KC from Casey

BOX HILL HAWKS v CASEY SCORPIONS at Box Hill City Oval - Seniors at 2.00 pm CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Lees Silvagni Martin Half backs Wall Faulks Panozza Centreline Bennell Matthews Stockdale * Half forwards Chivers Newton Valenti Forwards Liddle Waite Jamar Followers Mohr MacReadie Blaser Interchange (from) Collins Costigan Creed Johnson McGough McKenzie McNamara Scanlon Smith Taylor Virtue BOX HILL HAWKS Backs Dew Renouf Sierakowski Half backs Whitecross Suckling Kiel Centreline Breust Yze Lisle Half forwards Iles Morton Taylor Forwards Williams Bello Murphy Followers Pedersen Tuck Walsh Interchange (from) Cunningham * Curnow Fagan George Gibson McQueen-Miscamble Markovic Neil Peterson Smithwick * 23rd man Reserves at 11.20 am CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Virtue Crespin Taylor Half backs MacLeod Zomer Terry Centreline Sykes Collins Clay Half forwards Dean Williams Singh Forwards Creed Mildren Scanlon Followers Patti Costigan Matheson Interchange (from) J Bolton Blackie Granger Kelly J McNamara McDonald Mollica Moore Seeger Smith

AFL listed players need 7 games in total at VFL level (senior and/or reserves) to qualify. I make the list as follows (injured/unavailable = *): Rohan Bail *, Simon Buckley *, Kyle Cheney, Rhys Healey *, Danny Hughes *, Liam Jurrah, Jordie McKenzie, Tom McNamara, Michael Newton *, Jake Spencer, Shane Valenti, Jack Watts *, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan * and Trent Zomer. One game more required to qualify:- Clint Bartram *, Lynden Dunn * and Russell Robertson (since Robbo is playing his farewell game on Sunday, he won't qualify). The sad part of it all is that with so many qualified players injured or unavailable, a number of players will miss out on an opportunity to play finals football with a successful club which is an experience our younger players have yet to get. Some of them could have gained a lot of benefit from that.

Sorry, went off line and couldn't connect to Demonland at the vital moment when the Scorps won the game. The final quarter was a heartstopper with Williamstown kicking a couple against the wind. Casey showed a lot of guts to come back with with great courage and Faulks kicked a long bomb at the 31 minute mark to give the home side a five point lead. Casey attacked for two moments of nervous excitement with Lees taking a mark and the siren sounded as he lined up for goal. The result was a point but it didn't matter. Casey had finally won a close one. Ruckman Tim Mohr benefitted from Mark Jamar's inclusion in the Melbourne side. He kicked three goals in a close to best on ground performance. Casey Scorpions 0.4.4 4.8.32 5.8.38 9.13.67 Williamstown 2.7.19 2.7.19 5.19 7.19.61 Goals Casey Scorpions Mohr 3 Waite 2 Faulks Matthews Scanlon Zomer Williamstown Everitt Galea Gotch Joyce O'Keefe Skipper Stack Best Casey Scorpions MacReadie Stockdale Mohr Lees Faulks Silvagni Williamstown O'Keefe Johnson Skipper Stretton Callan Wood Reported Josh Bolton (Casey Scorpions) for charging Dean Galea (Williamstown)

That's right. Bartram doing well, Zomer flashing in and out. Still 9 points the difference with Willy kicking a goal against the wind after Casey was closing in on the lead. Some of the Casey boys are looking tired and a big effort's needed to bring in a close one at long last. In any event, the news from other grounds is not good for Casey with the Northern Bullants holding a big lead over Coburg in a game that will probably shut the Scorpions out of the top four anyway.

Three Quarter Time: Williamstown leading 5.19.49 to Casey Scorpions 5.8.38. The Seagulls are playing strongly but can't find the goals enough. Dare I say it - a chance to avenge the loss from earlier in the year at Willy!

Half Time: Casey Scorpions 4.8.32 to Williamstown 2.7.19 Goals Waite 2 Mohr Zomer MacReadie, Faulks, Wall and Matthews playing well. Bennell is adding a lot of run off half back and Zomer did well when moved forward and kicked a goal. The experience of Williamstwon was important in that quarter and the big question is whether the Scorpions can match it against a team in the blustery conditions with several match fit AFL players.

