Search the Community

The Casey Scorpions had no trouble in disposing of the winless Bendigo Gold by a massive 129 points at Casey Fields on Saturday but the glitter of the victory was somewhat overshadowed by a shock injury to Demon youngster Jesse Hogan who suffered a hyperextension to his knee early in the game. Hogan left the ground for scans with Casey general manager Matthew Young saying that "it's pretty disappointing but we're hoping that it's only a minor injury," and a Melbourne spokesman later expressing optimism that the young forward who has kicked 39 goals for the season to date, had managed to avoid major damage. The Scorpions opened brightly kicking against a strong northerly breeze and the seeds of their domination over the Gold were set early. Beanpole ruckman Max Gawn dominated the hit outs, James Magner and Jimmy Toumpas were in control in the middle, David Rodan was leading Bendigo a merry dance and Jake Best and Rory Taggert were finishing things off with goals. The latter duo each had two goals by the time the opening stanza was barely halfway through (Rodan had the other after running from a wing and bouncing four times, a feat he later produced with one more bounce). The five goal blitz against the wind would prove enough to win the game but there was to be a lot more to come although the second quarter was disappointing. Bendigo had almost the entire team behind the ball and for large patches of the quarter, all 36 players on the ground were in Casey's half making it a poor spectacle for the small crowd on hand to witness the game. This made little difference to Magner who amassed an amazing 29 touches to half time as the team waltzed to a 35 point half time lead. The second half was a complete whitewash with Bendigo failing to score a goal and Casey adding five against the wind and ten with it to finish off the game (making it 19 final quarter goals in its last two matches) with a massive percentage booster. Gawn, who was already playing well, took control of the game with a sensational purple patch in the third quarter kicking two goals and having a hand in a couple of others as he dominated proceedings against shorter opponents. He finished the game off with a massive 59 hitouts, 27 disposals, 14 marks and three goals. Despite suffering a knock in the third term, Magner also provided a statistical highlight with an outstanding 51 touches. He was ably assisted by Toumpas who underlined his enormous potential with 32 classy disposals while Mitch Gent and Dan Nicholson finished with 30 each. Taggert and Best both kicked five apiece and Joel Macdonald, who announced his retirement last week, capped off his career with a fine display in defence and a couple of nice goals when he went forward at the end. He left the ground chaired off by his teammates and to the well deserved rousing applause of the crowd. It was Casey's last home and away game for the year at Casey Fields but a win against the Box Hill Hawks next Sunday should guarantee at least a home final in the qualifying final round in a fortnight's time. Casey Scorpions 5.0.30 8.3.51 13.6.84 23.11.149 Bendigo Gold 1.4.10 2.4.16 2.7.19 2.8.20 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Taggert 5 Gawn Rodan 3 Gent Macdonald 2 Bail Page Smith Bendigo Gold McInnes Toman Best Casey Scorpions Magner Gawn Rodan Toumpas Macdonald Best Bendigo Gold Magin Aarts Heavyside Stroobants Kelm Beck Stats: Magner 51 Toumpas 32 Gent Nicholson 30 VFL Player Review - Round 18. The Development League game was there to be won with Casey kicking with the aid of the wind in the last quarter. They scored 1.6.12 to 2.0.12 and lost by 5 points. CaseyScorpions 2.1.13 5.5.35 5.6.36 6.12.48 PortMelbourne 1.2.8 3.3.21 5.11.41 7.11.53 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler Hughes 2 Pollard Riseley Port Melbourne Johnston 2 McTaggart Muling Pitt Thornton Whelan Best Casey Scorpion Lindsay Pollard Troutman Waters P Rosier Riseley Port Melbourne Burstin Muling Papaleo Gordon Hammond Smith

