 team but you I dont think you can deny they all have talent.

Jetta. Mc Donald. Frawley

Strauss. Clark. Trengrove

Toumpass. Viney. Howe

Watts. Hogan. Tapscott

Silvia. Dawes. Blease

Gawn Grimes Evans

Nathan Jones?

'Toumpas' - probably won't be starting 22 next year (I think he will take a couple years to find his place - hope not though)

Not sure about Evans he will need to show a bit - I would put Kent ahead of him (based on talent/potential) and Matt Jones

Clark in the backline - NO

'Trengove' - we don't have a Trengrove

Don't have a Silvia either

There is something to think about

Edited April 14, 201312 yr by Young Dee

Yeah forgot Jonesy, who I agree is our best and most committed player.

Clark CHB. Working on the Sheedy style of coaching. Hes a class act and would be a star back there. Im really basing it on the hope that Hogan is everything we hope, Watts rises to the occasion and Dawes does his hard working thing.

Yeah forgot Jonesy, who I agree is our best and most committed player.

Clark CHB. Working on the Sheedy style of coaching. Hes a class act and would be a star back there. Im really basing it on the hope that Hogan is everything we hope, Watts rises to the occasion and Dawes does his hard working thing.

I think I would switch Watts and Clark. Clarks best position is probably FF or CHF but Hogan and Dawes seem to have taken those spots. Might have to play him as a forward flank that can drift into the wing and take some pack marks.

But otherwise a team that looks really good on paper

Edited April 14, 201312 yr by Young Dee

I'm just wondering how we can stuff Hulk Hogan up? Any ideas.

Jetta. McDonald. Frawley
Strauss. Clark. Trengrove
Toumpass. Viney. Howe
Watts. Hogan. Tapscott
Silvia. Dawes. Blease

Gawn Grimes Evans

NO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jetta Frawley McDonald
Strauss. Watts. Trengove
Toumpas. Viney. Howe
Magner. Hogan. Tapscott

Sylvia. Clark. Northern Territory Recruit

Gawn, Grimes, Jones.

int: Garland, Evans etc.

Coach: Denis Pagan

YES

Edited April 15, 201312 yr by jordie

Interesting story in the Casey Weekly - Casey's young gun puts on master class

I'm just wondering how we can stuff Hulk Hogan up? Any ideas.

Is he old enough to grow a beard yet?

I,m surprised Pagan's name hasn't been brought up much, he wouldn't be too expensive I would have thought, certainly worth chatting to.

I,m surprised Pagan's name hasn't been brought up much, he wouldn't be too expensive I would have thought, certainly worth chatting to.

As I said in the other thread. All the players at carlton hated Pagan so much just ask Kouta and Fev. And it showed when he coached them. Stay right away from him.

Jetta. McDonald. Frawley

Strauss. Clark. Trengrove

Toumpass. Viney. Howe

Watts. Hogan. Tapscott

Silvia. Dawes. Blease

Gawn Grimes Evans

NO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jetta Frawley, Boyd

Strauss. McDonald. Trengove

Toumpas. Viney. Howe

Dawes. Hogan. Tapscott

Sylvia. Clark. Northern Territory Recruit/WA recruit

Gawn, Grimes, Jones.

int: Garland, Evans, Aish. Sub: Watts

Coach: Denis Pagan

YES

Amended.