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The Casey Scorpions held on to their finals hopes with a rousing eight goal victory over the Geelong Cats at Casey Fields. It was a fitting outcome for the club on its annual Pink Ribbon Day in support of breast cancer research. The Scorpions came into the game with only eight senior AFL-listed players and two rookies against the Cats who had senior premiership player and Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel in their ranks along with a couple of others who had been selected to play in the AFL team whose game against Adelaide was cancelled due to the untimely death of Phil Walsh. The Cats were expected to dominate but their team performance was subdued, perhaps due to that situation. Casey led from the opening moments of the game, built up a strong lead of 31 points with the aid of a stiff breeze by the end of the first quarter, doing so without conceding a goal. It then scored the first goal against the wind early in the second term and defended strongly with Jack Fitzpatrick, Evan Panozza and Oscar McDonald holding tight and creating plenty of run as well to ensure the home side had a handy lead at the main break. At half time, there were eight single goal kickers and the team led by 22 points. Once again, the Scorpions were well served in the ruck by the experienced Mark Jamar who disposed of giant Cat Dawson Simpson and gave his on ballers headed by Viv Michie, the constantly improving James Harmes, Ben Newton and Jordie McKenzie an armchair ride throughout the game. With the heavens opening up to bring more rain at the start of the third term, Casey pressed home its advantage in the difficult conditions so that they led by 35 points at three quarter time, a lead which proved to be too much for the visitors. The Scorpions stormed away to a big victory and a place in the top eight with its 48 point win turning Geelong which had inflicted some big defeats on them in recent seasons into meek little pussy cats. Justin Plapp would be well pleased with the form of some of his youngsters. Harmes was a prolific ball winner while goal sneaks Jayden Hunt and Tom Papley kicked three goals each. The latter has been a clever small goal kicking forward for the past two seasons with the Gippsland Power where he has kicked 22 goals to date this year. After a quiet first half Hunt, who scored his first goal late in the second term, proved a real danger player for the Cats with his pace and attack on the football. Former Gold Coast Sun Jack Hutchins played another solid game and is putting up his hand to be redrafted at the end of the year. Next week, Casey plays in a make-or-break game at home against Port Melbourne to who it lowered its colours at North Port Oval in May. A win would secure a place in the top eight but a loss will make things hard with some tough contests ahead of them. 2015 Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions 5.3.33 8.3.51 11.6.72 14.9.93 Geelong Cats 0.2.2 4.5.29 5.7.37 6.9.45 Goals Casey Scorpions Hunt Papley 3 Newton 2 Byrnes Jamar McKenzie Moncrieff Morris Paredes Geelong Cats Blease Hollmer Jansen Kolodjashnij Maas Read Best Casey Scorpions Jamar Michie Harmes Papley Fitzpatrick Hutchins Geelong Cats Bartel Jansen Ruggles Kolodjashnij Horlin-Smith Rees Statistics Jack Fitzpatrick 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 hand passes 8 marks 6 tackles 1 hit out 89 dream team points James Harmes 1 behind 29 disposals 13 kicks 16 hand passes 6 marks 11 tackles 135 dream team points Jayden Hunt 3 goals 1 behind 12 disposals 9 kicks 3 hand passes 6 marks 1 tackle 74 dream team points Mark Jamar 1 goal 13 disposals 11 kicks 2 hand passes 4 marks 2 tackles 38 hit outs 96 dream team points Max King 3 behinds 11 disposals 9 kicks 2 hand passes 3 marks 6 tackles 12 hit outs 76 dream team points Oscar McDonald 9 disposals 7 kicks 2 hand passes 2 marks 31 dream team points Jordie McKenzie 1 goal 28 disposals 14 kicks 14 hand passes 3 marks 9 tackles 120 dream team points Viv Michie 26 disposals 20 kicks 6 hand passes 5 marks 4 tackles 104 dream team points Ben Newton 2 goals 1 behind 18 disposals 10 kicks 8 hand passes 1 mark 8 tackles 95 dream team points Dean Terlich 19 disposals 11 kicks 8 hand passes 2 marks 4 tackles 69 dream team points With the injury toll at Melbourne and to a lesser extent at Casey, the Scorpions' development team was overrun by Sandringham at the end and lost by 29 points. 2015 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 1.5.11 2.6.18 4.9.33 4.13.37 Sandringham 2.2.14 2.8.20 5.10.40 9.12.66 Goals Casey Scorpions Rennie 3 Waters Sandringham Zijai 5 Williams 2 Ong Weickhardt Best Casey Scorpions Gains Fisscher McDonald Keilty Corrigan Petropoulos SandringhamMurdoch Zijai Maitland Markworth Verma Persson Disposals K Wilson 23 Plummer 21 Pattison 19 Petropoulos 18 Muir 17