THE CRASH by KC from Casey There was always an element of doubt as to how well the Casey Scorpions were going even after three wins in the preseason and a further three in the opening rounds of the real thing. After all, the victories had all been by narrow margins and the last, against perennial cellar dwellar Frankston who had been beaten a week earlier by Bendigo to the tune of points. And the inevitable crash happened. It was already on the cards in the first quarter when Casey struggled with the aid of the breeze to trail by two points. The floodgates opened in the second term when the visitors applied tremendous pressure forcing errors and taking the game completely away from a bewildered Casey outfit scoring seven goals to nil. The half time margin was 45 points and the game was effectively over. Bendigo maintained control in a relatively even third quarter in which it extended its lead by one point and before running away to an easy 71-point victory. It was a poor result for the Scorpions who came into the game with a baker's dozen of AFL listed players who were expected to perform at their top with the prospect of gaining promotion into a disappointing Melbourne side ahead of this week's Jim Stynes tribute game against the Western Bulldogs. An angry Casey coach Brett Lovett felt his team didn't have "a fair dinkum crack" and told the media after the game, "I just thought we sat back a bit and it showed when we were second to the footy." The defeat pushed Casey to third on the ladder but with a poor percentage and facing a bye this weekend, it is likely to fall further by the end of the next round and will need to regroup for the game against North Ballarat in a fortnight's time. Very few players covered themselves in glory but former Collingwood VFL player Tom Couch with 27 touches worked hard all day and put his hand up for promotion next week with a solid four quarter performance. Rick Petterd was a livewire but let his team and himself down with some poor disposal. 
David Collins and Wade Lees ‏ worked hard to each collect 23 possessions while Will Petropoulos pushed hard at times. All in all, a disappointing effort after a promising start to the season and, with the week's bye, the team will have to work hard on the track to help find form for the weeks to come. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Most of the thirteen Melbourne-listed players missed the perfect opportunity to put the case for promotion after the AFL team's disappointing 59 point loss to Richmond a day earlier and, with one or two exceptions, they gave the match committee very little room for thought in their deliberations for Sunday's game against the Western Bulldogs. Jamie Bennell - has pace and is creative but doesn't do enough over the course of a game. Sam Blease - showed his trademark speed at various times but didn't take on the game enough. Tom Couch - the former Collingwood VFL player had another high possession game (27 disposals) and must be a contender for promotion this week. Troy Davis - had a torrid time in defence when the team was under siege in the first half. Then went forward and kicked a couple of goals. Jack Fitzpatrick - like many of his teammates, he was patchy in a beaten side. At times, showed a bit of pace and took some nice strong marks but it was just an average performance. Brad Green - was tagged for most of the game and got away for a couple of goals. Sustained a finger injury and will miss a month. Joel Macdonald - picked up 16 possessions, mainly on a defensive flank but had little impact for all of his work. Daniel Nicholson - back after an injury and club imposed suspension, he showed he was keen to atone for his missed opportunities. Worked hard for his 18 touches and a goal. Ricky Petterd - always looked dangerous up forward but often failed to finish off his work with goals. Jai Sheahan - another of the defenders who was under pressure but again showed promise with his composure. Jake Spencer - coming back after missing the better part of a year with an ACL, Spencer picked up 26 hit outs in the ruck in a good first up effort. Josh Tynan - showed some good run but generally subdued after a week off as emergency for the Demons in Perth. Leigh Williams - kicked a goal but was generally quiet and is still learning to keep up with the tempo at VFL level. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.6.30 6.10.46 9.12.66 Bendigo 4.5.29 11.9.75 13.14.92 20.17.137 Goals Casey Scorpions Davis Green 2 Fitzpatrick Gent Nicholson Smith Williams Bendigo Little 4 Ladson Maddern Schultz Steinberg 2 Crow Davis Duscher Freezer Lee Martin Peoples Putt Best Casey Scorpions Couch Lees Nicholson Petterd Petropoulos Davis Bendigo Davis Lee Slattery Schultz Putt Thompson