Quarter Time: Williamstown 2.7.19 to Casey Scorpions 0.4.4 It was a case of grim defence against a strong breeze for the Scorpions who had only one or two real chances to score goals. They showed a lot of desperation and did well to keep the Seagulls' score down.

Casey Reserves were comprehensively beaten by Williamstown: Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 1.2.8 4.2.26 5.2.32 Williamstown 3.4.22 8.13.61 11.18.84 19.25.139 Goals Casey Scorpions Sykes 2 Blackie MacLeod Virtue Williamstown Cordy Cravino Langlands Ogle O'Shea Rampe Shaw Tanner 2 Jones Lockwood Lynch Best Casey Scorpions MacLeod Dean Clay Bolton Collins Terry Williamstown Langlands Lockwood Rampe Wight Young Cravino

Clint Bartram and Lynden Dunn both out leaving Jamie Bennell as the only MFC senior listed player along with rookie Trent Zomer.

Yes, it's true that only a small number of Demons will be in today's Casey team that runs out onto the wide open spaces of Casey Fields to take on the competition leaders Williamstown. That does not however, mean the result is a foregone conclusion. In yesterday's VFL games, Werribee, with just 4 AFL players beat Geelong and stand alone Port Melbourne beat Sandringham which contained a number of St. Kilda players including Luke Ball.

The VFL rules re 23rd men are confusing but the designation is correct for this week. Stockdale and Gotch are both 18/19 year olds and eligible for that status this week. This allows the club to field an extra man and, given all the hassles with injured players this year, it's a handy rule. The Club will be are celebrating the 1999 Premiership at the President's Lunch - on 19 September 1999, Springvale Scorpions 19.11.125 defeated North Ballarat 9.11.65 "Folks who follow the VFL closely reckon there’s only one thing you can say with certainty each year. That is, never write off the Scorpions." – Herald Sun Sept 20 1999 This quotation is being proved again this year, so come along and support the Scorpions in their last home game before finals. Supporters are asked to stay after the game for players awards presentations. Bar & Bistro open This means that the two alignment partners celebrated their last premierships on the same day 35 years apart because on 19 September 1964, Melbourne 8.16.64 defeated Collingwood 8.12.60

CASEY SCORPIONS v WILLIAMSTOWN Sunday 23 August 2009 at Casey Fields - Seniors at 2.10 pm CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Lees Silvagni Bartram Half backs Panozza Faulks Wall Centreline Stockdale* Matthews McGough Half forwards Dunn Zomer Chivers Forwards Liddle Waite Smith Followers Jamar MacReadie Blaser Interchange (from) Bennell Bolton Costigan Creed Mohr Patti Scanlon Snow Taylor WILLIAMSTOWN Backs Callan Meyer Everitt Half backs Tiller Cloke Jolley Centreline Stretton Brett Johnson Wood Half forwards Stack Grant Galea Forwards Rose Little Joyce Followers Skipper Davies O'Keefe Interchange (from) Boumann Georgiadis Gotch* Grossman Langlands Lynch Roughhead White Wight * 23rd man Reserves at 10.40am CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Virtue Hillberge Crespin Half backs Wheatley Bolton McLeod Centreline Costigan Collins Clay Half forwards Singh Williams Dean Forwards Sykes Mildren Creed Followers Patti Taylor Mathieson Interchange (from) Dearaugo Kelly Granger McDonald J McNamara Mazurek Seeger Terry

Just a little update on Casey matters. As you may know, the Scorpions have a bye this weekend but today's results mean that their chances of finishing in the top four have diminished because that matter is now out of their hands. To make the top four, Casey need to beat two sides currently in the top four - Williamstown (at home) and Box Hill Hawks (away) and hope for the Northern Bullants to lose one of their games against teams outside the eight. That's a tough ask when the team has been considerably weakened by injury - particularly to MFC players. However, Sandringham's defeat at the hands of lowly Frankston at TBBO today virtually ensures that Casey will not miss out on the eight unless they are thrashed by large amount in both of their remaining games and Sandy win both of theirs by big margins. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no Demon injuries tomorrow and the rest of the season goes well for the boys.

