OUT OF THE BOX by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions will go into next week's break in top position on the ladder with the best percentage and a game clear of the rest of the pack after a strongly fought 7 point win over the highly fancied Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields. 

Saturday's home game was the third night match of the season for the Casey Scorpions and with conditions perfect for football, the teams produced a cracking match for the ages with the lead changing often during the evening making excitement the order of the evening. 

High flying forward Tim Smith celebrated his selection in the VFL representative team to play the SANFL at Adelaide Oval next week with the opening goal of the match. The Scorps maintained the early ascendancy when Chris Dawes goaled at the 10 minute mark. However, from there it was all the Hawks who held a lead of 16 points in the shadows of quarter time until Dawes added another to his tally just before the siren sounded.

After the first break, a Box Hill goal restored that 16 point margin in their favour but, as it had done a week ago against Sandringham, Casey then grabbed the momentum and kicked six of the next seven goals to head into the rooms at half time with a 16 point lead of their own. 

Conditions were perfect on the night and the Scorpions were winning in the ruck through Jake Spencer who was giving the likes of Jack Grimes, Jack Trengove and Christian Salem an armchair ride. The ascendency continued into the third term when Smith's third goal gave the home team a 24 point lead but the momentum turned again for the last 20 minutes of the quarter and Box Hill booted the next four goals to momentarily draw level. 

In a nerve wracking final quarter, the teams traded goals but the Scorpions were able to shut down the Hawks' dangerous forwards and were able to withstand the onslaught with Dawes' third goal in an impressive 22 disposal performance. Grimes had a tremendous game with his 35 touches as did his former co-captain Trengove. Defender Mitch White continued to impress with his strong play. Aside from Tim Smith, Angus Scott was the best of the Casey players wth 27 disposals. James Munro and Paul Pattison also made valuable contributions.

Both teams are to be complemented for the high standard of the game. Most judges agreed at the end that it was one out of the box.

The Scorpions are well placed for the remainder of the season and will relish the week's rest before fronting up to Port Melbourne in a fortnight's time.

Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 9.4.58 10.9.69 12.11.83

Box Hill Hawks 4.5.29 6.6.42 10.8.68 11.10.76

Goals

Casey Scorpions Dawes T Smith 3 Glen Hulett Max King Scott Spencer Terlich

Box Hill Hawks Miles 4 Summers 2 Lawlor O'Rourke Schoenmakers Whitecross Willsmore  

Best

Casey Scorpions Grimes Dawes T Smith White Scott Trengove

Box Hill Hawks Miles Litherland O'Rourke Mirra Spangher Whitecross

The Development League team conceded a start in the early game and in the end gave the Hawks a fright before a couple of late goals saw them lose what was a close game in the end.

Casey Scorpions 2.0.12 5.0.30 7.4.46 10.5.65

Box Hill Hawks 5.1.31 7.3.45 9.7.61 11.11.77

Goals

Casey Scorpions Baker Ferrera Wilson 2 Cox Damien Johnston Machaya Vander Haar

Box Hill Hawks Hehir 4 Dimasi Surman 2 Smith Tobin Traynor

Best

Casey Scorpions McInerney Vander Haar Wyatt Daniel Johnston Gains Moncrieff 

Box Hill Hawks Switkowski Firns Dimasi Walker Kidd Hehir