KC from Casey

Probably not but according to Casey Scorpions Twitter,

The Casey Scorpions are seeking a number of reliable and motivated people to join its Football Statistics team for the 2011 VFL season. These vital match day roles involve recording statistics during Scorpions matches (reserves and seniors) and delivering this information to coaching staff. It may also involve setting up and packing away the statistics system on match day, co-ordinating video filming of matches and alignment of match vision with statistics post match. These volunteer roles would suit anyone with a love of sport who wishes to become involved with football at the elite level, or university students (across a range of courses such as IT, mathematics or exercise science) requiring work placement. Training will be provided but you should possess the following attributes: * Knowledge of Australian rules football (preferred but not essential). * Computer literate with the ability to learn a specific data input and statistical package. * Ability to describe or input information clearly, quickly and correctly. * Good eyesight. * Available Saturday or Sunday (depending on VFL fixture) from March to September 2011. If you’re interested please contact Football Operations Manager Tim Shellcot via email to [email protected]

The Casey Scorpions are seeking a number of reliable and motivated people to join its Football Statistics team for the 2011 VFL season. These vital match day roles involve recording statistics during Scorpions matches (reserves and seniors) and delivering this information to coaching staff. It may also involve setting up and packing away the statistics system on match day, co-ordinating video filming of matches and alignment of match vision with statistics post match. These volunteer roles would suit anyone with a love of sport who wishes to become involved with football at the elite level, or university students (across a range of courses such as IT, mathematics or exercise science) requiring work placement. Training will be provided but you should possess the following attributes: * Knowledge of Australian rules football (preferred but not essential). * Computer literate with the ability to learn a specific data input and statistical package. * Ability to describe or input information clearly, quickly and correctly. * Good eyesight. * Available Saturday or Sunday (depending on VFL fixture) from March to September 2011. If you’re interested please contact Football Operations Manager Tim Shellcot via email to [email protected]

