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Casey has kicked eight goals in an electrifying final term. Fitzpatrick kicks for goal - a point and they lead is 9 points as the siren sounds at 32 minutes. A famous victory for the Scorpions who join Port Melbourne on 10 wins. Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.5.29 10.8.68 18.10.118 Port Melbourne 6.1.37 10.3.63 12.6.78 17.7.109 Goals Casey Scorpions Green 6 Couch 4 Page Smith 2 Davey Fitzpatrick Jetta Williams Port Melbourne Galea 7 Burstin Dwyer Hinkley 2 Bonaddio Cain Pleming Valenti Best Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Green Couch Morton L Tynan Port Melbourne Galea Valenti Pleming Pinwill Baird Dillon Match Stats Tom Couch 25 possessions, 4 goals Jordan Gysberts 24 possessions Matt Fieldsend 23 possessions Aaron Davey 22 possessions, 5 tackles and 1 goal Brad Green 21 possessions, 9 marks and 6 goals Jack Fitzpatrick 16 possessions, 31 hitouts and 1 goal

I went to the game today and it was easily the highest standard VFL game I seen in a long while. Really good skills, both sides with some serious marking power, genuine pace all over the ground and some serious body contact. I love local footy and this was a gem. Port are serious big bodies and very strong over the ball but I was impressed with the coaching by Scorpions' line coaches and main coach Brett Lovett. Fitzpatrick. What a great game. His ruckwork was really good as was his run around the ground. Has serious pace and his skills looked sharper (at last). Green. Wow. Marking and kicking was highest class. The Casey boys' nickname for him is "fossil" that was pretty funny. Davey. Boy, did he show his class and pace at times. Not a 10/10 game but showed genuine courage on a few occasions. Morton. Did some good things but should not have been listed in the best. Couch. It is time for him to move up. A great game of team football that demonstrates skill, endeavour and footy smarts. He was also one of the few Casey players able to match the Port boys for body size and strength over the ball. Cook. I watched him closely today and was super impressed. His leading up through the 50 metre arc and then turning to deliver inside 50 was excellent. Also, if one lead was ignored he was leading 2 or 3 times. And importantly he led into the right spaces at the right time. And his defensive running to cover for team mates out of position was good. No goals but a seriously good team game. He took 6 lead up marks through half forward and each time delivered well. Jetta. Looked like he is still a few runs short of AFL fitness but he looked good when he had the ball. Williams. At times looked exciting but it seemed Port were very consious of him and were paying him special attention. Strauss. To be fair, both teams had a bit of difficulty holding the ball inside 50 so neither defences could rack up possessions. He was just OK today. Gysberts. He is so unassuming that it is difficult to see him getting possessions but the run-and-carry players were constantly thanking him nad patting him on the back so he was obviously doing some good work in and under. He releases the ball from a stoppage really well and considering how bad the Dees are 2nd movement away from a stoppage he is must for next week. Gysberts, Davey, Green, Couch and Cook did enough to be considered for next week. Fitzpatrick also but I reckon that Spencer has his foot in the door at the moment. You should have heard the crowd once the siren went. It was fantastic to see how much they valued beating Port. By the way, if you reckon Richmond and Saints supporters are feral, go to the next Casey v Port game and watch the Port crowd. Most had more eyes than teeth and the collective IQ of a sandwich. Wild but very entertaining.

