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The Casey Scorpions gave their coach Justin Plapp a dream start to the 2016 season with an emphatic 24-goal win over stand alone neighbour Frankston. Led out by new skipper Jack Hutchins, the Scorpions put a very strong team out on the field including 16 AFL listed players. They were expected to be far too strong for the struggling Dolphins who came out full of aggression but that withered early and the home side took advantage to the fullest by increasing their lead at every change despite being short on rotations as a result of three injuries early in the game. Jack Trengove's long-awaited return from a two year foot injury was put on hold early after he was concussed in the opening moments by a blow from the opposition skipper which earned him a two match suspension. Worse still was the injury to young ruckman Mitch King who suffered a second ACL injury in three years. Also off the ground by the main break was Jay Kennedy-Harris with a hamstring injury. Despite losing their ruckman and giving away a huge advantage in height, the Scorpions won the overall ruck duels thanks to the double teaming of Declan Keilty and Cam Pedersen which allowed the team to dominate the stoppages with Alex Neal-Bullen and Angus Brayshaw which, in turn produced plenty of scoring opportunities and a record score for Casey against Frankston. Tim Smith (5 goals) and Sam Weideman (4) were the major recipients. Boom recruit Christian Petracca who missed last year with a knee reconstruction made an excellent return to the game picking up over 30 touches and kicking two goals and three behinds. It was a good day from a Melbourne perspective with many young players standing out. Jayden Hunt was given a free rein to showcase his pace on the flanks, Oscar McDonald was outstanding in defence and rookies Joel Smith and Mitch White showed plenty of promise and great endeavour. The more mature players in Colin Garland, Viv Michie and Dean Terlich provided the steadiness needed to guide the youngsters even though the game resembled a practice match at times. The VFL listed contingent also had a very good night with Tim Smith, who missed much of the latter half of 2015, outstanding up forward and James Munro hard in the clinches and a prolific ball getter, as was the dangerous Angus Scott. Declan Keilty underlined his promise in the ruck and around the ground capping the night off with three goals and the skipper was solid when required down back on a night where defenders had things easy due to the poor opposition. Youngster Connor Ambler, as 23rd player, also got into the action and did some nice things and finished with a goal on his debut. Despite the percentage boosting start it's hard to take away too much from the one sided start to the season and Saturday's curtain raiser against Collingwood (albeit across the road from the MCG) will be a much better test for the flying Scorpions. Peter Jackson VFL 2016 Casey Scorpions 3.7.25 8.9.57 15.12.102 27.17.179 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions T Smith 5 Weideman 4 Keilty 3 Brayshaw Michie Pedersen Petracca 2 Ambler Hulett Hunt Scott Terlich White K Wilson Best Casey Scorpions Brayshaw T Smith Neal-Bullen Petracca Munro Pedersen The Casey Scorpions Development League side was far too strong for its Frankston counterpart winning by 36 points AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 5.5.35 9.8.62 14.12.96 Frankston 1.2.8. 3.4.22 4.4.28 5.5.35 Goals Casey Scorpions Hannon 5 Baker Batten Briggs Machaya 2 Cox Best Casey Scorpions Muir Hannon Pattison D Johnston Gordon Machaya Statistics Angus Brayshaw 2 goals 2 behinds 31 disposals 19 kicks 12 handballs 5 marks 8 tackles 139 dream team points Colin Garland 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 6 marks 1 tackle 65 dream team points Liam Hulett 1 goal 1 behind 17 disposals 9 kicks 8 handballs 2 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points Jayden Hunt 1 goal 27 disposals 16 kicks 11 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles 101 dream team points Jay Kennedy-Harris 4 disposals 3 kicks 1 handballs 3 tackles 20 dream team points [injured] Mitch King 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 2 hitouts 8 dream team points [injured] Oscar McDonald 18 disposals 13 kicks 5 handballs 8 marks 1 tackle 79 dream team points Viv Michie 2 goals 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points Alex Neale-Bullen 1 behind 34 disposals 19 kicks 15 handballs 8 marks 8 tackles 145 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 3 behinds 28 disposals 12 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 5 tackles 16 hitouts 125 dream team points Christian Petracca 2 goals 3 behinds 31 disposals 18 kicks 13 handballs 6 marks 2 tackles 119 dream team points Joel Smith 16 disposals 6 kicks 10 handballs 5 marks 3 tackles 65 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 13 kicks 8 handballs 10 marks 2 tackles 96 dream team points Jack Trengove 1 disposal 1 kick 1 mark 7 dream team points [injured] Sam Weideman 4 goals 13 disposals 9 kicks 4 handballs 7 marks 81 dream team points Mitch White 1 goal 1 behind 21 disposals 14 kicks 7 handballs 7 marks 6 tackles 106 dream team points

