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Failed pokies venture leaves Melbourne affiliate Casey fighting for survival

COUCH WINS CASEY'S BEST AND FAIREST by KC from Casey Melbourne rookie Tom Couch performed many heroic feats for the Casey Scorpions during the 2012 season and he was well rewarded last Friday night when he became the convincing winner of this year’s Gardner-Clark Medal for the club’s best and fairest player ahead of youngster Luke Tynan and Demon-listed tall Jack Fitzpatrick. Couch, a hard working on baller is the son of 1989 Brownlow Medallist, Paul Couch, and had an outstanding season for the Scorpions. Despite missing games through AFL appearances and one due to injury, Couch was also a close runner up in last month’s JJ Liston Medal to Werribee’s Ben Ross. His tough approach to the game both physically and mentally and his team oriented play was instrumental in many of his team’s triumphs during the season. One of the highlights of Couch’s year came ironically in a game where he was well covered by a Zebra tagger out at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval and his possession rate was down on his normal standards. To make up for it he kicked a 50m goal from a free in the final 30 seconds to give the Scorpions the four points and ultimately, the top spot on the ladder and the minor premiership. He made his AFL debut against Fremantle in Round 16 and has played three senior games and had a NAB Cup outing for the Demons. Tynan, whose brother Josh was drafted by Melbourne this time last year, improved from reserves best and fairest to this year’s senior runner up and his efforts have raised some hope of joining him on an AFL list. Jack Fitzpatrick has overcome injury and his third place finish and exploits as the club’s leading goal kicker while often also playing long stretches in the ruck was an outstanding effort. The Steve Harrison Rising Star Award was taken out by high flyer Tim Smith while rising ruckman Luke Hill won the most improved award. The Seniors Respect Earner Award went to Demon-listed defender Troy Davis. The senior coaches and captains awards went to Chris Clay. The Development League Best and Fairest award named after club legend Edward "Snowy" Fenton was shared by Gus Patti and Jordan Pollard, the latter of who also won the competition’s award. Casey's popular coach Brett Lovett who worked wonders with his young list has resigned to concentrate on work and family. At this stage, his replacement for 2013 is yet to be announced. 2012 CASEY SCORPIONS PRESENTATION NIGHT AWARDS Seniors Best and Fairest Winner - Seniors Thomas Couch Seniors Runner Up Best & Fairest – Seniors Luke Tynan Seniors 3rd Place Best & Fairest – Seniors Jack Fitzpatrick Seniors Coaches Award – Chris Clay Seniors Captains Award - Chris Clay Seniors Most Improved Award – Luke Hill Seniors Respect Earner Award - Troy Davis Seniors Goal Kicking Award - Jack Fitzpatrick Seniors Steven Harrison Rising Star Award - Tim Smith Club person award 2012 - Chris James Development League Edward "Snowy" Fenton Best & Fairest – Gus Patti and Jordan Pollard Development League Coaches Award – Nick Lang Development League Most Improved Award – David DeAraugo Development League Respect Earner Award - Aiden Lindsay

COUCH WINS CASEY'S BEST AND FAIREST by KC from Casey Melbourne rookie Tom Couch performed many heroic feats for the Casey Scorpions during the 2012 season and he was well rewarded last Friday night when he became the convincing winner of this year’s Gardner-Clark Medal for the club’s best and fairest player ahead of youngster Luke Tynan and Demon-listed tall Jack Fitzpatrick. Couch, a hard working on baller is the son of 1989 Brownlow Medallist, Paul Couch, and had an outstanding season for the Scorpions. Despite missing games through AFL appearances and one due to injury, Couch was also a close runner up in last month’s JJ Liston Medal to Werribee’s Ben Ross. His tough approach to the game both physically and mentally and his team oriented play was instrumental in many of his team’s triumphs during the season. One of the highlights of Couch’s year came ironically in a game where he was well covered by a Zebra tagger out at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval and his possession rate was down on his normal standards. To make up for it he kicked a 50m goal from a free in the final 30 seconds to give the Scorpions the four points and ultimately, the top spot on the ladder and the minor premiership. He made his AFL debut against Fremantle in Round 16 and has played three senior games and had a NAB Cup outing for the Demons. Tynan, whose brother Josh was drafted by Melbourne this time last year, improved from reserves best and fairest to this year’s senior runner up and his efforts have raised some hope of joining him on an AFL list. Jack Fitzpatrick has overcome injury and his third place finish and exploits as the club’s leading goal kicker while often also playing long stretches in the ruck was an outstanding effort. The Steve Harrison Rising Star Award was taken out by high flyer Tim Smith while rising ruckman Luke Hill won the most improved award. The Seniors Respect Earner Award went to Demon-listed defender Troy Davis. The senior coaches and captains awards went to Chris Clay. The Development League Best and Fairest award named after club legend Edward "Snowy" Fenton was shared by Gus Patti and Jordan Pollard, the latter of who also won the competition’s award. Casey's popular coach Brett Lovett who worked wonders with his young list has resigned to concentrate on work and family. At this stage, his replacement for 2013 is yet to be announced. 2012 CASEY SCORPIONS PRESENTATION NIGHT AWARDS Seniors Best and Fairest Winner - Seniors Thomas Couch Seniors Runner Up Best & Fairest – Seniors Luke Tynan Seniors 3rd Place Best & Fairest – Seniors Jack Fitzpatrick Seniors Coaches Award – Chris Clay Seniors Captains Award - Chris Clay Seniors Most Improved Award – Luke Hill Seniors Respect Earner Award - Troy Davis Seniors Goal Kicking Award - Jack Fitzpatrick Seniors Steven Harrison Rising Star Award - Tim Smith Club person award 2012 - Chris James Development League Edward "Snowy" Fenton Best & Fairest – Gus Patti and Jordan Pollard Development League Coaches Award – Nick Lang Development League Most Improved Award – David DeAraugo Development League Respect Earner Award - Aiden Lindsay