The 2011 VFL Season fixture has now been released incorporating the AFL's new Champions League competition. The 13 teams will play 18 games over 22 weeks with each team having 4 byes (to allow for an even draw with the Champions League). The loss of Burbank Oval sees Williamstown playing the majority of their home games at Avalon Airport Oval in addition to one game each in Torquay, Keilor and Wangaratta. The finals system will remain the same for 2011, with the VFL Grand Final being played the weekend prior to the AFL Grand Final. The date and venue for the VFL GF are yet to be finalised. Round 1 Saturday 2nd April Sandringham vs. Coburg Tigers Trevor Barker Beach Oval 1:10 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Port Melbourne Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Northern Bullants vs. Bendigo Bombers Visy Park 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Geelong Casey Fields 7:00 PM Werribee Tigers vs. Williamstown Avalon Airport Oval 7:00 PM Sunday 3rd April Frankston vs. Collingwood Frankston Oval 2:00 PM BYE - North Ballarat Round 2 Saturday 9th April North Ballarat vs. Bendigo Bombers Eureka Stadium 1:10 PM Northern Bullants vs. Collingwood Visy Park 2:00 PM Port Melbourne vs. Casey Scorpions TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 10th April Geelong vs. Werribee Tigers* Skilled Stadium 10:40 AM Frankston vs. Sandringham Frankston Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Box Hill Hawks, Coburg Tigers, Williamstown Round 3 Saturday 16th April Collingwood vs. Werribee Tigers Victoria Park 1:10 PM North Ballarat vs. Casey Scorpions Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Sunday 17th April Williamstown vs. Box Hill Hawks Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Frankston Windy Hill 2:00 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Northern Bullants Coburg City Oval 2:00 PM Sandringham vs. Port Melbourne Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Geelong Round 4 Saturday 23rd April Northern Bullants vs. Port Melbourne Preston City Oval 1:10 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Collingwood Windy Hill 2:00 PM Werribee Tigers vs. North Ballarat Avalon Airport Oval 7:00 PM Sunday 24th April Box Hill Hawks vs. Coburg Tigers Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Williamstown vs. Geelong Torquay Football Ground 2:00 PM BYE - Casey Scorpions, Frankston, Sandringham Round 5 Saturday 30th April Casey Scorpions vs. Frankston Casey Fields 1:10 PM Collingwood vs. North Ballarat Victoria Park 2:00 PM Sunday 1st May Coburg Tigers vs. Williamstown Coburg City Oval 1:00 PM Werribee Tigers vs. Box Hill Hawks Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sandringham vs. Geelong Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Bendigo Bombers, Northern Bullants, Port Melbourne Round 6 Saturday 7th May Geelong vs. North Ballarat* Skilled Stadium 10:40 AM Williamstown vs. Sandringham Avalon Airport Oval 1:10 PM Port Melbourne vs. Frankston TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Werribee Tigers Windy Hill 2:00 PM Sunday 8th May Northern Bullants vs. Casey Scorpions Preston City Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Box Hill Hawks, Coburg Tigers, Collingwood Round 7 Saturday 14th May Collingwood vs. Geelong Victoria Park 1:00 PM Frankston vs. Northern Bullants Frankston Oval 1:10 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Sandringham Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Port Melbourne vs. Williamstown TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 15th May North Ballarat vs. Coburg Tigers Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Bendigo Bombers Casey Fields 2:00 PM BYE - Werribee Tigers Round 8 Saturday 21st May Werribee Tigers vs. Northern Bullants Avalon Airport Oval 1:10 PM Collingwood vs. Williamstown Victoria Park 2:00 PM North Ballarat vs. Box Hill Hawks Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Sunday 22nd May Bendigo Bombers vs. Port Melbourne Windy Hill 2:00 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Frankston Highgate Recreation Res 2:00 PM BYE - Casey Scorpions, Geelong, Sandringham Round 9 Saturday 28th May Geelong vs. Bendigo Bombers Skilled Stadium 11:15 AM Coburg Tigers vs. Collingwood Coburg City Oval 1:10 PM Northern Bullants vs. Box Hill Hawks Visy Park 2:00 PM Williamstown vs. Casey Scorpions Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 29th May Werribee Tigers vs. Sandringham Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Frankston, North Ballarat, Port Melbourne Round 10 Saturday 4th June Port Melbourne vs. Werribee Tigers TEAC Oval 1:10 PM Collingwood vs. Northern Bullants Victoria Park 2:00 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Geelong Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 5th June Frankston vs. North Ballarat Frankston Oval 2:00 PM Sandringham vs. Casey Scorpions Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Bendigo Bombers, Coburg Tigers, Williamstown Round 11 Saturday 11th June Casey Scorpions vs. Collingwood Casey Fields 1:10 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Port Melbourne Coburg City Oval 2:00 PM Williamstown vs. North Ballarat Keilor Football Ground 2:00 PM Sunday 12th June Box Hill Hawks vs. Frankston Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Werribee Tigers vs. Geelong Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sandringham vs. Bendigo Bombers Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Northern Bullants Round 12 Saturday 18th June North Ballarat vs. Port Melbourne Eureka Stadium 1:10 PM Geelong vs. Northern Bullants Skilled Stadium 2:00 PM Williamstown vs. Frankston Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 19th June Casey Scorpions vs. Coburg Tigers Casey Fields 2:00 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Box Hill Hawks Queen Elizabeth Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Collingwood, Sandringham, Werribee Tigers Round 13 Saturday 25th June Bendigo Bombers vs. Williamstown Queen Elizabeth Oval 1:10 PM Northern Bullants vs. North Ballarat Visy Park 2:00 PM Port Melbourne vs. Geelong TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 26th June Werribee Tigers vs. Coburg Tigers Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sandringham vs. Collingwood Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Box Hill Hawks, Casey Scorpions, Frankston Round 14 Saturday 2nd July Geelong vs. Frankston Skilled Stadium 1:00 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Collingwood Box Hill City Oval 1:10 PM North Ballarat vs. Sandringham Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Werribee Tigers vs. Casey Scorpions Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 3rd July Northern Bullants vs. Williamstown Preston City Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Bendigo Bombers, Coburg Tigers, Port Melbourne Round 15 Saturday 9th July Sandringham vs. Northern Bullants Trevor Barker Beach Oval 1:10 PM Collingwood vs. Port Melbourne Victoria Park 2:00 PM Sunday 10th July Frankston vs. Werribee Tigers Frankston Oval 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Box Hill Hawks Casey Fields 2:00 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Bendigo Bombers Highgate Rec Reserve 2:00 PM BYE - Geelong, North Ballarat, Williamstown Round 16 Saturday 16th July Geelong vs. Coburg Tigers Skilled Stadium 1:10 PM Port Melbourne vs. Bendigo Bombers TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 17th July Williamstown vs. Collingwood Norm Minns Oval 1:30 PM Frankston vs. Casey Scorpions Frankston Oval 2:00 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. North Ballarat Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Northern Bullants, Sandringham, Werribee Tigers Round 17 Saturday 23rd July Port Melbourne vs. Sandringham TEAC Oval 1:10 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Northern Bullants Box Hill City Oval 2:00 PM Coburg Tigers vs. North Ballarat Highgate Rec Reserve 2:00 PM Sunday 24th July Williamstown vs. Werribee Tigers Avalon Airport Oval 2:00 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Geelong Queen Elizabeth Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Casey Scorpions, Collingwood, Frankston Round 18 Saturday 30th July Geelong vs. Casey Scorpions* Skilled Stadium 10:40 AM Northern Bullants vs. Coburg Tigers Preston City Oval 1:10 PM Collingwood vs. Frankston Victoria Park 2:00 PM North Ballarat vs. Williamstown Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Sunday 31st July Sandringham vs. Werribee Tigers Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Bendigo Bombers, Box Hill Hawks, Port Melbourne Round 19 Saturday 6th August Geelong vs. Collingwood* Skilled Stadium 10:40 AM Werribee Tigers vs. Bendigo Bombers Avalon Airport Oval 1:10 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Box Hill Hawks Coburg City Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 7th August Frankston vs. Port Melbourne Frankston Oval 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Sandringham Casey Fields 2:00 PM BYE - North Ballarat, Northern Bullants, Williamstown Round 20 Saturday 13th August Collingwood vs. Bendigo Bombers Victoria Park 1:00 PM Williamstown vs. Port Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval 1:10 PM North Ballarat vs. Frankston Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM Northern Bullants vs. Geelong Visy Park 2:00 PM Coburg Tigers vs. Casey Scorpions Highgate Rec Reserve 7:00 PM Sunday 14th August Sandringham vs. Box Hill Hawks Trevor Barker Beach Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Werribee Tigers Round 21 Saturday 20th August Collingwood vs. Sandringham Victoria Park 1:00 PM Box Hill Hawks vs. Williamstown Box Hill City Oval 1:10 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. North Ballarat Queen Elizabeth Oval 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Werribee Tigers Casey Fields 2:00 PM Port Melbourne vs. Northern Bullants TEAC Oval 2:00 PM Sunday 21st August Frankston vs. Coburg Tigers Frankston Oval 2:00 PM BYE - Geelong Round 22 Saturday 27th August Geelong vs. Sandringham* Skilled Stadium 10:40 AM Port Melbourne vs. Box Hill Hawks TEAC Oval 1:10 PM Bendigo Bombers vs. Coburg Tigers Queen Elizabeth Oval 2:00 PM Casey Scorpions vs. Northern Bullants Casey Fields 2:00 PM Sunday 28th August Frankston vs. Williamstown Frankston Oval 2:00 PM North Ballarat vs. Werribee Tigers Eureka Stadium 2:00 PM BYE - Collingwood

