KC from Casey

There's a comprehensive update on the Scorps' pre season on the Casey Scorpions website - CASEY SCORPIONS PRE SEASON UPDATE.

Correction: the opening practice match v Box Hill Hawks will be played at the finish of the Melbourne v Hawthorn game at 4.00pm so that the AFL game will be the curtain raiser:- Saturday 8 March - Casey Scorpions v Box Hill Hawks @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 4.00 pm) Saturday 15 March - Casey Scorpions v Williamstown @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 2.00 pm; Development League 11.00 am) Saturday 22 March - Casey Scorpions v Port Melbourne @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 2.00 pm; Development League 11.00 am) In other news skipper Evan Panozza and Will Petropoulos, one of last year's big improvers, have both committed to the club again for 2014.

Practice matches I can confirm against the two oldest VFL clubs:- Saturday 8 March - Casey Scorpions v Box Hill Hawks @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 11.00 am curtain raiser to Melbourne v Hawthorn) Saturday 15 March - Casey Scorpions v Williamstown @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 2.00 pm; Development League 11.00 am) Saturday 22 March - Casey Scorpions v Port Melbourne @ Casey Fields, Cranbourne (Seniors 2.00 pm; Development League 11.00 am)

As mentioned in a post above, the Casey Scorpions have announced former Demon Troy Davis as their key signing to date - Casey Scorpions Signings 2014 recruits include: ■ Troy Davis (Melbourne) ■ Ricky Ferraro (Collingwood VFL) ■ Ed Morris, Nathaniel Paredes and Jake Thomas (Gippsland Power) ■ Matt Rennie and Joseph West (Dandenong Stingrays) ■ Ryan Morrison (Narre Warren)

The AFL Victoria Development League fixture - Round 1: 6 April, 2014 Essendon v Casey Scorpions at Windy Hill Round 2: 13 April, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Geelong at Casey Fields Round 3: 20 April, 2014 Frankston v Casey Scorpions at Frankston Oval Round 4: 27 April, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Sandringham at Casey Fields Round 5: 4 May, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Werribee at Casey Fields Round 6: 10 May, 2014 Northern Blues v Casey Scorpions at Visy Park Round 7: 18 May, 2014 Coburg v Casey Scorpions at Mantello Holden Oval Round 8: Bye Round 9: 7 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Collingwood at Casey Fields Round 10: 14 June, 2014 North Ballarat v Casey Scorpions at Eureka Stadium Round 11: 21 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields Round 12: 28 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Williamstown at Casey Fields Round 13: 5 July, 2014 Richmond v Casey Scorpions at ME Bank Centre Round 14: 12 July, 2014 Bendigo v Casey Scorpions at Queen Elizabeth Oval Round 15: 19 July, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Frankston at Casey Fields Round 16: Bye Round 17: 2 August, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Northern Blues at Casey Fields Round 18: 9 August, 2014 Port Melbourne v Casey Scorpions at North Port Oval Round 19: 17 August, 2014 Footscray Bulldogs v Casey Scorpions at Highgate Recreation Reserve Round 20: 24 August, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Coburg at Casey Fields

The 2014 VFL was announced today. Richmond and the Western Bulldogs have ditched their alignments with Coburg and Williamstown adding two teams to the competition - Round 1: 6 April, 2014 Essendon v Casey Scorpions at Windy Hill Round 2: 13 April, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Geelong at Casey Fields Round 3: 20 April, 2014 Frankston v Casey Scorpions at Frankston Oval Round 4: 27 April, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Sandringham at Casey Fields Round 5: 4 May, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Werribee at Casey Fields Round 6: 10 May, 2014 Northern Blues v Casey Scorpions at Visy Park Round 7: 18 May, 2014 Coburg v Casey Scorpions at Mantello Holden Oval Round 8: Bye Round 9: 7 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Collingwood at Casey Fields Round 10: 14 June, 2014 North Ballarat v Casey Scorpions at Eureka Stadium Round 11: 21 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields Round 12: 28 June, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Williamstown at Casey Fields Round 13: 5 July, 2014 Richmond v Casey Scorpions at ME Bank Centre Round 14: 12 July, 2014 Bendigo v Casey Scorpions at Queen Elizabeth Oval Round 15: 19 July, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Frankston at Casey Fields Round 16: Bye Round 17: 2 August, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Northern Blues at Casey Fields Round 18: 9 August, 2014 Port Melbourne v Casey Scorpions at North Port Oval Round 19: 17 August, 2014 Footscray Bulldogs v Casey Scorpions at Highgate Recreation Reserve Round 20: 24 August, 2014 Casey Scorpions v Coburg at Casey Fields