We had no right to play as badly as we did. I don't know how good a coach Neeld is, or will be, but right now he's not the problem. Two years ago I sat on a train to the G. I sat opposite a Father and his young Son, both clad in Richmond gear, and I remember thinking "you poor bastards". I knew what it was like to be crap and I knew we still were, but there was a fair bit of blue sky about Melbourne at that time, while the poor old Tiges were on their way to possibly being the worst team since Fitzroy. Is it only two years ago ? Even at a recent function Chris Connolly had laughed and shamed Richmond supporters to putting their hands in the air. A few sheepishly did. It was also on the back of Whiteboard Wednesday, the Red and Blue Print, the murmurings that we were going to be the team of the next decade, and it was only a year earlier that Harry O'Brien was waxing lyrical about telling his Grand-kids that he played in Jack Watts' first game - was he taking the [censored] ? I feel a little sorry for Cam Schwab. He had to engender confidence in a club that had too little for too long. He must feel a little dirty now that maybe he's sold the supporters a pup. But I don't blame him. And I don't blame Neeld. He's only been here 8 months and he's trying to teach AFL footballers how to have a defensive mindset first and foremost, which is how finals are won. He's inherited a list and has rightly decided to not make too many changes and to see what they've got. He won't be able to fix the list in one draft period, but he'll make considered changes. And there will be many. As mentioned, we had no right to be as bad as we were yesterday. We had more 25 and older players than Richmond and we even had more 100 game players. Rightly, or wrongly I still reckon we have the core makings of a good team. We have a dozen players on our list that have shown they're capable of being really solid AFL citizens. The rest you could arguably turf out tomorrow and it would hardly cause a ripple. A few of the NQR's will be better in a better team, so it's not a necessity to get rid of everyone, but you get my drift. As has been pointed out for an eternity on these forums the midfield is deplorable. And I aplogise to Nathan Jones when I say that. I reckon I've arguably been his harshest critic, but he's taken his game to another level and cut out a lot of his decision making errors. I can only respect his progress and his efforts. The thing that gives me hope is that the midfield is arguably the easiest area to fix. It's not easy getting quality key defenders, just ask St. Kilda, but with Frawley, Watts, Tom McDonald, and Rivers, we're OK. Mitch Clark needs help in the forward line, but with Garland and hopefully Jurrah and maybe Cook and occasionally Howe I think we're OK - save for that damaging small forward. The rucks should be OK too. We had 9 top 20 draft picks between 2007-2009. They should be starting to be the cornerstone of our side. For varying reasons they're not. It's a gaping hole. And there's no point mentioning our lack of senior players as it is what it is. The draft this year is vital. And I know I've said that before to like minded Melbourne supporters. We were right then and we're right now. This year we have to make every opportunity a winner. We have every chance to draft at least 3 top shelf mids and possibly 4. It's a must. I watched an under 18 South Australian side that put to shame our kicking skills. I had two concurrent thoughts; it was embarrassing, but it also gave me hope that things can turn around relatively quickly. I still wouldn't want to be that Richmond Father or Kid on the train, but I'm afraid that I'm presently that poor bastard. And yes, we won that day.

Surely Couch must get a run this week. What do we honestly have to lose by giving the kid a chance?? He deserves it. If not then I'm not sure what he has to do to get a game. Perhaps Neeld wants him to find a cure for cancer first?!

Thanks Maldonboy; great run down. These types of posts are why I read the Casey threads. It certainly isn't to hear a few posters spew as much bile as possible over one player.

It's gonna be pretty hard to get a gig in our potent forward line at the moment.

Brad Green get his sixth!

This is just garbage of the highest order. Bailey and prendergast led us into a canyon of empty despair. Not one player is better for Bailey's "development coaching" and prendergast has failed specacularly to get us a midfield with any reliable talent. To now blame neeld is just breathtakingly obtuse. We have the worst midfield in the AFL. WE had the worst midfield 5 years ago and nothing has changed. Our mids get slaughtered by everyone but you blame the current coach. As if class, and talent doesn't matter. As if age and experience doesn't matter. "All lists are equal". That is an effective summary of your footy acumen in one fell swoop. Amazing. Just amazing.

IMO, Morton should never have been dropped. We were competitive when he was in. As soon as he gets dropped, we "miraculously" turn into a slow, plodding team that can't hit targets. That's because one of our best runners is gone. Now, I'm not saying that dropping Morton is the only thing that's made us worse, but it sure hasn't helped us (or him) get any better.BRING BACK MORTON!!!

We can't keep this guy wrapped in cotton wool forever. Pending a half-decent performance at Port Melbourne today, he should be picked to debut against Freo. Or do we wait another two years?

I love Riv don't get me wrong, and he's done better than expected in the forward line, but he's such a great back that I don't understand why we wouldn't try and develop some young forwards while we're "experimenting" (and losing by 10 goals anyway).

Or number three our fitness. The player with the ball tires too quickly which means they cant execute or make the correct decision when tired. The player without the ball does not run to space or effectively block meaning that the options we do have are limited and usually covered. West Coast players couldn't hit the side of a barn two years ago now look at the them move the ball.Fix the fitness and get the gameplan more embedded and then we can see how bad the skills actually are.

