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If ever a game didn't go according to the script, it was this one. The Werribee Tigers were coming off a midweek Foxtel Cup defeat on the other side of the continent, a game played in driving rain, and had to front the second placed Casey Scorpions with 15 AFL listed players (and the luxury of being able to leave a couple in the Development League). Casey dominated the first seven or eight minutes of the game scoring 3.1.19 to nothing with the aid of the breeze and appeared set retake top spot on the ladder with an easy win. Then everything went wrong for the Scorpions and fifty minutes and ten unanswered Werribee goals later, they were staring down the barrel of a damaging defeat. Although the Tigers have been the Scorps' bogey team in recent years and Avalon Airport Oval hasn't been a happy hunting ground for them, the Scorpions had every reason to be confident with their flying start but perhaps they got ahead of themselves and forgot that you need to work hard in difficult conditions such as those that prevailed at Werribee yesterday. The home side certainly took note and dug deep to reel back two goals in the last twenty minutes of the opening term before taking complete control of the game in the second to open up a 47-point half time lead. They did it with strength, played direct football and used their knowledge of the local conditions to good advantage. In many respects this game was similar to the round six loss at the hands of the Box Hill Hawks which also came off a week's bye and in which the damage was caused when the team lost all momentum in the second quarter and then fought grimly to prevent an all out massacre. As coincidence would have it, Cam Pedersen was also Casey's best that day as he was against the Tigers in yesterday's clash. This time, with teammates going down like nine pins, Pedersen was forced to fill the gaps, even taking his turn in the ruck against bigger opponents. Skipper Evan Panozza also worked hard to keep his team in the game and Dom Barry produced some classy bursts but with Tom Couch injured, Danny Nicholls out and James Magner well covered most of the time, the Casey midfield was well below its best. Compounding the woes was the constant stream of injuries, all to AFL-listed players (Davis, Sellar, Rodan, Couch and later Macdonald) which left the team without interchange and bereft of the opportunity to rotate players other than on the ground itself. In the circumstances, the team did well to limit the damage to a 56-point defeat. Notwithstanding, there needs to be a fair amount of soul searching at Casey with some tough games in the run home to the finals. They simply need to work a lot harder if they want the rest of the season to go according to the script. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Not particularly well. Apart from the stats as below, there were a few injuries. Troy Davis was doing well until he copped one in the ribs in the first quarter. James Sellar was involved in a head clash and appeared concussed. David Rodan last a little under a half before hurting his hamstring. Tom Couch was also off with a hammy and it was reported late that Joel Macdonald also suffered a groin or quad injury. Jesse Hogan's three goals were achieved without any service from downfield and at times he wandered far and wide at times to gather possessions. Dominic Barry 14 kicks 9 handballs 23 disposals 4 mark 3 tackles 1 goal Thomas Couch 9 kicks 9 handballs 18 disposals 1 mark 2 tackles 1 behind Troy Davis 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle Thomas Gillies 9 kicks 11 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle Jesse Hogan 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 3 goals Joel Macdonald 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 1 behind Jordie McKenzie 10 kicks 13 handballs 23 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles James Magner 17 kicks 10 handballs 27 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 1 behind Cameron Pedersen 14 kicks 8 handballs 22 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 19 hit outs David Rodan 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 1 goal 1 behind James Sellar 3 kicks 5 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks James Strauss 11 kicks 10 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles Luke Tapscott 7 kicks 6 handballs 13 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 1 goal 3 behinds Joshua Tynan 9 kicks 9 handballs -18 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles Jack Viney 10 kicks 6 handballs 16 disposals 5 tackles Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 4.5.29 6.9.45 8.10.58 Werribee Tigers 2.2.14 12.5.77 13.6.84 17.12.114 Goals Casey Scorpions Hogan 3 Hill 2 Barry Rodan Tapscott Werribee Tigers Maric 5 Brown Castello Daw Harper McKinley McMahon Mather Meredith Ross Sierakowski Warren Wright Best Casey Scorpions Pedersen Panozza Strauss Barry J Tynan Macdonald Werribee Tigers Maric Daw Clouston McMahon Sodomaco Ross Unlike its senior counterpart, the Casey AFL Victoria Development League team handled the ground, the conditions and the opposition with polish and turned an early deficit into a solid 46-point victory against fellow finals contender Werribee. CaseyScorpions 2.1.13 8.4.52 12.5.77 16.10.106 Werribee Tigers 5.2 6.4.40 8.10.58 8.12.60 Goals Casey Scorpions Fowler 4 Hughes Riseley Taggert 3 Anderson 2 Lang Werribee Tigers Hicks Tudor 2 Bolton Kershaw Sullivan White Best Casey Scorpions Clay Lindsay Taggert Blackie Fowler Hughes Werribee Tigers White Hicks Fairley Bolton Sullivan Laracy