Ex-Demons/Scorpions who have recently moved to other VFL clubs: Collingwood: Tom Couch Frankston: Wade Lees Josh Tynan Port Melbourne: James Magner Luke Tynan Richmond: Aaron Davey Rian McGough James Wall Ben Waite

I'm surprised that Jake Best wasn't drafted as a rookie at the very least. He really showed something in his debut season for the Scorpions and I thought he was worth a try and that a club like Melbourne would have made a good fit. Understand that he will remain at Casey and I'm hoping that he continues his improvement from the start to the end of the season - he could become one of the competition's star players. I think most supporters of the VFL competition would be disappointed with the outcome of the drafts. Not many picked and a few of those were AFL retreads from the past.

Paul Amy of Leader Newspapers discusses likely draftees from the VFL with Casey Scorpion Jake Best nominated as one of the VFL players most likely to be drafted - Academy coach predicts up to 10 VFL players to take the next step into AFL football. Also mentioned is livewire small man Mitch Gent.

Paul Amy of Leader Newspapers is tweeting that the Casey Scorpions have secured rugged ex-Sandringham and Collingwood VFL onballer Ricky Ferraro who played for Bonbeach this year. Says he's a handy pick up.

Despite a few departures which are par for the course every year, the Casey Scorpions are looking far more settled than they were 12 months ago. At that time, the club was staring in the face of extinction in the wake of the loss of poker machine licences, had no coach and concerns about keeping their playing list together. Senior coach Rohan Welsh has been reappointed for the role in 2014 but gone from the list will be former skipper Kyle Matthews, vice captain Luke Tynan, ex-Magpie Danny Nicholls and Michael Riseley. That's a large pile of experience but the club has been active in re-signing many of its younger guns who have come through the club's local areas and there will be an influx of this year's talent from the under 18s. Some of the names won't be finalised until after this year's drafts but with an earlier date for the rookie draft, the club will have more time to work on its recruiting for next year. Jake Best, the speedster who was such a revelation this year, is a good chance to be drafted but if not, is likely to be back with the Scorpions. One of 2013's big improvers is Mitch Gent who had also signed on again although he might be a rookie chance. The Scorpions have launched a new initiative - an academy for local area youngsters - From Casey to Fremantle, Scorpions new academy a testament to trailblazer Alex Silvagni. Recently delisted Demon Tom Couch has rejoined Collingwood while former players James Wall and Rian McGough have joined Richmond's stand alone VFL team. Demon fans might recall Ryan Ferguson who once famously refused to be traded to Hawthorn in a deal which would have brought Brad Sewell to the club. He is transferring from West Adelaide to the now stand alone Williamstown. Another name in the news that's well known to Demon fans is Nick Sautner who has been appointed CEO of the WA Football Commission.

Former Scorpions captain joins Blackburn as assistant coach

Melbourne - in - add certification from WADA that any Essendon players involved in any deal have complete immunity from sanctions as a result of any investigation past or present into that club's supplements programme.