Woe the MFC supporter...he comes to each game looking for something, just something...weary he walks away at the end of the game asking himself where are you going. Outside the G - he walks wondering where he belongs in the football world. He ponders...wheres the improvement, any signs?? nup..continues walking. He thinks ahead to 2013 hope awaits...yet again. He grows older tired and weary..heading to the grave never witnessing his beloved team win a flag. sad but true folks!!!

It's clear to me that Neeld is a good coach. His methodology is there for all to see - in short, he has a disciplined focus on the fundamentals. He has a system which he will implement, but this will take TIME. Neeld has come into our club (less than one year ago - think about that), quickly assessed the list and the club culture, and determined what needed to change. He immediately recruited some mature, hard bodies (some of whom are already in our best 21). He changed the leadership group - fundamentally. It wasn't just about youth, it was about type - it's about building a professional club culture. He immediately secured one of the best fitness guys in the business in Dave Misson. He also convinced Neil Craig to buy into the journey/approach - and Craig was apparently fielding offers from left, right and centre. Craig's no idiot, so this in itself has got to say something. (And, for what it's worth, Malthouse also rates Neeld as highly as anyone - and he's worked alongside him, day and night, for years.) Neeld then convinced Mitch Clark to buy into the journey. And Rawlings. And Leigh Brown. I have never seen so many quality types come to this club in the face of competing offers from other clubs. And much of this can be attributed to Mark Neeld. This guy has the goods. Of that I am absolutely convinced. I'm not sitting on the fence with this 'only time will tell' stuff. We're bloody lucky to have him. And, as to all the holes that even Blind Freddy can see that so many people are cleverly pointing out here - cop a tip, I reckon they're very obvious to Mark Neeld and his match review committee too.

It's the midfield. There is nothing else to talk about! The rest is not a massive issue. Adelaide has one. We don't. Ours is by far and away the worst in the league. We don't have one consistent elite midfielder. We don't have guys that are up to rotating through. Yes, we need more fitness, some blokes aren't up to it, etc... But it's all about the midfield

I know we could list reasons why we have been so poor for so many years. Skills, decision making, recruiting, contracts, training facilities (Junction Oval), coaches, finances, culture, etc. What I want to understand is why has this happened for so long and how has this become the norm? I really don't get why just about every other club has made basic, simple, responsible decisions that have moved their club forward and created some on field success. Or at least some form of positive hope. Why do we seem to go from bad to worse year after year? Why have club structures not created a unity of purpose and drive that has resulted in on field success. False dawns are hard to take. I know we are much better off financially and Jimmy did a great job of pointing us in the right direction. But we keep falling further back in what is an ever-more cut throat, supporter-led competition. Yes, it's not that simple a matter that can be explained here. People can point to Port Adel or Brisbane (or even back to Fitzroy) and say they struggle/d as well. But I know several Bris and Port fans who wouldn't want to be in our shoes for a million bucks. It's getting very hard to keep supporting this club. But I will, of course, persist. The alternatives are too unthinkable. I love this Club, as did my father and grandfather.

In: Jamar, Green, Gysbert, Couch, Davey Out: Spencer, Bate, Magner, Bail, Bennell

Green is guaranteed a game next week now. One step closer to 250!

Big day for Casey and KC, there'll be a lot of interest I suspect, and KC your work is MASSIVELY appreciated.

As Stuie mentions above, he's been named emergency so clearly the match committee thinks he's on the cusp. And we've been 'giving away' games to about 12 guys in the senior side all year. Why should Cook be any different.

I'd take Sellar down back and no ruck duties for him and drop dunn. Pencil in the ruck.

Tough as nails, smart and a brilliant leader. Still can't see it?This might help: http://www.opsm.com.au/

Spencer was better than Moloney today.

given the skill level, spectators were running away from the ground today RD , not towards it

It may only take the addition of 1-3 quality players to make these guys look so much better. The best teams have a couple of aces that make otherwise middle of the road players look good ( enough ). I think these guys will be stuffed into the cannon based on roles and fit. That said, any or all of these guys could be gone.

Magner's first season has been admirable thus far, but he has struggled the last few weeks. Ended today being subbed out and looks in need of a rest for a week or two. Time for Couch to get a run for a couple of weeks in the seniors.

