KC from Casey

An unselfish handpass from Robbo for Juice's second and it's a goal the difference at qtr time.

A hanger and goal to Robbo one of the few highlights at a wet and windy Casey Fields. Casey 2.2.14 to Coburg 4.2.26. Newton has the other goal.

Casey Scorpions v Coburg Tigers at Casey Fields Sunday 5 April 2009 This is the final practice game before the start of the season proper. Ten Demons have been named in the Casey seniors squad while two are in the reserves. Seniors - game starts at 2:00pm 1 Kyle Matthews © 4 Ben Waite 5 Michael Stockdale 6 Peter Faulkes 7 Nick Scanlon 8 Scott McLeod 11 James Wall (vc) 13 James Taylor 15 Tim Mohr 17 Rian McGough 20 David Collins 22 Ben MaCreadie 24 Pierce Liddle 31 Alex Silvagni (vc) 36 Josh Bolton 38 Kainen Schrape 49 Russell Robertson 51 Liam Jurrah 55 Adam Maric 57 Shane Valenti 61 John Meesen 66 Jordie McKenzie 69 Rohan Bail 70 Michael Newton 77 Trent Zomer 81 Lynden Dunn Reserves - game starts at 11.10am 22 Beau Vernon 3 Ryan Creed 9 Matthew Moore 10 Glenn Chivers 12 Andrew Oldmeadow 14 Evan Panozza 18 Jarred Matheson 19 James Terry 21 Gareth Snow 23 Matt Rosier 25 Wade Lees 26 Gus Patti 27 Cade Maskell 28 Ben McDonald 29 Tim Crespin 30 Luke Williams 32 Clay Illman 33 Terry Mildren 34 Jack Mazurek 37 Jed Costigan 39 Sam Benbow 40 Dean Kelly 41 Aaron Hillberg 42 Scott Virtue 43 Brad Sykes 44 James Blaser Kyle Swinden 71 Rhys Healey 78 Tom McNamara

Frankston 12.15.87 defeated Casey 12.12.84 Ball was going into Casey's forward line as the siren sounded. The Scorpions left their run just a little late. They allowed Frankston to break away to a three goal lead early in the final term. Players like Sylvia, Newton and Valenti all lifted but the team probably didn't deserve to win because of their poor start. Jurrah and Maric sat out the last quarter, the latter being an outside chance of playing AFL in the next couple of weeks. Wall was the best Casey player. We also saw a very good debut from NT's Pierce Liddle who looks to have a promising future. The team missed skipper Matthews as well as Austin Wonaeamirri who pulled out with hamstring soreness.

I can confirm that Aussie is out because of a hamstring strain. Not good news and he'll probably be out for a couple more weeks and then he'll need time at Casey to recover full match fitness. The flip side of that is that Addam Maric is looking very likely as a goal sneak forward. He's clever, he's cheeky, he takes risks and the crowds will love him. I get the feeling that, at this level, he's too quick for some of his teammates but he's looking the goods. The other news is that John Meesen has been controlling the rucks and is getting kicks around the ground in what is easily the best game I've seen him play. I wouldn't say he'll be a dominating footballer at the level above because his opposition ruckman is no world beater. Liam Jurrah now has three goals but still looks to be lacking condition and needs more work before he can be considered for higher honours. Rohan Bail has added a lot of run and is moving well around the ground. Newton and Sylvia are in and out of the game and more is expected if they want to play in top company. Casey kept coming at Frankston and moved to within less than a goal late in the quarter before kicking a goal on the siren to go to a 9.12.66 lead to 8.7.55.