The leading votegetters for the Gardner-Clark Medal:- 1. Jesse Hogan (82 votes) 2. Evan Panozza (73) 3. Max Gawn (69) 4. James Magner (67) 5. Tom Couch (57) 6. Cam Pedersen (53) 7. Mitch Gent (48) 8. Luke Tynan (43) 9. Neville Jetta (37) Other awards:- Jarryd Drew - Rising Star Mitch Gent - most improved Jake Best - coach's award Luke Hill - captain's award Tim Smith - respect earner Aiden Lindsay - best & fairest (development league) A fine effort from both Hogan and Gawn who could easily be two of the MFC's most important players for the next decade. Mitch Gent enhances his prospects for this year's draft. And I don't know why James Magner doesn't get more opportunities at AFL level.

It's a little ironic that on the same day on which younger brother Josh became a delisted Demon, Luke Tynan was selected in the VFL YOUNG GUNS GAME along with Jake Best, Michael Boland and Mitch Gent. Congratulations to the guys.

I think I should elaborate on my views on the issue of MFC players qualified and made available to play in the finals for Casey. WJ informed me a few weeks ago that the club was seeking to get a strong list of players qualified for the finals. At the time it was a possibility that the number would be around about 20 including Jesse Hogan but then injuries and retirements struck hard. The master has documented it pretty well above but you can't discount the effect of losing defensive players like Troy Davis, Joel Macdonald (retired) and James Strauss. Hogan was also a major loss because no opposition team really has the players or the capacity to neutralise him.The injuries also affected the club's ability to qualify a few more players and I know there might have been one or two stuff ups but without knowing the full circumstances, it's probably unfair to comment. However, consider this. For most of the season Casey had 12 -15 AFL listers playing on any one given day. Whenever, injury or the circumstance of having to leave one or two aside for emergency duties the number might drop to 10 and then Casey was in trouble as it was earlier in the season against the Box Hill Hawks. Further, whenever Casey had at least two big men in combination i.e. Spencer/Gawn/Fitzpatrick and later Jamar, the team would flourish. Although, Spencer was qualified to play it would appear that he suffered an injury late in the game against the Bulldogs. Without his input in the ruck, Gawn was given a tough task on the day and he was clearly a tired player in the end. I believe that Spencer might have made the difference. Losing Dom Barry to injury late in the piece and not having qualified Cam Pedersen when this could easily have been done didn't help either. On a different note, congratulations to Gippsland Power's Josh Scott who was involved in an historic four way tie for the Morrish Medal last night. Scott played a couple of times for Casey as 23rd player and impressed with his strong, mature play.

2013 Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions4.3.27 7.6.48 9.10.64 12.12.84 Werribee Tigers 5.2.32 9.4.58 15.5.95 19.10.124 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 4 Best 2 Gent Gillies Lindsay Magner Petropoulos Taggert Werribee Tigers Maric Warren 4 Davis 2 Bolton Brown Clouston McDonald Martiniello Meredith Ross Sherlock Sullivan Ross Best Casey Scorpions Jetta Smith Riseley Petropoulos Panozza Sellar Werribee Tigers Clouston Maric Ross Bolton Moore Sierakowski Final Stats Couch 38 Magner 32 Petropoulos 23 Jetta Plummer J Tynan 18 L Tynan 17 Bail 16

Will Petropoulos kicks a long goal from the boundary but its all too late.

We are now officially in junk time for Casey for season 2013. Tom Couch has been fantastic but he hasn't had too many mates.

One also wonders what might have been had Jesse Hogan been available because Werribee is marking everything in defence and when Maxy finally takes one, he's tackled and its holding the ball. Scorps trail by 40 points as we approach 18 minutes. Magner gets flattened and goals!

Maxy Gawn makes it a certainty by kicking into the hands of a waiting opponent who runs in to make it a 38 point lead to Werribee. The sign of a tired player. One wonders what might have been had Jake Spencer been available.

Maric out marks Jetta and kicks his fourth to ice the game.

Casey have switched Gillies to defence and Sellar into attack in a desperate effort to pull the game out of the fire.

Gent runs onto the ball and makes it 27 points.

Couch pushed in the back in the goal square. No free. It's not Casey's day as Bail gets a high tack and again no free. Werribee move it forward and score a point to go to a 33 point lead.