KC from Casey

Couple of goals to Tim Smith but Scorps still 4 goals behind at the final break - 3.6.24 to 7.6.47 Goals Smith 2 Rosier

Angus Brayshaw is a quality footballer who shouldn't be playing with this rabble. Half time: Port Melbourne 5.3.33 to Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 Goal Rosier

Playing better with Brayshaw and Michie getting the footy but still a struggle to score - 8 to 27.

Quarter Time Port 4.2.26 to Casey 1.0.6 Goal to Rosier Port was kicking the breeze and the Scorpions were very sloppy - reminiscent of MCC last night. Do they train them to play like that?

Port have opened up a 13 point lead halfway through the first term. 3.1.19 to 1.0.6.

We should see about a dozen Demons this afternoon including Jordie McKenzie who didn't get a run last night but is on the team sheet for today. 3. Patrick Rosier 5. Nathan Page 6. James Munro 10. Mitchell Gent 11. Jack Hutchins 13. Lucas Walmsley 16. Thomas Muir 17. Edward Morris 20. Timothy Smith 24. Jordan Moncrieff 28. Paul Pattison 29. Luke Thwaites 39. Luke Hannon 46. Angus Brayshaw 52. James Harmes 53. Max King 58. Mitch White 59. Jake Spencer 61. Billy Stretch 63. Viv Michie 65. Cameron Pedersen 66. Jordie McKenzie 69. Rohan Bail 74. Oscar McDonald 75. Jack Fitzpatrick 76. Dean Kent I'd be surprised if Rohan Bail played. He was on the field yesterday and I haven't seen him warming up.

The Casey Scorpions Development League team lost to Port Melbourne by 6 points after a late goal to the Borough - 10.10.70 to10.4.64. 9. Nick Lang 14. Daniel Welsh 15. Sean Corrigan 18. Brenton Hillard 19. Matthew Rennie 21. Andrew Godfrey 25. Liam Beacom 26. Ricky Plummer 30. Bayley Fritsch 31. Dale Gawley 32. Kody Wilson 33. Nick Battle 34. Tom Wilson 35. Mitch Stanlake 36. Chris Johnson 37. Jackson McDonald 39. Luke Hannon 40. Tom Wyatt 41. Jake Gains 43. Dale Johnson 45. Brandon Droessler 51. Jack Presnell 52. Daniel Easson

There seems little doubt that the Casey Scorpions of 2015 will be a far different proposition to the side that limped through much of last season to finish second last, ahead only of the now defunct Bendigo Gold. On that performance, the club would be ranked last among the remaining VFL clubs but, after a shaky opening few minutes, the team settled down well against one of the competition's power house combinations and maintained control for much of the game. Their accuracy in front of goal was a stand out. Gone were the hesitancy and poor decision making of a team that was often undermanned, inexperienced and outclassed side playing poor directionless football and in its place were bigger bodies and a new style of more direct purposeful football under new coach Justin Plapp. They held on against the wind to win well by 20 points - 10.2.62 to 5.12.42. There was only a small contingent of AFL listed players with rejuvenated big man Cam Pedersen relishing the game against his old VFL club and dominating all over the ground, particularly up forward where he was in fine marking form and got among the goals. Angus Brayshaw was the most impressive of the young recruits. Playing in the middle, he showed class and balance and dominated the centre clearances with great effect. His second term was outstanding. He has clean hands and delivered the ball well given the gusty conditions and relished playing under Plapp, his 2014 coach at the Sandringham Dragons. James Harmes was effective coming out of defence and Oscar McDonald, playing mainly up forward moved well and kicked a goal early. Billy Stretch on a wing was quiet but had a few good runs and looms as a future outside player who will no doubt be groomed to emulate the Lewis Jetta/Isaac Smith type of player in the future. Jake Spencer rucked strongly, assisted by Jack Fitzpatrick who filled in up forward for short periods. Skipper Evan Panozza played his usual workmanlike role in defence with occasional stints up forwards. Mitch Gent, who was sidelined by injury last year, was in good form and Tim Smith took a couple of his trademark hangers. Ed Morris and Bryce Rutherford look to be kicking on from their break out seasons of last year. Lucas Walmsley was the stand out among the recruits. He has pace and poise, kicked the first goal and showed out and with his shock of blond dreadlocked hair is sure to become a crowd favourite. Other recruits who caught the eye were Jack Hutchins ex Gold Coast, returning Gippsland Power player Tom Muir who spent last year in Adelaide, James Munro from Sandringham and Luke Hannon who skippered Eastern Ranges last year and was a teammate of injured Demon recruit Christian Petracca. Jordan Moncrieff, the son of ex-Hawthorn forward Michael, is a likely type at 197cm. The side was missing experienced Shannon Byrnes and Will Petropoulos and will have much greater depth in 2015 but the main difference between the Scorps of last year and this year is the purpose and spirit of the players. They have a greater desire to succeed. At the final break, Plapp called upon them to maintain their intensity and show the opposition no respite and they managed to do that against a very strong side. They mastered the conditions, kicked well for goal and deserved the result.