Neeld has had 11 players missing every week. The skills (71% DE cf Richmond's 69%) were bad but are actually improving. I notice the Neeld knockers run and hide their thoughts on the odd winning occasion. When this team is going places in 2 - 3 years you'll all be clambouring on Neeld's wagon. Richmond have had 4 years of Hardwick and still aren't much. We'll be better after 4 years of MN. Collingwood had 10 years under MM, and Buck's hasn't changed the way they play much. 4 years ago everyone said WCE were rubbish and the chemist should be sacked. I'm glad none of you weak (censored) weren't around me 40 years ago backing me up.

Those who think Neeld is a failure or the reason for our current situation or think that they are able to judge him based on his coaching career so far are an absolute joke and so far out of touch with reality it is not funny. That's not to say Neeld will prove a success but the man has to be given a chance to prove himself and create the list he wants. Also lol at those indicating our players were playing well and on the up last season. I really loved watching them embarrass themselves with bruise free footy on Friday night football, capitulate in dramatic fashion against the Eagles in Perth and reach the dizzying heights of 186 in Geelong. Bring back those heady days I say! Way too many of our players are absolute rubbish and/or lazy and that has nothing to do with Neeld or the current FD.

When he first joined the club he was quoted as saying that he chose football over basketball (having played both as a youth) in the end because he likes hurting people. I started salivating when I heard that. 4 or 5 or however many years in he probably doesn't really offer much else other than that; but really if there was one attribute you'd like your developing young ruckman to have, a partiality for hard body contact is probably it. Let's hope a bit of co-ordination comes late to the party.

Welcome back Gys. Ditto Green

It's been goal for goal as Green kicks his fifth. Tim Smith takes a strong mark and goals to make it just 4 points the difference.

It's the second half of another season that's going nowhere I'd say it's time to get on the crack. (Cowboy_From_Hell recommends taking crack responsibly only from a reputable dealer most reputable dealers give discounts with a MFC membership as it can be explained that crack or any other substance may be explained as stress medication during the regular season.)

A soft free to Port gives the Borough a 16 point lead but Brad Green goal replies with his his fourth.

It's like asking who is better looking Sarah Jessica Parker or Mr.Ed. I don't know.

MELBOURNE has re-signed Colin Garland and Jordie McKenzie until the end of 2015 and Tom McDonald until the end of 2014. Full story here http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/140744/default.aspx

It's not pathetic at all, if anything Jaded has it the right way around more than anything I reckon. There's absolutely nothing to be gained by hanging crap on the less talented players. It's why largely couldn't care less when guys like Bennell or Spencer or even Dunn have poor games, because I know that these guys have low ceilings and they're probably doing the best they can. It's when the top end talent fails to deliver that is the hardest to swallow; it's their form that affects us the most. Spencer and co are just easy targets for people who don't want to look for the real problems.

I think you will find that if they show the right intent and particularly defensive indicators at Casey then you will see them. If they dont then they should stay where they are. We have heard players talk before about being given games before their form at VFL warrants it. Let them get the form right and intent right and then by all means play them.

I wouldn't limit it to just Cook. Play em all. I want to see if fit Gysberts,Davis,Cook,Jetta,Petterd and Tynan. I don't want to see Bail,Bate,Dunn (especially in the back line) and Moloney. I'm done with them for the year.

Yep. Sylvia's pace and power is something that is useful. He's a player that Neeld needs to harness and simplify his role in the team. Moloney can't run, so his only hope is that his big body can protect others (or his running improves). I suspect that he'd be a really good pickup for a young team like Gold Coast, and we'd both win from that deal.

So you want to delist 12 players (or maybe 11 if you think we will get a trade for Bate). Just how deep into the draft do you want us to go? We get 3 first round picks, one 2nd round at about 24, plus one every 18 after that. 11 players dropped will require us to use pick 130 or thereabouts for our last selection. Fortunately the club will not be as silly or reckless as you. Spencer will be retained. We will go into 2013 with Jamar (aging, getting injuries), Gawn (suspect knees), Fitzpatrick (maybe, but has to put on some muscle), Martin (2nd ruck at best), Clark (short relief spell in ruck, we need him at FF) and Sellar (Joke, Joyce). What if Jamar goes down and Gawn is injured again at the same time (like now)? Unless you think we can trade a couple of what you call deadwood for a reasonable backup ruck, we have to retain Spencer. What Magner needs is another full AFL preseason to improve strength, endurance and skills. Very foolish move to dump him before end 2013 at earliest. He was good at the start of this season, but has tired. Make him fitter and stronger and see if he can keep it up for 22 rounds. If you want to drop Moloney you obviously think the Bluey is won by a fluke. Class is permanent, form is temporary. Get a better midfield coach would be a more sensible suggestion. And maybe bring him back into the leadership group. Bennell would be a much better player if the others didn't think he was 203 cm tall, and kicked it too him instead of over his head. Worth one more year at least. Your comments that Spencer is the worst player you have seen in a Dees jumper, and that this is the worst side you have ever seen only go to show how young and inexperienced you are. Never saw David Cordner? Never saw Brent Grgic? Never sat in the old Northern stand in the 70s? Then you have never seen bad. If you want to continue with your ridiculous Red Queen posts, try adding an explaination of how we will replace the 12. By trading, by rookie promotion, by recruiting free agents or by drafting.