After conceding the first goal of the second quarter, the Scorpions lifted. The comeback from Casey was sparked by a couple of nice goals from Jurrah and a clever goal to Maric who is a class above most of the others on the ground. Newton and Bail got a bit of the ball and Meesen who is improving as the game goes on, won plenty of hit outs. A couple of moves - Zomer is playing down back while Stef Martin is playing forward with the odd run on the ball. Shane Valenti is getting his hands on the footy but is not always effective. The Scorps are getting a bit of drive from newcomer Pierce Liddle from NT. Nick Scanlon looks to be a dangerous player up forward. Peter Faulks and Ben Waite doing well for Casey. A late goal to Frankston sees them holding a 14 point lead - 7.7.49 to Casey 5.5.35

Casey struggling at quarter time 0.3.3 to Frankston 4.3.27. Best Casey player - Wall and of the Demons Maric and Zomer are the better players. Otherwise, most of the Melbourne players are struggling to be effective and, based on his start, it's doubtful whether Sylvia will get 9 kicks let alone kick 9 goals. Aussie is not out there at all!

Thanks. I should have worked it out!

Thanks Redleg. I will be doing a report on the game which will cover the better players from both sides. If caseyscorp is out there I'd appreciate it if he could identify number 2, a blond player called Andy who played well but whose name was not in the team sheet handed out at the ground. Casey dominated the rucks through PJ and Wall and they gave their little men first use for most of the day. Valenti and Matthews won a lot of the ball at ground level and the latter kicked a real captain's goal late in the game to effectively seal the result. More later.

Casey fought off a strong finishing Hawks to win by 10 points. All clear on the injury front from what I could see. A couple of the boys were getting iced up on the boundary and most didn't see out the game although that was probably intentional. Maric and Aussie only had half a game while PJ and Rivers had about 3 and a half quarters. The others somewhere in between and the rookies played out most of the game. Report later as reception is poor. Casey Scorpions 11.7.73 defeated Box Hill Hawks 9.9.63

Yes. Reception poor. Have to send in a report by carrier pigeon the way things are going. 3 Qtr time: Casey Scorpions 10.6.66 to Box Hill 4.7.31 Box Hill went very defensive and played possession football going out wide to keep the scoring down. Still anybody's game as the wind is strengthening. Valenti & Matthews getting a lot of the ball. No noticeable injuries in the Demon camp.

Half Time: Casey Scorpions 8.5.53 to Box Hill 4.6.30 Addam Maric with three goals has been exceptional in his decision making and ball use. Aussie and Shane Valenti have done well while the Casey players to stand out were Wall, Matthews and Silvagni. Goalkickers: Maric 3, Hillberge, Jurrah, Sykes, Zomer

Qtr time: Casey Scorpions 6.3.39 to Box Hill 0.4.4 It's a scrambly affair with Maric (2 goals) and Valenti starring. Other goalkickers - Jurrah, Zomer, Hillberge & Sykes

Jurrah's first goal. Scorps 2.0 to 0.2 - kicking with the wind.

I can officially announce that Liam Jurrah has just entered the stadium here at Casey Fields along with the Casey team and including the Demon contingent. As they warm up Aussie's looking particularly good with his slim body and new haircut. Conditions are completely different to last week with a hot dry wind blowing from the north. Casey reserves lost 9.12.66 to Box Hill 16.9.105.

James Taylor played 20 senior games with Casey Scorpions last year. Pierce Liddle is the Aaron Davey scholarship player with Casey who arrived from NT last week. It's definitely not the Box Hill Hawks list. VFL clubs are all trying out new and unfamiliar names at this time of year and there is always a high turnover of players especially in the ressies. The following players who are on the seniors and reserves team sheets for the Box Hill game were on the Casey list last year: Ryan Creed, Tim Crespin, Sam Gibson, Wade Lees, Jarred Matheson, Kyle Matthews, Ben McDonald, Tim Mohr, Alex Silvagni, Josh Singh, Gareth Snow, Kyle Swinden, James Taylor, Ben Waite and James Wall. Incidentally, I've only been living in Cranny for a short time and it's a great place to live .