When the winds start blowing up around Casey Fields, the elements can be unforgiving. The Scorpions discovered this on Sunday when they blew it in the first quarter against 2013 grand finallists Geelong and, despite a spirited comeback in the third term, they went down by 16 points. The home side looked the better in the opening term but their indirect play was contrasted by the Cats who kicked accurately when they went forward and their third goal late in the quarter gave them the lead at the break. Geelong took full control in the second quarter booting 6.8 to 2.3 to be in full command at the main break. Casey was not helped by its poor disposal and decision making as well as the loss of speedster Sam Blease who had gone off early with a shoulder injury. At that stage, Casey's best players were skipper Evan Panozza and Demon youngster Jimmy Toumpas who was getting plenty of the ball but his disposal was a bit off in the swirly conditions. Stirred by coach Rohan Welsh at half time, the Scorpions came out of the sheds a different team and quickly went about reducing Geelong's 32 point half time lead. They were led in their efforts by a three goal quarter from former Cat Shannon Byrnes sparked by the dominant ruckwork of Mark Jamar who finished the game with 57 hit outs. Jack Fitzpatrick who had been off target earlier, started finding the goals (he also finished with three) and somehow, Casey found itself in front late in the quarter before surrendering the lead to a steadier from the Cats. Will Petropoulos put the home team in front early in the final term but Geelong regained the lead soon after and then won the arm wrestle that followed. They gained the ascendency in mid quarter and rattled on a few consecutive goals before a late revival from the Scorps kept the final margin to 16 points. The latter stages of the game saw some classy play from Demon youngsters Toumpas and Christian Salem, the latter finishing the game off with a great goal. Midfielder Mitch Gent was strong at the ball and Neville Jetta continued his fine form in defence, Mitch Clisby was a solid contributor for four quarters and last year's Gippsland Power best and fairest winner Ed Morris looks a find for Casey. The Scorpions face a tough battle next week against the revitalised Dolphins at Frankston. Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.6.30 9.12.67 12.14.86 Geelong 3.0.18 9.8.62 10.10.70 14.18.102 Goals Casey Scorpions Byrnes Fitzpatrick 3 Salem 2 Best Page Petropoulos Smith Geelong Walker 3 Hamling Hollmer Linton 2 Bates Herbison Jansen Luxford Thurlow Best Casey Scorpions Panozza, Byrnes Jetta Toumpas Gent Clisby Geelong Schroder Walker Sheringham Bath Hollmer Herbison In the AFL Victoria Development League, the Scorpions, who have struggled during the pre season, put in a much improved performance but went down to Port Melbourne. Colin Garland took the first steps in his comeback from injury and young Demon James Harmes put in a solid performance. Final 2014 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 4.0.24 6.2.38 8.5.53 Port Melbourne 2.5.17 6.8.44 7.12.54 11.17.83 Goals Casey Scorpions Scott 2 Ferraro Fisscher Harmes Plummer Rosier Thwaites Port Melbourne Johnston Maskell Sandilands 2 Gilmore Muling Pearson Robinson Whelan Best Casey Scorpions Harmes Welsh Plummer Thomas Scott Collins Port Melbourne Woods Thornton Maskell Wilsen Sandilands Brown

A lacklustre Casey Scorpions side lasted only one quarter of its top of the table clash with the rampant Cats from Corio before they were blown away in comprehensive fashion to the tune of 66 points at Casey Fields. Such is the domination of Geelong on the competition that it has gone three games clear on top of the ladder ahead of Williamstown, Box Hill and Casey, all on 10 wins with three rounds left to play. The teams went goal for goal in the opening term with the Scorpions looking for boom forward Jesse Hogan and finding him enough to warrant a switch of opponents before the first break by which time he had 2.1 on the board and his team led by 3 points against the straight shooting visitors. However, from quarter time onwards it became a one way street with the strong Geelong line up penetrating the midfield and kicking straight to rack up 6.3 to a solitary point to take a commanding lead into the sheds at half time. As they had done on one or two occasions before this year, the Scorps had gone into freefall in the second quarter. Any hopes of a Casey revival was soon snuffed out with the visitors