The Scorps never gave in and a 29 point loss in the circumstances is a damn good result. They have two weeks to regroup and will have to beat Williamstown (home) and Box Hill (away) to claim a top four spot. Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 1.2.8 4.2.26 9.6.60 North Ballarat 3.9.27 7.14.56 9.15.69 12.17.89 Goals Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Liddle 2 Lees Silvagni Wall Zomer North Ballarat Driscoll 4 McKenzie Spolding 2 Edwards Greig Sewell Wundke Best Casey Scorpions Faulks Smith Snow Lees Liddle Wall North Ballarat Sewell Feery Driscoll Searl Clifton Lower

9.14.56 to 4.2.26 A winning quarter!

Quarter Time: North Ballarat dominating 3.9.27 to Casey 1.0.6

James Wall just kicked the first for the undermanned Scorps. North Ballarat 2.6.18 to Casey Scorpions 1.0.6

Casey Seniors will only have two Demons in their lineup today. Paul Johnson, Russell Robertson and Danny Hughes haven't taken their places in the selcted team. Will all three play for Melbourne tomorrow? The Casey lineup for the game is CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Stockdale Mohr Taylor Half backs Lees Faulks Panozza Centreline Matthews Buckley Wall Half Forwards Scanlon Waite Liddle Forwards Creed Chivers McGough Followers Zomer MacReadie Silvagni Interchange Blaser Lehman* Matheson Smith Snow The reserves were well beaten in the battle for a place in the finals. Casey Scorpions 2.1.13 4.3.27 6.4.40 8.7.55 North Ballarat 2.7.19 5.11.41 9.15.59 17.21.123 Goals Casey Scorpions Williams 4 Palazzolo 2 Campbell Seeger North Ballarat Benjamin 5 Dinnell Limb Micallef Murnane Raworth 2 Bell George Best Casey Scorpions Virtue Patti Sykes Crespin MacLeod Singh North Ballarat George Benjamin Dinnell Caldow Niblett Bell

Casey takes on North Ballart in Morwell this week as a part of VFL community partnership and recognition for the CFA volunteers. The game will be televised on ABC1. CASEY SCORPIONS v NORTH BALLARAT Saturday 8 August 2009 at Morwell Football Ground Seniors at 1.10pm CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Lees Silvagni Stockdale Half backs Buckley Faulks Taylor Centreline Matthews Creed Wall Half Forwards Panozza Robertson Chivers Forwards Liddle Waite Hughes Followers Johnson MacReadie Sylvia Interchange (from) Bail Blaser Dunn Lehman* McGough T McNamara Matheson Petterd Scanlon Smith Virtue Zomer NORTH BALLARAT Backs White Watt Sharkey Half backs Goodes Searl McHugh Centreline Richardson Clifton Wells Half forwards Wundke Spolding Jo Smith Forwards Driscoll A Edwards Peters Followers Hale Sewell Garlett Interchange (from) C Benjamin W Benjamin Cartledge Dinnell Feary Greig Hall Limb Lower McKenzie* Murnane Roach * TAC Cup 23rd man Reserves at 10.20am CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Crespin Snow Virtue Half backs MacLeod Bolton Wheatley Centreline Clay Matheson Costigan Half forwards Singh Williams Dean Forwards Smith Campbell Sykes Followers Patti Vernon Blaser Interchange (from) Dearaugo Dryden Kelly J McNamara Mildren Schrape Seeger Taylor Terry

The Melbourne Football Club website has put up Peter German's report on the Melbourne listed players here.