THE CRASH by KC from Casey There was always an element of doubt as to how well the Casey Scorpions were going even after three wins in the preseason and a further three in the opening rounds of the real thing. After all, the victories had all been by narrow margins and the last, against perennial cellar dwellar Frankston who had been beaten a week earlier by Bendigo to the tune of points. And the inevitable crash happened. It was already on the cards in the first quarter when Casey struggled with the aid of the breeze to trail by two points. The floodgates opened in the second term when the visitors applied tremendous pressure forcing errors and taking the game completely away from a bewildered Casey outfit scoring seven goals to nil. The half time margin was 45 points and the game was effectively over. Bendigo maintained control in a relatively even third quarter in which it extended its lead by one point and before running away to an easy 71-point victory. It was a poor result for the Scorpions who came into the game with a baker's dozen of AFL listed players who were expected to perform at their top with the prospect of gaining promotion into a disappointing Melbourne side ahead of this week's Jim Stynes tribute game against the Western Bulldogs. An angry Casey coach Brett Lovett felt his team didn't have "a fair dinkum crack" and told the media after the game, "I just thought we sat back a bit and it showed when we were second to the footy." The defeat pushed Casey to third on the ladder but with a poor percentage and facing a bye this weekend, it is likely to fall further by the end of the next round and will need to regroup for the game against North Ballarat in a fortnight's time. Very few players covered themselves in glory but former Collingwood VFL player Tom Couch with 27 touches worked hard all day and put his hand up for promotion next week with a solid four quarter performance. Rick Petterd was a livewire but let his team and himself down with some poor disposal. 
David Collins and Wade Lees ‏ worked hard to each collect 23 possessions while Will Petropoulos pushed hard at times. All in all, a disappointing effort after a promising start to the season and, with the week's bye, the team will have to work hard on the track to help find form for the weeks to come. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Most of the thirteen Melbourne-listed players missed the perfect opportunity to put the case for promotion after the AFL team's disappointing 59 point loss to Richmond a day earlier and, with one or two exceptions, they gave the match committee very little room for thought in their deliberations for Sunday's game against the Western Bulldogs. Jamie Bennell - has pace and is creative but doesn't do enough over the course of a game. Sam Blease - showed his trademark speed at various times but didn't take on the game enough. Tom Couch - the former Collingwood VFL player had another high possession game (27 disposals) and must be a contender for promotion this week. Troy Davis - had a torrid time in defence when the team was under siege in the first half. Then went forward and kicked a couple of goals. Jack Fitzpatrick - like many of his teammates, he was patchy in a beaten side. At times, showed a bit of pace and took some nice strong marks but it was just an average performance. Brad Green - was tagged for most of the game and got away for a couple of goals. Sustained a finger injury and will miss a month. Joel Macdonald - picked up 16 possessions, mainly on a defensive flank but had little impact for all of his work. Daniel Nicholson - back after an injury and club imposed suspension, he showed he was keen to atone for his missed opportunities. Worked hard for his 18 touches and a goal. Ricky Petterd - always looked dangerous up forward but often failed to finish off his work with goals. Jai Sheahan - another of the defenders who was under pressure but again showed promise with his composure. Jake Spencer - coming back after missing the better part of a year with an ACL, Spencer picked up 26 hit outs in the ruck in a good first up effort. Josh Tynan - showed some good run but generally subdued after a week off as emergency for the Demons in Perth. Leigh Williams - kicked a goal but was generally quiet and is still learning to keep up with the tempo at VFL level. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.6.30 6.10.46 9.12.66 Bendigo 4.5.29 11.9.75 13.14.92 20.17.137 Goals Casey Scorpions Davis Green 2 Fitzpatrick Gent Nicholson Smith Williams Bendigo Little 4 Ladson Maddern Schultz Steinberg 2 Crow Davis Duscher Freezer Lee Martin Peoples Putt Best Casey Scorpions Couch Lees Nicholson Petterd Petropoulos Davis Bendigo Davis Lee Slattery Schultz Putt Thompson