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Melbourne fans upset about the events of the opening rounds of the AFL season have something to be optimistic about in the form of youngster Jesse Hogan who the club picked up in last year's GWS mini-draft. Hogan, who is ineligible to play for the Demons under the AFL draft rules booted four goals and took 13 marks in a best on ground performance for the Casey Scorpions who dominated the first three quarters of their game against North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium. It looks like the club has certainly struck gold with the strongly built youngster. The Scorpions, who lost Tom Couch, Jack Fitzpatrick and Will Petropoulos before the game and were unable to use any of the three Melbourne emergencies for the AFL game, wilted in the end against the fast finishing Roosters but held on to retain their unbeaten record for the season. Demon fans will also be heartened by the performance of Max Gawn who is on the comeback trail after his second knee reconstruction. Gawn, whose preseason was also affected by hamstring problems has had to shoulder most of the ruck responsibilities in the absence of Fitzpatrick and Jake Spencer who has twice been the emergency for the AFL game and has dominated with his ruckwork and sound play around the ground. James Strauss, with his run out of defence and accurate passing also impressed along with WA youngster Dean Kent while James Magner again put in a solid performance in the midfield. Best of the Scorpoon listed players was the much improved Mitch Gent and tough small man Danny Nicholls. Casey has a tough game coming up next Saturday at Winfy Hill against the stand alone Bombers who split with Bendigo Gold at the end of last year. Casey Scorpions 2.7.19 10.11.71 13.12.90 13.17.95 North Ballarat 2.5.17 4.7.31 7.11.53 12.14.86 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 4 Smith 2 Barry Best Blease Page Pollard Strauss Taggert North Ballarat Clifton 3 George 2 Black Darmody Driscoll Jacobs Rippon Schache Searl Best Casey Scorpions Hogan Gawn Nicholls Strauss Panozza Kent North Ballarat Clifton George Sewell Keeble Driscoll Jacobs The Casey Development League team celebrated their first win for the season in the curtain raiser. Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 5.7.37 9.9.63 11.10.76 North Ballarat 1.0.6 2.3.15 5.5.35 6.9.45 Goals Casey Scorpions Long Meadows 3 Drew Fowler McFarlane Matthews Troutman North Ballarat Baird Carey Graham Murphy Semens Youl Best Casey Scorpions Lindsay Hill Corry Rosier Rutherford Drew North Ballarat Horbury Currie Graham Carey Scott Youl