Barely?? Just a little faith then Forest Demon?? Just enough to stick with Neeldy. ForestD ..I was getting very ANTI Neeld. Really couldn't see the game plan going anywhere and still don't think the players are totally backing him. Something about him that worries me. Lots of talk and spin and not a hell of lot of action. For example not one single omission after the Lions match. Continually leaving Rivers at FF, Watts on Brown, starting Spencer at FP OR FF instead of First Ruck...bla bla....selecting Bennell thinking he will the next Eddie Betts. He has L plates and a long way to go as a coach. V Bombers demonstrated the passion was there and that was enough for me to support him. If this time next year we are 2 wins then the faith may wither.

Since there was no chance of us winning yesterday I just watched what we were doing off the ball a bit more and Pencil just needs to learn when and where to lead to. J.Riv was helping him out as much as he could.I just love his efforts at the footy. At a one on one contest if he didn't get the ball he was intent to hurt the other bloke which Russian and Stef don't do. The pencil is an angry pencil.

Terrible, terrible post. 100 games is an excellent achievement and deserves to be celebrated, regardless of what you or we think of the player. If you really can't bring yourself to say something nice, then recognise that this is a completely inappropriate thread for potting the player and just say nothing.

Interesting theory - except for one small problem. Under Bailey we were unfit and our skills were woeful

about as much as your mum. you don't trade the captain. Ever. The above is a sly snipe at the bloke to lift his game. Nothing more. S'house disposal. needs to lift.

We have indeed recruited poorly and at last we are prepared to admit it, previously if you said that you were shouted down and told you didn't have a clue. Perhaps we should revisit some of the threads where a few of us copped heaps and see if any opinions have changed. Grandson of a gun, anything to say now? Neeld will be alright, he seems to understand we have deficiencies and is going to try and rectify them unlike the previous coaches who, like some posters on here, couldn't see the problem. BTW at the recent Before the Bounce Craig said there will be big changes at the end of the year and there will be quite a few players moved on as the club are convinced they are simply not up to AFL standard.

The have we improved question can be answered either way. Do I believe that we are building a way of playing and a level of accountability and discipline that is going to make us better in the long term? Yes Do I believe that we were further advanced with our old game plan than we are with our new game plan - meaning we played better last year? Yes Do I believe we were ever going anywhere with Bailey and his game style? No Do I believe we will with Neeld? Yes, absolutely. Is whether that is improvement, I don't know, but I can see more non-negotiables, more physicality and more accountability than before. I just think we are in the early stages of changing our way of playing, thinking, defending and moving the ball.

The truth is with Collingwoods development program, yes probably they would get a game, and the sad truth is some would have developed into very good footballers.

Now for those who are saying we haven't improved, here are some stats compared the Round 3 game against Richmond. I am not saying today was great by any stretch, but to say we are still as unorganised as early in the season etc is ridiculous. This includes stats that we were constantly slammed for in the early part of the season e.g. uncontested possessions, inside 50s etc. (Excuse [censored] formatting) Round 3 Today Difference Score -59 -23 +36 Scoring Shots -14 -13 +1 Possessions -159 -61 +98 Uncont' Poss' -147 -41 +106 Inside 50s -35 -21 +14 We are still [censored], but we are improving under Neeld slowly. Let the bloke have his way with our list at the end of the next 2 seasons and see where we are. There is no use replacing a coach and going half arsed and giving him the flick after half a season.

5 forwards that cannot get a game in the seniors when we cannot kick a winning score. Simply amazing