Rohan Bail played a terrific game in an undermanned Casey reserves team against the Northern Bullants today. Kicked a goal and named in the best in a losing team. Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 7.5.47 8.5.53 11.7.73 Northern Bullants 7.5.47 7.7.49 15.9.99 20.11.131 Goals Casey Scorpions Sykes 3 McNamara Singh 2 Bail Costigan Patti Smith Northern Bullants Higgs Power 3 Gale Prior Spiteri 2 Adams Bannister Cunningham Hill Meese McDermott Saad Stavely Best Casey Scorpions Patti Bail Costigan Dearaugo Smith Sykes Northern Bullants Stavely Higgs Meese Adams Vansittart Spiteri

Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 8.5.53 9.10.64 14.12.96 Geelong 4.4.28 7.6.48 11.9.75 15.10.100 Goals Casey Scorpions Sylvia 3 Hughes Waite 2 MacReadie McNamara Matthews Scanlon Silvagni Robertson Zomer Geelong Podsiadly 6 Westwood 3 Carson Moles Sheringham Smith Tutungi West Best Casey Scorpions Stockdale Sylvia Faulks Wall Matthews Liddle Geelong Podsiadly Moles Tutungi Firman Laidler

Couldn't make it to the game but I've been informed that Scorps lead by 5 points at half time.

The draw keeps throwing up tough games against the depleted Scorpions and they continue to stand tall. This week it's Geelong at Skilled Stadium in the curtain raiser to the Cats' game against Adelaide with Brad Ottens making his comeback at full forward. This will certainly test Alex Silvagni's mettle. There will be some tough contests with Jake Spencer battling it out against Geeong's Blake in the ruck. GEELONG v CASEY SCORPIONS (AFL C/R) - Seniors Saturday 1st August 2009 Skilled Stadium at 10:40 AM GEELONG Backs Donohue Gillies Firman Half backs D Johnson McKenna Hollmer Centreline Laidler Moles Raidme Half forwards B Johnson Podsiadly A Varcoe Forwards Westwood Ottens West Followers Blake Simpkin Djerrkura Interchange (from) Carson Corrigan Kennedy Moreland Sheringham Smith Stavenuiter Tutungi CASEY SCORPIONS BacksWhelanSilvagni Stockdale Half backs BuckleyFaulks Taylor Centreline Wall Valenti Matthews Half forwards Panozza Robertson Chivers Forwards Jetta Waite Hughes Followers Spencer MacReadie Sylvia Interchange (from) Blaser Carr* Collins Grimes Lees Liddle McGough McNamara Morton Scanlon Snow Zomer The reserves are off to Preston where they take on the Northern Bullants in a must win game. NORTHERN BULLANTS v CASEY SCORPIONS - Reserves Sunday 2nd August 2009 NAB Oval at 11:10 AM CASEY SCORPIONS Backs Virtue Snow Mazurek Half backs McLeod Bolton Bail Centerline Costigan Matheson Clay Half forwards Singh Williams Dean Forwards Sykes McGough Terry Followers Patti Liddle Smith Interchange (from) Crespin DeAurago Dryden Hillberge Kelly Mildren Vernon

The stats for yesterday's Casey games are out courtesy of the club and these are the highlights: Casey had 188 kicks to Coburg's 171 but the Tigers had 198 handpasses to 126 and finished with 55 more disposals. They narrowly led marks taken 74-69 but the Scorps comfortably won both the tackle count 97 to 62 and spoils 31-11. The most interesting team stat (apart from the final scoreboard) was the inside 50s which had Coburg well ahead 59-39. Casey made the most of its low number of inside 50s into the wind when it booted three goals in the opening quarter and two in the third. Coburg managed only one goal into the wind and that came early in the second term. Clearly, the home side's more efficient use of the football was an important factor in helping it to set up the win. On an individual level Ben MacReadie and Michael Stockdale both managed 24 disposals, the former having 10 kicks & 14 handballs and the latter had 16 kicks 8 handpasses. James Wall posted 20 disposals and first gamer Wade Lees finished with 19 disposals. The Demons posted the following results:- Simon Buckley 7 kicks, 11 handballs 1 mark Danny Hughes 12 kicks, 2 handballs 6 marks 2 goals 1 behind Jake Spencer 2 kicks 8 handballs 3 marks Russell Robertson 3 kicks 5 handballs Trent Zomer 6 kicks 2 handballs 1 goal In the reserves Tom McNamara finished with 12 kicks 12 handballs and 5 marks. The team played half a dozen first gamers from local comps to cover the numbers now filling in at senior level.