snaring the opening two goals of the third quarter with AFL premiership players Chapman and Christiansen showing out for Geelong. The Scorpions were not spent yet making one final dash with a three goal spree in mid term through the agency of Jake Best (2) and Neville Jetta but the Cats regained their composure amid the dark and the gloom kicking six of the last seven as the game finished under lights and a thick black sky. It was their eighth consecutive win since they lowered their colours to the Scorpions by 13 points at Simonds Stadium in round 7. For Casey, Dan Nicholson picked up 29 touches. James Magner (25) and Sam Blease (22) battled hard. After playing three stand alone AFL affiliates in consecutive matches, the Scorps now take on a stand alone VFL club in a danger game next Sunday against the rapidly improving Dolphins at Frankston. They must win to secure a spot in the top four. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 4.4.28 7.8.50 8.11.59 Geelong4.0.24 10.3.63 16.8.104 19.11.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Best Hogan 2 Jetta Magner Nicholson Page Geelong Kersten 5 Hartman Murdoch Walker 2 Bathie Chapman Christensen Corrigan Hollmer Howe Stringer Thurlow Best Casey Scorpions Nicholson Magner Strauss Blease J Tynan Hill Geelong Murdoch Kersten Walker Stringer Bews Brown The Casey Development League team cemented its place in the top six and the finals with a 25 point win over Box Hill. Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 6.6.42 9.10.64 12.12.84 Box Hill Hawks 2.2.14 4.2.26 4.4.28 9.5.59 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Anderson Corry Fowler Macdonald Lang Lindsay Pollard Rosier Troutman Box Hill Hawks Monkhorst Northe 2 Cunningham Exon Frank Goodwin Wood Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Pollard Macdonald Clay Riseley Smith Box Hill Hawks Thompson Collins Cunningham Exon Graham Miles

NO CLOSE SHAVE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions have finally played in a game that was close on the scoreboard but this time they lost. History will record that Geelong came to Casey Fields and scored a fourteen point victory on a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon but the reality is that the Cats dominated totally for three quarters and that the Scorpions' big quarter for the day - the second - was never going to be enough to enable them to take the four premiership points on offer. Instead, their lacklustre performance saw them tumbling from first to third on the competition ladder and they are in possible danger of missing out on a top four spot with the finals a matter of three weeks away. The game started in a not too dissimilar vein to last week. Geelong looked strong on attack through the middle while Casey was wasteful, mainly through a couple of missed shots from Jack Fitzpatrick who was at least able to find target as the game went on. At the quarter time break, the visitors held a four goal lead. The second quarter opened dramatically with Liam Jurrah entering the field for the first time and scoring a goal within thirty seconds. With young Luke Hill dominating on his way to a 51 hit out game, the Casey midfield took the ascendency. Tom Couch, Jordan Gysberts and lively youngster Jack Viney were winning the ball well and, with plenty of avenues to go forward, the goals came at frequent intervals. Fitzpatrick, Lucas Cook and Leigh Williams all impressed during this term and by half time the home side appeared to have assumed total control with a 20 point lead after an eight goal to one second quarter. After half time the wheels slowly fell off and Geelong took command. An injury to Leigh Williams did not help matters and nor did the fact that Jurrah, coming back from a long stint on the sidelines, was being used sparingly. Casey toiled manfully and maintained a lead for most of the third quarter but Geelong's AFL experienced players kept coming and with two late goals, they snatched the lead by a point in the shadows of three quarter time. Despite a good solo five goal effort from Fitzpatrick, some strong work from Evan Panozza and Jai Sheahan down back and a promising display from Aiden Lindsay in his first game, the Scorps were unable to stem the tide. Geelong maintained a tight grip on the game in the final stanza and this time there was no dramatic last minute home team comeback to snatch victory. In fact, it was no close shave and the final margin of 14 points was flattering. Tom Couch made a welcome return from injury with 29 disposals including 5 tackles. David Collins had 24 touches, one more than Jordan Gysberts while Michael Evans, Fitzpatrick and Sheahan each had 20 possessions. The Scorpions have just six days to recover for Saturday's ABC televised game against Collingwood at Victoria Park in a must win game. They are likely to find themselves opposed to suspended Magpie Dane Swan. HOW THE DEMONS FARED As the number of MFC-listed players dwindles, so do Casey's stocks. Another injury today, this time to Leigh Williams while Liam Jurrah, on comeback from injury, was only used sparingly. Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - didn't have a great impact apart from one strong mark that resulted in his only goal. Tom Couch (15 kicks, 14 handballs, 3 marks, 5 tackles) - never stopped working all day and deserves another chance at AFL level for that performance. Troy Davis (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks) - appears to have slipped in confidence as the season has worn on. Michael Evans (14 kicks, 6 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles) - a very encouraging effort for Pickles who has come back solidly after missing most of the season with a back injury. Jack Fitzpatrick (13 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks, 23 hit outs, 5 goals) - after a dubious start when two gettable shots at goal produced one point, Fitzpatrick came good with some solid marking in a five goal game. Jordan Gysberts (9 kicks, 14 handballs, 4 tackles, 2 goals) - fought hard in the midfield where he is good at getting the football and went forward to kick a couple of nice goals. Liam Jurrah (3 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 goal) - used only sparingly on his comeback and looked at least a month away from being fully fit. Proved he still has the magic but one wonders why he doesn't concentrate on the personal issues in his life and comes back when these have been dealt with. Jai Sheahan (16 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks) - a tremendous response after injury an a couple of development league games. Needs to play out the season at this level and is a definite prospect. Josh Tynan (6 kicks, 3 handballs) - looked a fair way off the pace. Leigh Williams (5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks, 1 goal) - was playing what was probably his best game at the club until he injured his ankle. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 10.6.66 11.8.74 14.11.95 Geelong 6.2.38 7.4.46 11.9.75 16.13.109 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 5 Gysberts 2 Collins Cook Gent Jurrah Nicholls Viney Wiilliams Geelong Kersten 5 Blicavs Hollmer 3 Byrnes 2 Brown Gleeson Maas Best Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Couch Gysberts Sheahan Collins Lindsay Geelong Kersten Stringer Gillies Horlin-Smith Brown Byrnes The development league team played its game at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. They were 29 points up at ¾ time but couldn't hold off the fast finishing Zebras who won by 2 points. Casey Scorpions 6.2.38 6.6.42 14.7.91 19.9.123 Sandringham 4.1.25 6.4.40 9.9.63 18.17.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Weekes 4 Galvin 3 Eddy Fieldsend Lang Pollard Thompson 2 McInnes Salton Sandringham Fallon Maley 3 Coleman Soriano Staley 2 Andreoli Beech La Rocca Mavric Stapleton Widdowson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Lang Pollard Rosier Petropoulos McInnes Sandringham Plostins Maley Michaliades Jones Beech Staley

NO CLOSE SHAVE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions have finally played in a game that was close on the scoreboard but this time they lost. History will record that Geelong came to Casey Fields and scored a fourteen point victory on a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon but the reality is that the Cats dominated totally for three quarters and that the Scorpions' big quarter for the day - the second - was never going to be enough to enable them to take the four premiership points on offer. Instead, their lacklustre performance saw them tumbling from first to third on the competition ladder and they are in possible danger of missing out on a top four spot with the finals a matter of three weeks away. The game started in a not too dissimilar vein to last week. Geelong looked strong on attack through the middle while Casey was wasteful, mainly through a couple of missed shots from Jack Fitzpatrick who was at least able to find target as the game went on. At the quarter time break, the visitors held a four goal lead. The second quarter opened dramatically with Liam Jurrah entering the field for the first time and scoring a goal within thirty seconds. With young Luke Hill dominating on his way to a 51 hit out game, the Casey midfield took the ascendency. Tom Couch, Jordan Gysberts and lively youngster