TIM MOHR WINS 2011 GARDNER CLARK MEDAL by KC from Casey The word on the street is that this year's Gardner Clark Medallist for best and fairest player with the Casey Scorpions, Tim Mohr, is set to become a pioneer with the new Greater Western Sydney Giants franchise which enters the AFL next season. Former Tasmanian Mohr, who played seven VFL games for the now defunct Tassie Devils before joining the Scorpions in 2008, capped off a great season by winning the club's major award on Friday night with 97 votes to hold off Matthew Bate by 16 votes in a close finish with full forward Brendan Fevola coming in third on 61 votes. The 195cm 98kg key position player has shrugged off injuries from previous seasons and finally had a consistent year, playing mainly in defence although he was occasionally called on to pinch hit in the ruck. Mohr combines his size with good strength and speed and is noted for his long kicking. He will attend this week's AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium along with many other draft hopefuls who are aiming for places on AFL club lists in 2012. The Giants' head of recruiting Steve Silvagni was just one of the AFL's scouts present at Casey matches this year and Mohr would most certainly have come under notice. The Giants can draft him under the rule that allows the new club to pre list ten uncontracted players not tied to other AFL clubs. Last year Collingwood secured Andrew Krakouer under the same rule after he was listed by Gold Coast and on traded to the Magpies. The fast finishing Bate can count himself unlucky to miss out. After snatching the lead by a single vote late in the count, he missed two rounds playing for the Demons and this enabled Mohr to hit the front again, a lead which he held to the end which came in the form of the club's crushing semi final exit against Werribee. Fevola also had a strong second half year to finish third. He was the club's top goalkicker for the year with 68 and was a narrow runner up for the Frosty Miller medal for the VFL's top goalkicker. He nudged out last year's third placegetter Matthew Warnock who had another great season at full back. Co-captain and a multiple best and fairest winner James Wall finished fifth ahead of future Demon ruck star Max Gawn. Mohr also picked up the Leader Media Award (as voted by club staff) and the $1,000.00 cheque that goes with it and, along with Rian McGough and Michael Stockdale, was presented with his 50th game awards by former player, current Fremantle defender Alex Silvagni. Another former Scorpion with the Dockers is Peter Faulks who recently made his AFL debut with that club. Wall and courageous co-skipper Kyle Matthews presented the 2011 Captains Award to youngster Luke Tynan who was also won the Reserves Best and Fairest award. Senior coach Brad Gotch was recognised for his achievement on coaching his 250th VFL match this season. By season's end, he was up to 264 games which puts him behind only Bill Faull and Gerard FitzGerald in the number of games coached in VFL/VFA history. Gotch's two-year contract has ended and it is believed the club is weighing up his future. Top vote getters (Gardner-Clark Medal) 1. Tim Mohr 97 2. Matthew Bate 81 3. Brendan Fevola 69 4. Matthew Warnock 63 5. James Wall 55 6. Max Gawn 49 7. Michael Stockdale 43 8. Tom McNamara 38 9. Addam Maric 34 Other seniors awards went to: Seniors Team Acts award - James Wall (who won this award last year). Seniors Players MVP - Matthew Bate. Senior Coaches Award - Matthew Warnock. Seniors Most Improved Award - Will Petropoulos. The Steve Harrison Rising Star Award - Mitch Gent. Trainer Bobbie Lee Blay was best clubperson. Top vote getters (Gardner-Clark Medal) Luke Tynan won the reserves best and fairest, the Snowy Fenton Medal. He polled 58 votes to win from David Bell (50) with Stefan Baumgatner (30) a distant third. Other awards to the Reserves included: Team Acts award Jordon Pollard, Players MVP Stefan Baumgartner, Coaches award Gus Patti, Most Improved Jess Bolton. Aaron Purves was the reserves competition's top goal kicker. In other news, it was reported last week that the club might need to recruit hard to replenish its stocks with, in addition to Mohr's likely drafting, defender Michael Stockdale tipped to go interstate or another VFL club and possible moves by northern suburbs residents James Wall and Rian McGough.