SO CLOSE by KC from Casey

[Demonland 66,180]

The Casey Scorpions have finished the 2013 VFL home and away season in fourth spot after losing out by two points in a nail biting thriller to Box Hill at City Oval. Victory in the match would have clinched second spot on the ladder and a home qualifying final but instead, the loss means the Scorpions will meet runaway ladder leaders Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Friday night under lights.

The Scorpions suffered a major blow when their AFL affiliate Melbourne lost four players from last week's team through injury to add to the loss of leading goalkicker Jesse Hogan (knee) and key defender Joel Macdonald (retirement) leaving them with their lowest number of AFL listed players for the season. Despite that, Casey's effort in taking the game to the wire and going down by less than a kick after some near misses in front of goal late in the match was outstanding.

Casey opened the game full of confidence and made the early running but were pegged back by the Hawks who grabbed the lead late in the opening term. The Scorpions were then dominated for a quarter and a half to face a 26-point deficit at one stage in the third term. Led from the front by inspirational skipper Evan Panozza, the Scorpions rallied and cut the deficit to seven points at three quarter time and momentarily took the lead soon after.

Box Hill's two goals in response ultimately proved too much for the visitors who peppered the goals for most of the remainder of the game for only one major from Tom Gillies. With less than two minutes to go Dom Barry had the chance for glory but his shot on an angle from ten metres out missed. The Scorps continued to threaten but were thwarted by a desperate defence and the siren ended their home final aspirations.

Max Gawn was solid in the ruck after an early injury scare and Neville Jetta was again among the team's best players. James Magner was held to 23 touches while Will Petropoulos and Jake Best persisted all day and nearly got their side over the line.

Simonds Stadium should hold no fears for Casey as they won there earlier in the year but on that occasion Hogan and Jack Fitzpatrick each booted five goals. Against Box Hill yesterday, they simply lacked that firepower. They also had Tom Couch and David Rodan racking up possessions in the middle and neither is likely to be available next week. Panozza will sweat out the next few days after being reported on a rough conduct charge. Still, the Scorpions are known for their great fighting spirit when they have their backs to the wall and a finals win is surely not far away.

HOW THE DEMONS FARED

Dominic Barry 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 3 tackles 1 behind

Troy Davis 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks

Max Gawn 7 kicks 12 handballs 19 disposals 10 marks 2 tackles 29 hitouts

Tom Gillies 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 3 goals 1 behind

Mark Jamar 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 25 hitouts 1 goal 2 behinds

Neville Jetta 14 kicks 7 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles

James Magner 10 kicks 13 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 1 goal 1 behind

James Sellar 14 kicks 6 handballs 20 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 1 hitout

Rory Taggert 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 1 behind

Josh Tynan 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles

Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 4.4.28 7.9.51 9.16.70

Box Hill Hawks 3.5.23 5.7.37 8.11.59 10.12.72

Goals

Casey Scorpions Gillies 3 Page 2 Best Jamar Magner Nicholls

Box Hill Hawks Retzlaff 4 Grimley Spangher 2 Lowden O'Donnell

Best

Casey Scorpions Gawn Jetta Sellar Petropoulos Gillies Best

Box Hill Hawks Spangher Simpkin, Ellis Cheney Retzlaff Kelly

Stats: Magner Plummer 23 Panozza 22 Jetta 21 disposals

The Development League team steamrolled Box Hill after leading at every break. Ben Hughes with 6 goals staked a claim for a senior finals berth next week. Patrick Rosier was also impressive with 5 goals.

Casey Scorpions 5.2.32 12.4.76 17.6.108 22.8.140

Box Hill Hawks 0.1.1 2.2.14 6.5.41 8.7.55

Goals

Casey Scorpions Hughes 6 Rosier 5 Lang 3 Anderson 2 Boland Corry Clay Meadows Neville Pollard

Box Hill Hawks Miles 2 Crocker Eade Frank Goodwin Stewart Wilsen

Best

Casey Scorpions P Rosier Troutman Hill Roberts Hughes Drew

Box Hill Hawks Cunningham Miles Thompson Collins Goodwin Weekes