No news on that score. Will find out in the new year.

Casey's least memorable game of 2010 was the shellacking out at Williamstown which saw the Scorpions topple from the ladder leadership they so briefly occupied. One of Williamstown's best players on the day was their 23rd man from Western Jets, Ben Casley who kicked four goals and was most impressive. It must have been a flash in the pan because I don't think he was picked up in the draft. Feel free to correct me if I've misread it because it seems that there are so many concession picks and free kicks going around that it's most confusing. I think the general feeling among VFL watchers was one of disappointment that some highly touted players like Matt Little, Callum Sinclair and Mitch Thorp didn't make it and there was no interest in Beau Dowler or Beau Muston and a few others. I suppose there are mixed feelings at Casey about the outcome of the drafts. The Scorps didn't lose any players directly although Michael Stockdale and James Wall were mentioned in dispatches. Peter Faulks who crossed to Williamstown at the end of last year was picked up in trade week and will join Alex Silvagni at the Dockers. A few likely lads were drafted from our feeder club Gippsland Power (Dyson Heppell, Jed Lamb, Dean McDonald and Michael Ross) but I still think that a good batch of recruits will come from that source including Tim Northe who is an exciting footballer who, at 175cm, might be just a little short for the AFL. Of course, Brad Miller (Richmond) and Kyle Cheney (Hawthorn) will be sorely missed along with Daniel Bell and high flyer Danny Hughes who will probably finish up back with the Zebras. On the credit side, the Scorpions will host most of the promising new Demon draftees and if the boys all remain fit, we should have a good season with lots of interest about the makeup of the team. Also, now that we know who has been drafted, the recruiting process at VFL clubs can proceed as there is a need to replace a few of the departing players which this year include Ben MacReadie who has gone to the SANFL.