I'll be back with a report later on.

A more accurate Casey Scorpions win their first practice match of the season by 20 points - 10.2.62 to Box Hill Hawks 5.12.42. Cameron Pedersen the best for the Scorps.

A couple of goals to the Hawks give them an outside chance but they still trail by 21 points.

Yes, he is but he's not really getting into the tempo of the game. He's playing on a wing and is struggling a bit today.

Goal - I think to Pedo and the Scorpions lead 62-26.

Big Jake lopes into the CHF spot and is hit on the chest. Goal.

Three quarter time and Scorps lead 8.2.50 to 3.7.25. Justin Plapp telling the players that they were in a position to win and shouldn't give away the initiative. Show the opposition that we want to win. The team's style of play is very pleasing and far more direct than last year.

Another goal to Pedersen. They might as well get him to Ballarat too. 50-24.

Pedo's been taking marks down back and up forward, kicks a goal and goes off. While I'm typing, Ed Morris goals. 44-24.

Half time: Casey Scorpions lead 5.2.32 to Box Hill Hawks 3.5.23. Better players for the Scorps are Pedersen, Brayshaw, Panozza and Walmsley. If I was a Melbourne selector, I would be revving up a helicopter to get Gus to Ballarat by 4.10pm.

Brayshaw having a birthday in the middle. Pedersen playing strongly. 32-21.

Tim Smith takes a strong mark and goals but Box Hill responds. Halfway through the second quarter 25 - 15.

Oscar McDonald playing up forward kicks a goal - Scorps with the wind lead 3.0.18 to 1.3.9 at the first break. Cam Pedersen doing well up forward. Spencer and Fitzpatrick sharing the ruck work and Fitzy had a brief stint forward. Angus Brayshaw looks a well balanced footballer, playing in the middle. Evan Panozza is defending well and Luke Walmsley looks a lively recruit with pace and goal kicking skills - should become a crowd favourite.

A few things have changed at Casey Fields (the scoreboards appear to be operating) but it's still windy down here. According to the team sheet the MFC players in this game are:- Angus Brayshaw, Jack Fitzpatrick, James Harmes, Oscar McDonald, Cam Pedersen, Jake Spencer and Billy Stretch. The Casey list has a number of new players and I suspect the team has a bit of a challenge on its hands because the Hawks have more AFL listed players in their team today (probably because their seniors aren't involved in a game this weekend). The Casey Scorpions list for today's game:- 1. Evan Panozza 3. Patrick Rosier 5. Nathan Page 6. James Munro 10. Mitchell Gent 11. Jack Hutchins 13. Lucas Walmsley 16. Thomas Muir 17. Edward Morris 20. Timothy Smith 22. Bryce Rutherford 24. Jordan Moncrieff 28. Paul Pattison 29. Luke Thwaites 35. Nathaniel Paredes 39. Luke Hannon 46. Angus Brayshaw 52. James Harmes 59. Jake Spencer 61. Billy Stretch 65. Cameron Pedersen 74. Oscar McDonald 75. Jack Fitzpatrick

Here at Casey Fields, the Box Hill Hawks have won the curtain raiser 7.7.49 to the Casey Scorpions 5.2.32. Here at Casey Fields, the The Scorpions Development League team list for today's game:- 2. Daniel Easson 7. Daniel Versteegen 9. Jack Griffiths 14. Daniel Welsh 15. Will Collis 18. Brenton Hillard 19. Matthew Rennie 25. Liam Beacom 26. Ricky Plummer 31. Dale Gawley 32. Kody Wilson 34. Tom Wilson 36. Chris Johnson 37. Jackson McDonald 38. Declan Keilty 40. Tom Wyatt 41. Jake Gains 43. Dale Johnson 45. Brandon Droessler 53. Keegan Mason

Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but while the Melbourne squad was over in Perth to take on Fremantle, ten Demons trained with Casey at its main training session. The players all got involved either training or by assisting with drills with the coaching staff. They were Angus Brayshaw, James Harmes, Oscar MacDonald, Max King, Jack Watts, Aiden Riley, Alex Neal-Bullen, Jack Spencer, Dean Terlich and Mitch White. And another good article from Paul Amy: Former Gold Coast Suns player Jack Hutchins has signed with the Casey Scorpions

The Casey Scorpions have announced another signing - 191cm, 92kg defender Jack Hutchins who played 19 games with the Gold Coast Suns from 2011 to 2014.