Search the Community

Hey guys, I was thinking of taking my 3 littlies tomorrow to the VFL game at the Whitten Oval. Do I need to get tickets at all or can we just rock up?

On Sunday, the Casey Demons met the Footscray VFL under the roof at the same venue where their nemesis took them down in the 2017 grand final and the result left them with the same feeling of disappointment - this time with a seven point defeat that ended the club’s four game winning streak and made things a lot harder in terms of playing in this year’s final series. And, as has so often happened this year, the Demons let the game get away from them with but failing to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way early while allowing their opponents to slip away to score easy goals, often against the run of play. As a result, the Bulldogs were already up by four goals when Oskar Baker took a strong mark and scored his team’s first major a minute before the quarter time siren. That was basically the difference between the sides for most of the remainder of the game until the Demons made their final lunge at victory with the game’s last three goals and even then, after James Jordon kicked the team’s last goal, there was still time left to win the game but it was simply not to be and the team was left to lament the wasted opportunites that are evident when a team dominates the possession count by 353 to 305 but is unable to convert that to a win on the scoreboard. Corey Maynard was the pick of the Demon players. He kicked a team lifting snap goal in the second term on the way to a 30 possession game which also included 11 tackles. Baker was also in good form with his run and pace and put his hand up for promotion with 26 touches. Jay Kennedy Harris, one of only two Melbourne listed players (along with Oscar McDonald) with more than double figure AFL experience was prolific with a game high 31 disposals which would have done his chances of promotion for next week’s heart of the nation clash against West Coast, very little harm. James Jordon again showed promise and had some very good moments when played in the middle. Of the VFL listed players, the ever-reliable Jimmy Munro and former skipper Jack Hutchins were strong in the contest and Cory Stockdale was a strong performer on the day but in the final analysis the team lacked the finishing class of the Bulldogs. And that was the story of the day for a team with just 10 AFL-listed players of who only six have experience at the highest level. The team simply lacked the strength and experience of their opponents and it told in those vital moments when there was a game to be won. The Demons remain in ninth place on the ladder and face a season defining game next week at Casey Fields against eighth placed Geelong VFL. Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL Casey Demons 1.3.9 4.5.29 7.9.51 10.13.73 Footscray VFL 4.2.26 7.4.46 11.6.72 12.8.80 Goals Casey Demons Bradtke Wagner 2 Baker Bedford Jordon Lefau Wale-Buxton White Footscray VFL William 3 Dale Jong Scott Wallis 2 Hayes Best Casey Demons C Wagner Hutchins Kennedy Harris Munro Maynard Baker Footscray VFL Jong Morris Hayes Roberts Porter William Statistics Oskar Baker 1 goal 14 kicks 12 handballs 26 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 105 dream team points Toby Bedford 1 goal 4 kicks 3 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 7 tackles 58 dream team points Austin Bradkte 2 goals 2 kicks 2 handballs 4 disposals 1 mark 1 tackles 29 dream team points Jaxon Briggs 1 behind 4 kicks 6 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 46 dream team points Kade Chandler 8 kicks 1 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 52 dream team points Wayne Collis 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 2 marks 6 tackles 67 dream team points Tom Freeman 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 39 dream team points Mitch Gent 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 33 dream team points Jack Hutchins 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 70 dream team points James Jordon 1 goal 1 behind 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 10 tackles 90 dream team points Declan Keilty 3 behinds 6 kicks 8 handballs 14 disposals 4 marks 