Casey's least memorable game of 2010 was the shellacking out at Williamstown which saw the Scorpions topple from the ladder leadership they so briefly occupied. One of Williamstown's best players on the day was their 23rd man from Western Jets, Ben Casley who kicked four goals and was most impressive. It must have been a flash in the pan because I don't think he was picked up in the draft. Feel free to correct me if I've misread it because it seems that there are so many concession picks and free kicks going around that it's most confusing. I think the general feeling among VFL watchers was one of disappointment that some highly touted players like Matt Little, Callum Sinclair and Mitch Thorp didn't make it and there was no interest in Beau Dowler or Beau Muston and a few others. I suppose there are mixed feelings at Casey about the outcome of the drafts. The Scorps didn't lose any players directly although Michael Stockdale and James Wall were mentioned in dispatches. Peter Faulks who crossed to Williamstown at the end of last year was picked up in trade week and will join Alex Silvagni at the Dockers. A few likely lads were drafted from our feeder club Gippsland Power (Dyson Heppell, Jed Lamb, Dean McDonald and Michael Ross) but I still think that a good batch of recruits will come from that source including Tim Northe who is an exciting footballer who, at 175cm, might be just a little short for the AFL. Of course, Brad Miller (Richmond) and Kyle Cheney (Hawthorn) will be sorely missed along with Daniel Bell and high flyer Danny Hughes who will probably finish up back with the Zebras. On the credit side, the Scorpions will host most of the promising new Demon draftees and if the boys all remain fit, we should have a good season with lots of interest about the makeup of the team. Also, now that we know who has been drafted, the recruiting process at VFL clubs can proceed as there is a need to replace a few of the departing players which this year include Ben MacReadie who has gone to the SANFL.

Casey Scorpions Practice Matches for 2011:- Sat 5th March vs. Box Hill at CASEY FIELDS Sat 12th March vs. Sandringham at CASEY FIELDS Sat 19th March vs. Coburg at CRAIGIEBURN Sat 26th March vs, Port Melbourne at CASEY FIELDS The VFL fixture is not expected to be issued until mid month.

The Berwick Leader has some good news and some bad news. The good news is that injured skipper Kyle Matthews is back on track and there's a good spread of young local talent at early training. The bad news is the loss of a few stalwarts including possibly James Wall. Time will tell.

From the local paper out Casey way, a story on the Scorpions. Unfortunately, Ben MacReadie is out as is Brad Miller who looks like going to the Coburg Tigers. Kyle Cheney is off to the Box Hill Hawks who should be strong again next year - Scorpions stung by loss of stars. The first training session of the 2011 pre season starts later this afternoon and the club expects about seventy players on the track. At this early stage in proceedings (pre draft) there won't be any big name recruits but there will be some good local players on hand and a spread of talented TAC Cup graduates, mainly from the Gippsland Power which finished runner up in this year's competition. I am in contact with the club and will shortly have a feature on the Scorpions and the prospects for the forthcoming season.

I think you might be mistaken. Casey beat Werribee both times this year and Thorp only played in the second game having little or no influence. The Scorpions lost twice to the Box Hill Hawks the year before when he was a Hawks player but they certainly were not walloped by 10 goals. Both games were close all day and Thorp's performances don't stand out in my mind. He played a few good games for Werribee but was no sensation and would be lucky to make a team's senior list. A rookie chance - possibly but I'm not sure that the Dees would gain that much by having him as a rookie.

While it's never too early to start recruiting and the Casey Scorpions are working hard to strengthen their list, we really won't get the full picture until after the drafts as there are many good young footballers around who are hopeful of being drafted to an AFL club over the coming month or so. On the debit side of the ledger, we know that a few of the Demon listed players who were regulars at Casey over the past couple of seasons will be gone next year but they will be replaced by others who will be drafted to the club. That is the way of things in this competition. However, the Casey Scorpions website (www.scorpions.com.au) reports that there is a danger that the club will lose left-footed Ben MacReadie who is weighing up an offer from SANFL club West Adelaide. Scorpions' Casey Brad Gotch believes the midfielder is all but committed to leave the club. Apart from MacReadie the only other player in doubt is defender Glenn Chivers who was severely restricted by injury in 2010. Casey has also appointed former Devon Meadows coach Steve O'Brien to a development role at the club which will also involve coaching the reserves. O'Brien is likely to bring with him at least two Devon Meadows stars Steve McInnes and Stefan Baumgartner and others from rival local clubs.

26 days to pre-season training ...

Brother. Silvagni and Faulks were both important key defenders at Casey in 2009. No doubt, Alex pushed Faulks' cause with the Dockers.

Fremantle has traded pick 55 to Gold Coast for pick 61 and Suns pre-listed player Peter Faulks (key defender, ex Williamstown and Casey Scorpions). Faulks was a teammate of Alex Silvagni at the Scorps before that player was drafted by the Dockers.