TIGERS CRASH CASEY'S PARTY by Ice Station The Casey Scorpions crashed to earth on Saturday when their five game winning streak ended with an emphatic 78 point thrashing at the hands of the third placed Werribee Tigers at Avalon Airport Oval. It was only the second defeat for the season for Scorpions who have become renowned for scraping out of difficult situations with narrow victories but it must worry the football department that both losses have been blow outs with massive margins involved. Earlier in the year, Casey lost its only other game of the season to the Bendigo Bombers by 71 points in a similarly disappointing display. The Scorpions rang in several changes to the team (eight in total) from last week's exciting encounter at Sandringham with selectors naming a relatively inexperienced line up. Second gamer Chris Clay was joined by two debutants in Nathan Page and Gippsland Power's Shannen Lange as 23rd man. Page and Clay vindicated their selection and both were named in the best players for their team. The game was played in cold, bleak conditions with swirly breezes making it difficult to produce good football. The home side capitalised on its local knowledge and handled the early conditions much better, kicking accurately to open up a 16 point lead at the first break. From there, the result was never in doubt with the home side dominating the ruck, on the ball and up forward where enigmatic former Geelong premiership player Nathan Ablett was proving a handful for the Casey defence. The Tigers stretched their lead in every quarter and were untroubled to record a 13 goal winning margin. Casey's Michael Riseley worked hard all day and was deservedly the visitors' best player on the day. His improvement this season along with Luke Tynan from reserves players to regular seniors members has been a highlight. Skipper Evan Panozza also worked hard to generate some momentum for his team but it was to no avail. Tom Couch who was moved back on to Melbourne's rookie list to make way for Neville Jetta (returning from injury) racked up 27 disposals ahead of Cale Morton with 26 but generally, the AFL contingent disappointed although it must be added that a few were in the comeback trail after injury and will be better for the run. After the game, Casey coach Brett Lovett described Werribee as the best team the Scorpions have played so far and told reporters, ''We just think our guys, particularly early, didn't come to play and didn't come to play all day. They showed today that they're bloody good opposition. I thought their ball use and their strength, they just beat us in most areas.'' The Scorpions had better turn up to play next week. They meet top team and reigning premier Port Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday in an important top of the ladder contest. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Only eleven Demons lined up for the Scorps and, for the most part, they were disappointing. Lucas Cook - it wasn't really a day for a key forward in the Casey line up Thomas Couch - worked tirelessly, got a lot of the football (27 disposals) and was one of the few shining lights in his team. Troy Davis - had his hands full for the second week in a row and was beaten in the end simply by the flow of the ball into his part of the ground. Jack Fitzpatrick - a good comeback in the ruck and up forward after being well beaten early in the day by Majak Daw. Jordan Gysberts - started well but appeared to suffer an injury in the second quarter and faded out of the game. Neville Jetta - had a quiet return after a long stint out with an ankle injury but what he did, he did well. Will improve with more game time. Cale Morton - had 26 touches but really didn't seem to make much of an impression despite getting plenty of the ball. Ricky Petterd - had his moments but like most of his AFL listed teammates, he was disappointing overall. James Strauss - a great user of the ball who worked hard in his second or third game back from a long term injury. Josh Tynan - fearless and that got him hurt in one incident. Generally quiet. Leigh Williams - marked well and kicked a couple of goals. Promising. Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.4.28 5.5.35 8.7.55 Werribee Tigers 5.1.31 11.5.71 14.10.94 20.13.133 Goals Casey Scorpions Cook Fitzpatrick Williams 2 Page Smith Werribee Tigers Ablett 4 McKinley 3 Daw Lynch 2 Bolton Mather Moloney Ruggles Sharp Sherlock Sierakowski Speight Warren Best Casey Scorpions Riseley Couch Fitzpatrick Williams Page Clay Werribee Tigers Ablett Ross Daw Pedersen Kennedy Sierakowski The Scorpions led in their development league game against Werribee for most of the day before losing the lead late in the game. Rian McGough, who was down from the seniors, knew exactly what had to be done. He booted home the winning goal with seconds to spare. Seniors co-skipper Kyle Matthews, on return, again injured a shoulder. 2012 AFL Vic Development League Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 6.4.40 9.8.62 12.12.84 Werribee Tigers 2.3.15 4.7.31 7.8.50 12.9.81 Goals Casey Scorpions Galvin 3 McGough 2 Weekes 2 Troutman Collins Pollard Sheahan Hill Werribee Tigers Schibeci 3 Purton-Smith 3 Risol Barbuto Lucas Ruffles Davis Sodomaco Best Casey Scorpions Patti Pollard Weekes Collins Gent McGough Werribee Tigers Laracy Sodomaco Purton-Smith Schibeci Risol McCormack