It's only round one but things look promising for the Casey Scorpions who are perched on top of both the Senior and Development League ladders after resounding victories over stand alone neighbour Frankston at Casey Fields. The elements were not conducive to attractive football with heavy rain and strong winds making life tough for the players for most of the day. In the main game, the Scorpions effectively killed the match with a dominant first term against the wind. Their defence was tight and strong, constantly frustrating the visitors who managed a mere two points for the quarter and were stunned by the ferocity of their hosts in the early going. Cam Pedersen turned their opening quarter into a nightmare with a long goal against the tide and they never recovered. When Casey's turn with the wind came, Aidan Riley had a purple patch with two early goals and, but for some poor kicking for goal, the massacre would have been complete by half time. As it was, the lead was insurmountable and, despite some improvement in the third term when the Dolphins kicked two late goals, they were swamped in the final term by a dominant but inaccurate foe. Viv Michie had an outstanding game with his 29 possessions and nine tackles and Rohan Bail was classy at times with three goals including a classic effort against the breeze in the third quarter when he ran the ball out of defence, through the centre, passed it forward and continued to run all the way into the square where he retrieved the ball in a pack for a snapped goal. Evan Panozza played a great skipper's game in defence and Jack Fitzpatrick was again outstanding down back with 22 touches and 11 marks. The rucks completely mauled Frankston with Jake Spencer and Max Gawn (71 hit outs between them) far too strong for their counterparts. Gawn was also good up forward but his kicking for goal let him down badly. With a dominant ruck it was little wonder that the midfield had a day out. Michie, Riley, Matt Jones, Jimmy Toumpas, Jordie McKenzie, Jack Grimes and Scorpion Mitch Gent who was out injured for most of last year all had plenty of the football. Billy Stretch looks a real prospect for the future. His run and carry into the forward fifty was exciting while lightly built Dingley recruit Luke Walmsley again showed his class. The end result in the wet conditions - a 13.19.91 to 5.9.39 - was a just reward despite the inaccuracy but the Scorpions' real test will be in the weeks to come starting with a big test at the Whitten Oval against the reigning premier Footscray in a game which starts at noon next Sunday. Casey Scorpions 1.2.8 6.11.47 8.12.60 13.21.99 Frankston 0.2.2 1.4.10 4.8.32 5.9.39 Goals Casey Scorpions Bail 3 Pedersen Riley 2 Harmes Terlich Scott Gent Smith Gawn Frankston Gardiner 2 Cavarra Irving Wood Casey Scorpions Michie Bail Gent Panozza Fitzpatrick McKenzie Frankston Wood Wilsen Foote Cavarra Pickess Hockey Match Statistics Rohan Bail 3 goals 1 behind 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 1 hit outs 116 dream team points Jack Fitzpatrick 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 11 marks 93 dream team points Max Gawn 1 goal 5 behinds 17 disposals 11 kicks 6 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 31 hit outs 118 dream team points Jack Grimes 3 behinds 20 disposals 15 kicks 5 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 104 dream team points James Harmes 1 goal 11 disposals 7 kicks 4 handballs 0 marks 1 tackle 36 dream team points Matt Jones 1 behind 25 disposals 8 kicks 17 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 93 team points Jordie McKenzie 26 disposals 13 kicks 13 handballs 3 marks 7 tackles 102 dream team points Viv Michie 29 disposals 13 kicks 16 handballs 6 marks 9 tackles 118 dream team points Cam Pedersen 2 goals 2 behinds 15 disposals 12 kicks 3 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 4 hit outs 109 dream team points Aidan Riley 2 goals for 29 disposals 8 kicks 21 handballs 4 marks 3 tackles dream team 101 points Jake Spencer 1 behind 14 disposals 6 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 40 hit outs dream 93 team points Billy Stretch 24 disposals 12 kicks 12 handballs 2 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points Dean Terlich 1 goal 18 disposals 14 kicks 4 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 80 dream team points Jimmy Toumpas 26 disposals 14 kicks 12 handballs 8 marks 3 tackles 99 dream team points The Scorpions Development League team established early control in trying conditions against the young Dolphins. The team has great depth although given the poor opposition, the game should not necessarily be taken as a pointer for the season ahead. 2015 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 6.8.44 9.8.62 15.13.103 17.15.117 Frankston 1.0.6 2.2.14 2.2.14 2.3.15 Goals Casey Scorpions Waters 4 King 3 Moncrieff Morris Paredes 2 Battle Johnson Neal-Bullen White Best Casey Scorpions Gains Morris Thwaites King Corrigan Waters Frankston Tuddenham Bailey Valles Hammond Bastinac Halsall

