DOGS GET THE POINT by KC from Casey

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Football folklore abounds with stories of how, when there's a strong wind blowing at VU Whitten Oval, that this element alone can be the telling factor in deciding the outcome of a match of football. Of course, the better side will usually be the winner and the scoreboard indicates that Footscray scored more often against the Scorpions but the tale of the game was told when the Dogs kicked their first goal at 11 minutes into the game after trailing by 19 points and again with their second late in time on in the first quarter after trailing by 27 points.

They were the only two goals kicked against the wind all day and, although it was early when the breeze was not as later in the day, it was enough to swing the balance of the game in their favour.

Casey failed to make the most of the advantage at the opening and then failed to kick a goal in both quarters against the wind. The Scorpions had very few opportunities to do so but in the last, a missed shot from Paul Pattison from close range and a spilled mark (difficult in the trying conditions) by Colin Garland could have made the difference.

Naturally, the game ebbed and flowed according to who had the advantage and by and large, neither team could do so after quarter time. The Bulldogs led by 17 points at the main break but this was turned on its head by the Scorpions' eight goal third term. 

Notwithstanding, defending a 30 point lead with half an hour to go was always going to be a tough ask but Casey defended strongly until a few errors during a late surge saw a match-winning behind after a Scorpions kick went out on the full with less than a minute remaining.

Game, set and match.

Scorpions' midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen was fanatical with his great ball-winning efforts to finish with 37 disposals. Lynden Dunn was tireless throughout the game, as was fellow defender Colin Garland. Tom Bugg was solid and Jake Spencer indefatigable in the ruck. Tim Smith booted three goals, two of them late in the third term and Dylan Collis did well. 

The Scorpions were hit by some late "outs" after Josh Wagner was called up to replace Sam Frost at Melbourne and Chris Dawes withdrew. 

The team has been off the boil in recent weeks with little chance of gaining consistency due to the bye situation. Casey has dropped to third on the latter and could crash further unless it takes the points at home this week against the Zebras.

Casey Scorpions   5.3.33 5.4.34 13.4.82 13.5.83

Footscray 2.0.12 8.3.51 8.4.52 12.12.84

Goals
 
Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Newton 2 Bugg Michie Neal-Bullen Pattison Pedersen Spencer  Terlich Trengove

Footscray Dale 4 Minson Staley 2 Dalgleish Hamling Russell Tashevski-Beckwith

Best

Casey Scorpions Neal-Bullen Smith Dunn Bugg Collis Michie

Footscray Dale Russell Honeychurch Adcock Barry Minson

Statistics

Here are the match stats:-

Tomas Bugg 1 goals 15 disposals 3 kicks 12 handballs 11  tackles 77 dream team points

Lynden Dunn 26 disposals 17 kicks 9 handballs 5 marks 2 tackles 93 dream team points

Colin Garland 26 disposals 15 kicks 11 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 109 dream team points

Liam Hulett 11 disposals 10 kicks 1 handballs 3 marks 2 tackles 49 dream team points

Viv Michie 1 goal 23 disposals 13 kicks 10 handballs 3 marks 3 tackles 1 hit out 82 dream team points

Alex Neal-Bullen 1 goal 1 behind 37 disposals 19 kicks 18 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 124 dream team points

Ben Newton 2 goals 1 behind 20 disposals 10 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 7 tackles 103 dream team points

Clayton Oliver 24 disposals 12 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 2 hit outs 90 dream team points

Cam Pedersen 1 goal 12 disposals 6 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 5 tackles 17 hit outs 80 dream team points

Jake Spencer 1 goal 20 disposals 8 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 44 hit outs 139 dream team points

Dean Terlich 1 goal 5 disposals 4 kicks 1 handballs 1 marks 4 tackles 37 dream team points

Jack Trengove 1 goal 22 disposals 13 kicks 9 handballs 3 marks 8 tackles 2 hit outs 104 dream team points

Sam Weideman 12 disposals 5 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 50 dream team points

The Development League team won by 70 points after leading by as much as 94 during the final quarter and is now in with a chance of making the finals after a slow start to the season.

Casey Scorpions 5.4.34 8.9.57 12.10.82 16.14.110

Werribee 1.2.8 2.3.15 2.4.16 6.4.40

Goals

Casey Scorpions Baker Fritsch Hannon Wilson 2 D Collis Cotte Di Pasquale Freeman McDonald McInerney  Smith  Stockdale    

Werribee Corbett 3 Mahony 2 Barrack

Best

Casey Scorpions Ferreira Cox Wilson McInerney Wyatt

Werribee Corbett Meredith Williams Iles Barrack Daw