SCORPS BOMB OUT

[Demonland 64,414]

The Casey Scorpions' 2015 season came to an abrupt end today with a 21 point first elimination final loss against Essendon VFL at North Port Oval after a poor start kicking against the wind in the first term.

The first five minutes of the game produced some scrambly football that resulted in a single point for each team. Casey had its opportunities early but gave away the ascendency with two goals that were directly as a result of turnovers which lifted the confidence of their opponents and quickly allowed four more to give them a 37 point break before a fantastic kick for goal from James Munro, his first for the season, gave the Scorpions some hope.

When Casey's turn came with the wind, their fortunes turned quickly with Jayden Hunt playing on after a mark and when Jack Fitzpatrick, who was moved from defence, gathered and kicked Casey's third in a row, they were back in the game. The Scorps were applying great pressure and winning at the stoppages thanks to Mark Jamar's strong work in the ruck and big Max King was marking everything but they struggled to take advantage of the quarter's early momentum until they drew to within two goals in the shadows of half time thanks to a bouncing goal from Shannon Byrnes.

The third quarter saw the wind blowing more across the ground in favour of the Bombers but the Scorpions were not to be denied. Unfortunately, they failed to capitalise on some early opportunities missing two early shots. Casey tried hard to gain the initiative as they game opened up and went goal for goal with goals from Essendon answered successively by Fitzpatrick, King and Tim Smith who was at last proving a focal point up forward. However, a late goal gave the Bombers a 15 point lead at the final break.

The swirling wind now made things difficult for scoring at either end and the Bombers closed the game down. Try as they might, the Scorpions simply could not break through for a goal to bring them within distance and late in the term, it was the Bombers who scored the telling goal and the only one for the quarter to run out 21 point winners and advance to the semi finals.

Midfielders Aidan Riley (30 touches) and Rohan Bail (26) were Casey's best but an honourable mention must go to speedster Dean Kent (22 disposals) who has only recently come back from a serious hamstring injury which kept him out for most of the season. Jordie McKenzie was tireless and Dean Terlich was steady and dogged while Jamar won the ruck duels clearly with a mammoth 64 hit outs but in the end it did not help the cause to have only 9 AFL senior listed players available for such a vital game.

Mark Hutchins and Tim Smith were the best of the VFL listed players but again the Scorpions badly missed injured skipper Evan Panozza.

Despite the disappointment of yet another finals exit without victory, Justin Plapp's debut season as coach was a marked improvement on last year and the club unearthed more talent which should hold it in good stead in the future.

2015 Peter Jackson VFL

Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 4.3.27 7.6.48 7.8.50

Essendon VFL 6.2.38 6.4.40 9.9.63 10.11.71

Goals

Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 2 Byrnes Hunt King Munro Smith

Essendon VFL Hardingham 3 Thompson Willis 2 Ashby Coghlan Polkinghorne

Best

Casey Scorpions Bail Jamar Hutchins Riley Byrnes Kent

Essendon VFL Coghlan Polkinghorne Tagliabue Hardingham Marigliani Ashby

Statistics

Rohan Bail 26 disposals 10 kicks 16 handballs 3 marks 4 tackles 88 dream team points

Jack Fitzpatrick 2 goals 11 disposals 5 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 4 hit outs 71 dream team points

Jayden Hunt 1 goal 7 disposals 4 kicks 3 handballs 1 mark 3 tackles 40 dream team points

Mark Jamar 9 disposals 7 kicks 2 handballs 3 marks 3 tackles 64 hit outs 105 dream team points

Matt Jones 27 disposals 10 kicks 17 handballs 5 tackles 78 dream team points

Dean Kent 1 behind 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 99 dream team points

Max King 1 goal 15 disposals 7 kicks 8 handballs 9 marks 2 tackles 7 hit outs 85 dream team points

Jordie McKenzie 32 disposals 9 kicks 23 handballs 2 marks 5 tackles 90 dream team points

Aidan Riley 2 behinds 30 disposals 11 kicks 19 handballs 1 mark 12 tackles 1 hit out 121 dream team points

Dean Terlich 19 disposals 11 kicks 8 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 1 hit out 73 dream team points

The Development League team struggled throughout the year when it met Coburg Lions and today was no different with the team going down by 43 points in their elimination final.

2015 AFL Development League

Casey Scorpions 3.0.18 4.5.29 8.7.55 10.8.68

Coburg Lions 3.1.19 9.5.59 11.7.73 17.9.111

Goals

Casey Scorpions Fisscher Moncrieff 2 Hannon Lang Rennie Welsh K Wilson Wyatt

Coburg Lions Cooper 4 Hemala Miles 2 Clarke Hunt Johns Kalanj Posar Robinson Sturgess Symes Totino

Best

Casey Scorpions Johnson Waters Keilty Godfrey Rosier Lang

Coburg Lions Robinson Johns Symes Cooper Posar Sturgess