Jack Viney were winning the ball well and, with plenty of avenues to go forward, the goals came at frequent intervals. Fitzpatrick, Lucas Cook and Leigh Williams all impressed during this term and by half time the home side appeared to have assumed total control with a 20 point lead after an eight goal to one second quarter. After half time the wheels slowly fell off and Geelong took command. An injury to Leigh Williams did not help matters and nor did the fact that Jurrah, coming back from a long stint on the sidelines, was being used sparingly. Casey toiled manfully and maintained a lead for most of the third quarter but Geelong's AFL experienced players kept coming and with two late goals, they snatched the lead by a point in the shadows of three quarter time. Despite a good solo five goal effort from Fitzpatrick, some strong work from Evan Panozza and Jai Sheahan down back and a promising display from Aiden Lindsay in his first game, the Scorps were unable to stem the tide. Geelong maintained a tight grip on the game in the final stanza and this time there was no dramatic last minute home team comeback to snatch victory. In fact, it was no close shave and the final margin of 14 points was flattering. Tom Couch made a welcome return from injury with 29 disposals including 5 tackles. David Collins had 24 touches, one more than Jordan Gysberts while Michael Evans, Fitzpatrick and Sheahan each had 20 possessions. The Scorpions have just six days to recover for Saturday's ABC televised game against Collingwood at Victoria Park in a must win game. They are likely to find themselves opposed to suspended Magpie Dane Swan. HOW THE DEMONS FARED As the number of MFC-listed players dwindles, so do Casey's stocks. Another injury today, this time to Leigh Williams while Liam Jurrah, on comeback from injury, was only used sparingly. Lucas Cook (4 kicks, 4 handballs, 4 marks, 1 goal) - didn't have a great impact apart from one strong mark that resulted in his only goal. Tom Couch (15 kicks, 14 handballs, 3 marks, 5 tackles) - never stopped working all day and deserves another chance at AFL level for that performance. Troy Davis (7 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 marks) - appears to have slipped in confidence as the season has worn on. Michael Evans (14 kicks, 6 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles) - a very encouraging effort for Pickles who has come back solidly after missing most of the season with a back injury. Jack Fitzpatrick (13 kicks, 7 handballs, 6 marks, 23 hit outs, 5 goals) - after a dubious start when two gettable shots at goal produced one point, Fitzpatrick came good with some solid marking in a five goal game. Jordan Gysberts (9 kicks, 14 handballs, 4 tackles, 2 goals) - fought hard in the midfield where he is good at getting the football and went forward to kick a couple of nice goals. Liam Jurrah (3 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 goal) - used only sparingly on his comeback and looked at least a month away from being fully fit. Proved he still has the magic but one wonders why he doesn't concentrate on the personal issues in his life and comes back when these have been dealt with. Jai Sheahan (16 kicks, 4 handballs, 5 marks) - a tremendous response after injury an a couple of development league games. Needs to play out the season at this level and is a definite prospect. Josh Tynan (6 kicks, 3 handballs) - looked a fair way off the pace. Leigh Williams (5 kicks, 2 handballs, 3 marks, 1 goal) - was playing what was probably his best game at the club until he injured his ankle. Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 10.6.66 11.8.74 14.11.95 Geelong 6.2.38 7.4.46 11.9.75 16.13.109 Goals Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick 5 Gysberts 2 Collins Cook Gent Jurrah Nicholls Viney Wiilliams Geelong Kersten 5 Blicavs Hollmer 3 Byrnes 2 Brown Gleeson Maas Best Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Couch Gysberts Sheahan Collins Lindsay Geelong Kersten Stringer Gillies Horlin-Smith Brown Byrnes The development league team played its game at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. They were 29 points up at ¾ time but couldn't hold off the fast finishing Zebras who won by 2 points. Casey Scorpions 6.2.38 6.6.42 14.7.91 19.9.123 Sandringham 4.1.25 6.4.40 9.9.63 18.17.125 Goals Casey Scorpions Weekes 4 Galvin 3 Eddy Fieldsend Lang Pollard Thompson 2 McInnes Salton Sandringham Fallon Maley 3 Coleman Soriano Staley 2 Andreoli Beech La Rocca Mavric Stapleton Widdowson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Lang Pollard Rosier Petropoulos McInnes Sandringham Plostins Maley Michaliades Jones Beech Staley