1 tackles 18 hit outs 71 dream team points Jay Kennedy Harris 1 behind 18 kicks 13 handballs 31 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 104 dream team points Mykelti Lefau 1 goal 2 behinds 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 66 dream team points Ariek Lual 3 kicks 3 handballs 6 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 25 dream team points Oscar McDonald 9 kicks 8 handballs 17 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 65 dream team points Corey Maynard 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 5 marks 4 tackles 89 dream team points James Munro 1 behind 9 kicks 20 handballs 29 disposals 1 mark 9 tackles 108 dream team points Aiden Quigley 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 1 mark 8 tackles 59 dream team points Cory Stockdale 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 76 dream team points Luke Tynan 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 56 dream team points Corey Wagner 2 goals 21 kicks 9 handballs 30 disposals 2 marks 11 tackles 131 dream team points Liam Wale-Buxton 1 goal 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 1 marks 1 tackles 33 hit outs 79 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 5 kicks 6 kicks 11 handballs 4 disposals 4 marks tackles 63 dream team points

Football folklore abounds with stories of how, when there's a strong wind blowing at VU Whitten Oval, that this element alone can be the telling factor in deciding the outcome of a match of football. Of course, the better side will usually be the winner and the scoreboard indicates that Footscray scored more often against the Scorpions but the tale of the game was told when the Dogs kicked their first goal at 11 minutes into the game after trailing by 19 points and again with their second late in time on in the first quarter after trailing by 27 points. They were the only two goals kicked against the wind all day and, although it was early when the breeze was not as later in the day, it was enough to swing the balance of the game in their favour. Casey failed to make the most of the advantage at the opening and then failed to kick a goal in both quarters against the wind. The Scorpions had very few opportunities to do so but in the last, a missed shot from Paul Pattison from close range and a spilled mark (difficult in the trying conditions) by Colin Garland could have made the difference. Naturally, the game ebbed and flowed according to who had the advantage and by and large, neither team could do so after quarter time. The Bulldogs led by 17 points at the main break but this was turned on its head by the Scorpions' eight goal third term. Notwithstanding, defending a 30 point lead with half an hour to go was always going to be a tough ask but Casey defended strongly until a few errors during a late surge saw a match-winning behind after a Scorpions kick went out on the full with less than a minute remaining. Game, set and match. Scorpions' midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen was fanatical with his great ball-winning efforts to finish with 37 disposals. Lynden Dunn was tireless throughout the game, as was fellow defender Colin Garland. Tom Bugg was solid and Jake Spencer indefatigable in the ruck. Tim Smith booted three goals, two of them late in the third term and Dylan Collis did well. The Scorpions were hit by some late "outs" after Josh Wagner was called up to replace Sam Frost at Melbourne and Chris Dawes withdrew. The team has been off the boil in recent weeks with little chance of gaining consistency due to the bye situation. Casey has dropped to third on the latter and could crash further unless it takes the points at home this week against the Zebras. Casey Scorpions 5.3.33 5.4.34 13.4.82 13.5.83 Footscray 2.0.12 8.3.51 8.4.52 12.12.84 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith 3 Newton 2 Bugg Michie Neal-Bullen Pattison Pedersen Spencer Terlich Trengove Footscray Dale 4 Minson Staley 2 Dalgleish Hamling Russell Tashevski-Beckwith Best Casey Scorpions Neal-Bullen Smith Dunn Bugg Collis Michie Footscray Dale Russell Honeychurch Adcock Barry Minson Statistics Here are the match stats:- Tomas Bugg 1 goals 15 disposals 3 kicks 12 handballs 11 tackles 77 dream team