Some stories in the media on Brad Miller, Kyle Cheney and Alex Silvagni at the Casey Presentation Night - MILLER WINS TOP TROPHY YOUNG DEMON KYLE CHENEY IS TOP CASEY SCORPION 'SOS' ON NERVES AND PLAYSTATIONS

Congratulations to Brad Miller on winning Casey's Gardner Clark Medal. More HERE.

The winner of this year's Gardner-Clark Medal for best and fairest player with the Casey Scorpions is forward Brad Miller who polled 86 votes to head off runner up Kyle Cheney by the slender margin of three votes. Defender Matthew Warnock finished third with 62 votes while first year player Danny Nicholls polled the most votes among the Casey listed players. Unluckiest player was Michael Stockdale who missed the final six games plus two finals and still managed to finish in sixth place. Miller was also the club's leading goal kicker with 42 including that match winning ten goal haul against Gold Coast late in the season. Winner of the club's most improved award was Michael Riseley who played some exciting football after being promoted to play the last three senior games of the season (including two finals) while Ricky Plummer is the club's Rising Star. The Alarah/Leader Award went to Kyle Cheney (seniors) and David Bell (reserves). Other seniors awards went to: Brad Miller - Respect, Passion, Mateship James Wall - Team Acts Matt Fieldsend - Coach's Award Evan Panozza - Captain's Award Top votegetters (Gardner-Clark Medal) 86 Brad Miller 83 Kyle Cheney 62 Matthew Warnock 60 Danny Nicholls 55 Paul Johnson 53 Michael Stockdale 52 Ben Macreadie 48 James Wall 46 Evan Panozza Reserves Award winners were: Mark Weekes - Best & Fairest Gus Patti & David Bell - Equal runners up Best & Fairest Will Petropolous - Most Improved Ricky Plummer - Respect, Passion, Mateship and Team Acts Dean Cleven - Coach's Award

The Casey Scorpions will hold their Presentation Night where the 2010 Gardner Clark Medallist will be presented on Friday, September 24th, at Casey Fields VFL Function room. The Gardner Clark Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player for the club and an exciting finish is expected. On my reckoning it's a battle between three players who had outstanding seasons for the Scorpions - defender Michael Stockdale, utility James Wall and forward Brad Miller. In his second season at the club after being recruited from the Gippsland Power, Stockdale was outstanding as a running defender and fought his way into the VFL representative side which thrashed the WAFL in midseason. He was leading the count in the VFLs J J Liston Trophy at the half way mark of the season and, despite suffering a season ending knee injury in Round 12, he finished fifth in the final voting. Acting skipper Wall won the last two Gardner Clark Medals and is considered a good chance to make it three in a row. Wall has been an inspirational leader in the absence of the injured Kyle Matthews and has played just about everywhere from wing to key back and key forward posts during the season. Millers season was shared between the Demons and the Scorpions but when it was announced he would be delisted at seasons ended and offered a farewell match with Melbourne, he chose to stick with Casey rather than let his teammates down in their first final. Miller played 15 games and was the clubs top goal kicker with 42 for the season including a bag of ten against the Gold Coast when his heroics in front of goal inspired a magnificent come from behind victory. So will it be one of the above trio or someone like Ben MacReadie or Kyle Cheney? The major award is named after two former club champion ruckmen in Ian Gardner and Simon Clark. Each played in premierships and each won five Best and Fairest awards at the club. Gardner in the 60s and Clark in the 90's You can find out by following the action at the clubs Presentation Night - see Casey Scorpions website.

The problem is that while VFL clubs can put in some preparatory recruiting work at this time and they never stop looking for prospective players, they are constrained by the fact that they need to wait till the outcome of the trades and drafts (including the rookie draft which takes place about a week before Christmas). It's only then that many players are prepared to commit and that the VFL counterparts know what to look for e.g. if Melbourne rookied 2 or 3 more ruckmen, you wouldn't expect Casey to go out and chase too many players of the same type.

If you're still there Oracle, I'd appreciate an update on the VFL grand final. Last I heard the Roosters were well on top.

Come on Gippsland!

I'm chuffed too because these Gippsland Power lads - Blake Carew, Dale Hoghton, Aiden Lindsey, Dean McDonald and Ryan Pendlebury - represented the Casey Scorpions seniors during the year under the VFL 23rd player rule. While some of the stars of the Gippsland team will go on to long AFL careers, some will get to play VFL with the Scorps in the coming years and have the opportunity to develop their careers in front of our very eyes at Casey Fields.

Don't forget to stay around and give your support to the boys from Gippsland Power. The Power are the feeder club for the Casey Scorpions and a number of the lads in tomorrow's side played alongside the Demons in the Scorps team under the 23rd player rule that they have in the VFL.