SHARP TEETH by KC from Casey

The Casey Scorpions ventured into the northern suburbs and picked up an easy four premiership points over lowly Coburg at Piranha Park. Despite their early inaccuracy when they kicked 2.9 to a single goal in the first quarter, the Scorps were as ferocious as the fish that their hosts' stadium was named after, ripping into them with sharp teeth and powerful jaws and forcing them into submission well before half time.
 
The result was of course, a foregone conclusion from almost the very start. The Lions are a stand-alone club with very few stars and sitting in the bottom quarter of the VFL ladder while the Scorpions had 16 AFL listed players on the park. They were strong enough to have the luxury of a couple of Demons running around with the development league team in the curtain raiser along with some very solid VFL types such as Jimmy Munro. Kicking with the wind, they were wasteful in the opening despite dominating at the stoppages but it was their second quarter that destroyed the home side.
 
Through the good play of Dean Terlich and emerging young forward Sam Weideman, the Scorpions dominated the second quarter against the wind and then sealed the matter with eight goals to one in the third term. With the field at the top of the competition bunched together tightly, the team's percentage-boosting 11th win for the season was as welcome as it was vital.
 
The team had it all for this level of VFL competition starting with the experienced cool heads of Lynden Dunn, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes, Dean Terlich and Cam Pedersen and the strength of Jake Spencer in the ruck. The onballers were led by Ben Kennedy and Ben Newton who were in everything but there were plenty of others in a most dominant midfield which at various times included Grimes, Christian Salem, Clayton Oliver, Jack Trengove and Viv Michie. 
 
It was little wonder that the home side was overwhelmed. Melbourne has some interesting prospects for the future with Weideman shining in a key forward role with strong marking, good kicking and unselfish play and rookie Joel Smith who played his best game to date. 
 
Casey is also blooding its own youngsters. Red headed Declan Keilty was good down back and justified his selection to the State Combine screening in October (along with Development League ruckman Oscar McInerney) and Ed Morris and Angus Scott were lively.
 
Football fans always like looking forward to the emergence of young key forwards. After a few weeks below par, Sam Weideman showed why the Demons pressed so hard to draft him last year. The other piece of good news is the development of young Clayton Oliver who continues to rack up big numbers and if I'm not mistaken, might have grown a little since he was picked up early in the same draft.
 
The Scorpions play host to Essendon in another night match on Saturday in what promises to be a match of significance for the club.
 
Casey Scorpions 2.9.21 6.12.48 14.17.101 16.20.116
 
Coburg 1.0.6 3.0.18 4.0.24 6.2.38
 
Goals
 
Casey Scorpions Terlich Weideman 3 Michie Neal-Bullen 2 D Collis Kennedy Pedersen Scott J Smith Trengove
 
Coburg Saad 3 Hill Posar Ronke
 
Best
 
Casey Scorpions Newton Michie Neal-Bullen Weideman Terlich Keilty
 
Coburg Lehmann Fox Hunt Featherstone Kovacevic Gregory
 
Statistics 
 
Lynden Dunn 20 disposals 9 kicks 11 handballs 5 marks 2 tackles 74 dream team points
Colin Garland 17 disposals 11 kicks 6 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 78 dream team points
Jack Grimes 2 behinds 40 disposals 16 kicks 24 handballs 7 marks 4 tackles 135 dream team points
Liam Hulett 1 behind 10 disposals 5 kicks 5 handballs 3 marks 32 dream team points
Ben Kennedy 1 goal 2 behinds 40 disposals 15 kicks 25 handballs 1 marks 3 tackles 116 dream team points
Viv Michie 2 goals 31 disposals 23 kicks 8 handballs 9 marks 2 tackles 133 dream team points
Alex Neal-Bullen 2 goals 3 behinds 31 disposals 15 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 128 dream team points
Ben Newton 34 disposals 20 kicks 14 handballs 11 marks 5 tackles 135 dream team points
Clayton Oliver 37 disposals 11 kicks 26 handballs 5 marks 8 tackles 3 hit outs 135 dream team points
Cam Pedersen 1 goal 4 behinds 21 disposals 11 kicks 10 handballs 7 marks 13 tackles 16 hit outs 153 dream team points
Christian Salem 16 disposals 9 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 78 dream team points
Joel Smith 1 goal 1 behind 15 disposals 8 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 61 dream team points
Jake Spencer 11 disposals 2 kicks 9 handballs 3 tackles 28 hit outs 65 dream team points
Dean Terlich 3 goals 1 behind 24 disposals 16 kicks 8 handballs 9 marks 3 tackles 122 dream team points
Jack Trengove 1 goal 1 behind 29 disposals 9 kicks 20 handballs 3 marks 13 tackles 1 hit out 133 dream team points
Sam Weideman 3 goals 1 behind 14 disposals 10 kicks 4 handballs 9 marks 1 tackles 88 dream team points
 
The Casey Scorpions Development League team continued their improved form of the past month and now find themselves in strong contention for the finals.
 
Casey Scorpions 1.3.9 6.11.47 8.14.62 12.22.94
 
Coburg 2.4.16 2.4.16 5.9.39 6.9.45
 
Goals
 
Casey Scorpions Baker Di Pasquale 2 Ferreira Freeman Fritsch Hannon Daniel Johnston Kennedy-Harris McDonald Munro
 
Coburg Staples 3 Merlo Valeri Wunhym
 
Best
 
Casey Scorpions Munro Vander Haar Kennedy-Harris Wyatt Moncrieff Ferreira
 
Coburg Corigliano Staples Sutherland Free Stillman Tarczon