KC from Casey

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.

Congratulations to former Demon Shane Valenti who was named joint 2010 J J Liston Trophy (VFL best & fairest) winner with North Ballarat's Stephen Clifford last night. Both players polled 20 votes. Casey's Michael Stockdale was an early leader with 11 votes before a knee injury prematurely ended his season. Despite the setback he still managed to finish in equal fifth place. The Casey Scorpions were named the VFL's best conducted club.

Game over, season over but a great fighting effort from the Scorps ... 11 point defeat. Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 5.5.35 6.6.42 9.6.60 Northern Bullants 6.3.39 8.6.54 10.7.67 10.11.71 Goals Casey Scorpions Miller 2 Creed Fieldsend Healey MacReadie McNamara Riseley Wall Northern Bullants O'hAilpin 3 Anderson Fisher Hampson Johnson McLean Saad Thomas Best Casey Scorpions MacReadie Fieldsend Lees Riseley Patti Mohr Northern Bullants McLean McCorkell Johnson Dare Morgan Arrowsmith

Great long kick and goal to Fieldsend who is one of Casey's best again. We're 13 points in and half a chance.

Goal to Apollo Creed. Ants lead by 19!

Three Quarter Time Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 5.5.35 6.6.42 Northern Bullants 6.3.39 8.6.54 10.7.67 Goals Miller 2 MacReadie McNamara Riseley Wall Misses to Miller and Blease costly.

Riseley kicks a goal from an angle. Then Miller marks but misses. Still down by 25 points.

Preprepared. Not up to usual standards. Bullants first two goals of the third quarter.

Half Time Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 5.5.35 Northern Bullants 6.3.39 8.8.56 Goals Miller 2 MacReadie McNamara Wall Casey's quarter with the wind lasted about 9 minutes less than the first. Go figure?

Saad of the Bullants marks, plays on, runs three times as far as Bennell did last week and goals. then Creed gets tackled as he's kicking in the goal square and finally Hughes misses from a free 10 metros out. To make matters worse Tom McNamara is off with an ankle injury.

Second goal to Miller.

That's a very young side and in a long, hard slog they will be up against it.Scorps have the wind advantage and will need to use it well to get back into the game. Patti is in for his first game, Mitch Dowse played a game last year as a Gippsland Power player under the 23rd man rule and Riseley is playing his third game. Tynan has only played one or two games.

Quarter Time Casey Scorpions 3.1.19 Northern Bullants 6.3.39 Goals Miller McNamara Wall A couple of late goals in a long quarter gave the Ants the edge.

First Casey goal to Miller - 1 goal each.

As expected, no Aussie.

Things are wet, wild and woolly here at North Port. Small crowd as expected given the conditions. Bit of a shame. There's a close entertaining game on in the reserves between Sandy and Willy. Casey are up against it today with eight MFC players missing from their last meeting a few weeks ago at Visy Park A few, like Bate, Grimes (who injured his hammy that day), Morton and Warnock aren't eligible while others like Fitzpatrick, Maric, Newton and Strauss are injured. Blistering is dead set right about the injuries. Casey is also missing players with injury. Captain Kyle Matthews (injury sustained after an assault), young playmaker Michael Stockdale (knee) who represented the VFL during the season and boom recruit Scott Simpson (ankle) who once kicked 8 goals for Geelong (VFL) are all out. I have a lot of faith in the boys coming into the side and reckon we're still a show today. The game's being televised by ABC1 again today and I invite your comments and scores because I'm going to do my best to preserve my iPhone from the elements.

VFL SECOND SEMI FINAL Saturday 4 September 2010 at 2.10pm CASEY SCORPIONS v NORTHERN BULLANTS TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Taylor McNamara Cheney Half backs Panozza Mohr Healey Centreline Creed Daniel Bell Wall Half forwards McGough Miller Hughes Forwards Fieldsend Purdy Wonaemirri Followers Cleven MacReadie Nicholls Interchange (from) Blease M Dowse Lees Patti Petropoulos Riseley Tynan Weekes NORTHERN BULLANTS Backs Ellard M Austin Tuohy Half backs Browne Hampson J Anderson Centreline Fisher Iacobucci Walker Half forwards Johnson Gale McCorkell Forwards Yarran Warnock Thornton Followers O'Hailpin B McLean Hadley Interchange (from) Arrowsmith S Austin Casboult Dare Kerr Morgan Lawless Neaves Saad Smith Thomas Woods

Tough ask for Scorps against 'Ants "THE good news is Casey is still alive despite Sunday's 32-point qualifying final loss at the hands of dual premier North Ballarat. "The bad is that a cut-throat final awaits on the back of a six-day break and against a Northern Bullants side oozing Carlton stars."

Saturday September 4 Seniors 2nd Semi Final Casey Scorpions vs Northern Bullants at TEAC Oval 2:10pm No chance of that because Bennell is no longer eligible for the finals now that Melbourne's season has ended. The bad news is that Matty Warnock is also no longer available.

All over and a disappointing 32 point loss to the Scorpions who, at least, live to fight another day. Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 4.4.28 8.4.52 13.6.84 North Ballarat 1.4.10 8.4.52 14.8.92 18.8.116 Goals Casey Scorpions Miller 4 Fieldsend Hughes McNamara 2 Bennell McGough Mohr North Ballarat Smith 3 Dinnell Hale Norris Smith 2 Driscoll Feery Micallef Richardson Tyler Urquhart White Best Casey Scorpions Warnock McNamara Healey Fieldsend Miller Cheney North Ballarat Clifton Peters Feery Sharkey Richardson Couch