points Lynden Dunn 26 disposals 17 kicks 9 handballs 5 marks 2 tackles 93 dream team points Colin Garland 26 disposals 15 kicks 11 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 109 dream team points Liam Hulett 11 disposals 10 kicks 1 handballs 3 marks 2 tackles 49 dream team points Viv Michie 1 goal 23 disposals 13 kicks 10 handballs 3 marks 3 tackles 1 hit out 82 dream team points Alex Neal-Bullen 1 goal 1 behind 37 disposals 19 kicks 18 handballs 2 marks 4 tackles 124 dream team points Ben Newton 2 goals 1 behind 20 disposals 10 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 7 tackles 103 dream team points Clayton Oliver 24 disposals 12 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 2 hit outs 90 dream team points Cam Pedersen 1 goal 12 disposals 6 kicks 6 handballs 4 marks 5 tackles 17 hit outs 80 dream team points Jake Spencer 1 goal 20 disposals 8 kicks 12 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 44 hit outs 139 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 5 disposals 4 kicks 1 handballs 1 marks 4 tackles 37 dream team points Jack Trengove 1 goal 22 disposals 13 kicks 9 handballs 3 marks 8 tackles 2 hit outs 104 dream team points Sam Weideman 12 disposals 5 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 50 dream team points The Development League team won by 70 points after leading by as much as 94 during the final quarter and is now in with a chance of making the finals after a slow start to the season. Casey Scorpions 5.4.34 8.9.57 12.10.82 16.14.110 Werribee 1.2.8 2.3.15 2.4.16 6.4.40 Goals Casey Scorpions Baker Fritsch Hannon Wilson 2 D Collis Cotte Di Pasquale Freeman McDonald McInerney Smith Stockdale Werribee Corbett 3 Mahony 2 Barrack Best Casey Scorpions Ferreira Cox Wilson McInerney Wyatt Werribee Corbett Meredith Williams Iles Barrack Daw

KC from Casey was detained at work and couldn't make it to the game until half time. Thanks to the MFC website melbournefc.com.au, here's a report:- Scorps unable to halt premiers ... and for good measure Dogs too good Casey Scorpions 0.3.3 3.8.26 6.8.44 10.13.73 Footscray Bulldogs 3.4.22 6.4.40 13.6.84 15.7.97 Goals Casey Scorpions Pedersen 3 Hutchins 2 Bail Gent Harmes Morris Stretch Footscray Campbell Redpath 4 Hamilton 2 Buchanan Hunter Kelly Minson Russell Best Casey Scorpions Grimes Smith Pedersen Hutchins Spencer Riley Footscray Hunter Goodes Prudden Roberts Redpath Campbell Match Statistics Rohan Bail 1 goals 10 disposals 7 kicks 3 handballs 2 marks 2 tackles 44 dream team points Jack Fitzpatrick 8 disposals 3 kicks 5 handballs 3 marks 30 dream team points Max Gawn 7 disposals 1 kicks 6 handballs 3 tackles 26 hit outs 48 dream team points Jack Grimes 19 disposals 12 kicks 7 handballs 4 marks 9 tackles 97 dream team points James Harmes 1 goal 2 behinds 19 disposals 8 kicks 11 handballs 2 marks 6 tackles 78 dream team points Matt Jones 1 behind 19 disposals 10 kicks 9 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 80 team points Jordie McKenzie 20 disposals 13 kicks 7 handballs 2 marks 5 tackles 66 dream team points Cam Pedersen 3 goals 13 disposals 6 kicks 7 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 68 dream team points Aidan Riley 1 behind 23 disposals 5 kicks 18 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 83 dream team points Jake Spencer 18 disposals 8 kicks 10 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 28 hit outs dream 92 team points Billy Stretch 1 goal 1 behind 16 disposals 8 kicks 8 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 82 dream team points Dean Terlich 15 disposals 13 kicks 2 handballs 2 marks 6 tackles 72 dream team points Jimmy Toumpas 1 behind 27 disposals 18 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 6 tackles 109 dream team points The Development League team produced a magnificent 10 goal final quarter against Werribee on Saturday to win by 83 points. Casey Scorpions 4.1.25 8.4.52 11.7.73 21.8.134 Werribee 4.0.24 4.6.30 6.7.43 7.11.53 Goals Casey Scorpions Rennie 7 Page 3 Petropoulos King Plummer 2 Battle Fritsch Moncrieff Rosier Waters Werribee VanDenBerg 2 Brett Christensen Hussey O'Shea Redfern Best Casey Scorpions Rutherford Rennie Gains Petropoulos Keilty Fritsch Werribee Ferrari Holman Hussey Arnold Redfern Maddock