The team list for tomorrow's games are out. For the seniors game at 2pm at Casey Fields the list is as follows with five MFC seniors and three rookies taking part in what should be a fairly strong first up team (unlike Sandy in recent years, the Scorpions players are young with no one older than 24 and apparently no Nick Sautners): 1 Kyle Matthews © 5 Michael Stockdale 6 Peter Faulks 7 Nick Scanlon 8 Scott McLeod 11 James Wall 12 Andrew Oldmeadow 16 Chris Clay 18 Jarred Matheson 21 Gareth Snow 22 Ben MaCreadie 27 Cade Maskell 29 Tim Crespin 31 Alex Silvagni 36 Josh Bolton 38 Kainen Schrape 41 Aaron Hillberge 43 Brad Sykes 51 Liam Jurrah 55 Adam Maric 57 Shane Valenti 66 Jordie McKenzie 73 Austin Wonaemirri 75 Paul Johnson 77 Trent Zomer 80 Jared Rivers Bet this is the first time Jared Rivers has worn a number as high (or low depending on your perspective) as # 80. The Hawks list has a few of their younger players and recruits but none of their strikingly big name players like Buddy. Not even the Oooze. The Reserves team for the game starting at 11am is: 3 Ryan Creed 4 Ben Waite 13 James Taylor 15 Tim Mohr 16 Chris Clay 20 David Collins 21 Gareth Snow 23 Matt Rosier 24 Pierce Liddle 25 Wade Lees 26 Gus Patti 28 Ben McDonald 34 Jack Mazurek 35 Josh Singh 37 Jed Costigan 38 Kainen Schrape 39 Sam Benbow 40 Dean Kelly 42 Scott Virtue 43 Brad Sykes 45 James Dean Liam Donnelly Kyle Swinden Terry Mildren Sam Gibson # 13 is one of my favourites so I'm going down there early to see if he can play footy as well as he can sing. I'm a bit worried about # 45 though - it seems that the rumours about his tragic departure were exaggerated . Thanks to Casey Scorpions for making the lists available.

Thanks to some smart recruiting work from Demon star Aaron Davey, Liam Jurrah will not be the only Northern Territorian to swap a Magpie guernsey for the red and blue this year. Davey has helped recruit courageous Palmerston Magpies utility player and skipper of the NT Under 18's Pierce Liddle to the Casey Scorpions for 2009. The lightly built 185cm midfielder missed out on the the December rookie draft and had been selected to take a place in the first squad for the new Northern Territory Thunder team which is due to make its debut in the AFLQ competition against Southport on April 4. However, the 18 year old Liddle was persuaded by Davey to take his chances in Melbourne with the Scorpions. Demon recruiting manager Barry Prendergast also put in a good word and the right footed speedster will now be seen around Casey Fields this year. He will probably be under the watchful eye of the large indigenous contingent from Melbourne including Jurrah who also swapped his black and white vertical striped jumper (the Yuendumu Magpies) for the more striking red and blue colours of Melbourne when he was snapped up as first pick in the 2009 Pre Season Draft. Liddle was one of four players from the elite NT Thunder under-18 program selected by AFLNT game development manager Jarrod Chipperfield to train with AFL club Western Bulldogs last year.

My family was exactly the same although I wonder what will happen now with the alignment and the fact that the rest of them have moved up north to a warmer climate. Meanwhile, Casey's proactive recruiting campaign continues with the signing of De La Salle key forward Matt Moore who was runner up in the Amateurs goalkicking last year despite missing 5 games. The 194cm 93kg forward is highly thought of and made the VAFA under 23 squad last year.

The Scorpions' recruiting machine rolls on. The Casey Scorpions website has posted that ex Saint rookie Glenn Chivers has signed on with Casey for season 2009.

I was in Cranbourne this morning and had a brief window of opportunity to drop into training and to have a quick look around the facility at Casey Fields. I wasn't there long enough to do any report on training but Liam Jurrah was there and is quite unmistakable. He's tall, pencil thin, moves like a cat and looks an interesting prospect. Like Austin Wonaeamirri last year, he goes into the pre season without the November/December base of the others but that didn't stop Aussie from making a bit of an impact when he got his opportunity. Aussie incidentally looks very fit as does The Flash. Brock McLean took part in full training in the short time I was there. Exciting times ahead for the Dees and big improvements expected now that they are doing all of their pre season at the one facility.