Until this game Frankston had never won a game at Casey Fields. In recent years the Dolphins have suffered some humiliating losses both at home and away and they have not beaten the Scorpions since 2006. Well they finally made it and deservedly so because, despite the poor start they kept plugging away with an insatiable desire for the football and ultimately, they triumphed by a solitary goal. Casey started well in the cold and drizzly conditions that prevailed at Cranbourne East playing arguably their best football for more than twelve months. They were getting first use of the ball out of the middle and moving it well into the forward line. Max Gawn was in good marking form when he played up forward and had two goals at the first break. The Dolphins came out with improved intensity with the aid of the breeze and took 12 minutes to narrow the deficit to a mere two points and looked like brushing the home team aside completely but the Scorpions regrouped and held firm to hold the narrowest of leads at half time. Frankston continued to work hard and harass the more accomplished Casey players and held the lead for much of the early part of the third quarter. From there the game ebbed and flowed to the end and whilst the Scorps looked winners when the lead went out to 17 points halfway through the final term and with Gawn in great form up forward, the Dolphins surged to a well deserved victory. The excitement continued until well after the thirty minute mark when Christian Salem marked 45 metres out. Unlike a few weeks ago, his shot for goal fell short just before the siren sounded. Most of Casey's better players were its AFL listees but young Ed Morris (29 disposals) again impressed and the club introduced yet another debutant Nathan Paraedes who had his moments as did young Demon international rookie Maia Westrupp in just his second game. Youngsters such as Angus Scott who kicked two goals are showing improvement. Casey now has a week's bye to reflect on a season gone wrong. 2014 Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions 5.3.33 6.4.40 9.10.64 12.10.82 Frankston 1.1.7 6.3.39 8.4.52 13.10.88 Goals Casey Scorpions Gawn 4 Petropoulos Scott 2 Best Clisby Fitzpatrick M Jones Frankston Harper Potts Simpson 2 Buchan Coleman Haretuku Lourey Newman Pollard Sutton Best Casey Scorpions Gawn Strauss Nicholson Fitzpatrick Morris M Jones Frankston Kitchin Potts Simpson Tynan Harper Statistics The statistics from the game are interesting. Casey finished with 422 disposals to 345, they had 123 to 68 marks and dominated the hit outs by 69 to 22. I would expect figures like those to produce a reasonably easy win but instead they lost by a goal and in fact, went inside 50 only 43 times to 56. Disposal and decision-making must have been rather ordinary to produce such a result. Dom Barry 8 disposals 2 kicks 6 handballs 1 marks 3 tackles 30 Dream Team Points Matt Clisby 1 goal 28 disposals 15 kicks 13 handballs 8 marks 2 tackles 106 Dream Team Points Jack Fitzpatrick 1 goal 3 behinds 19 disposals 12 kicks 7 handballs 10 marks 2 tackles 30 hit outs 128 Dream Team Points Max Gawn 4 goals 1 point 23 disposals 12 kicks 11 handballs 13 marks 5 tackles 39 hit outs 179 Dream Team Pointsłuî Alexis Georgoiu 10 disposals 7 kicks 3 handballs 6 marks 3 tackles 53 Dream Team Points James Harmes 21 disposals 8 kicks 13 handballs 3 marks 1 tackle 59 Dream Team Points Matt Jones 1 goal 2 behinds 35 disposals 17 kicks 18 handballs 9 marks 5 tackles 139 Dream Team Points Viv Michie 24 disposals 13 kicks 11 handballs 2 marks 7 tackles 93 Dream Team Points Dan Nicholson 39 disposals 23 kicks 16 handballs 11 marks 8 tackles 168 Dream Team Points Christian Salem 1 point 22 disposals 18 kicks 4 handballs 3 marks 4 tackles 85 Dream Team Points James Strauss 35 disposals 22 kicks 13 handballs 11 marks 3 tackles 135 Dream Team Points Maia Westrupp disposals 3 kicks 4 handballs 3 tackles 32 Dream Team Points The development league team was in the game until well into the final quarter before going down by 16 points. 2014 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 3.4.22 4.7.31 6.11.47 7.15.57 Frankston 3.4.22 5.8.38 7.9.51 10.13.73 Casey Scorpions Rennie 2 Anderson Pears Rosier Saunders Smith Frankston Farmer 4 Alwan 3 Clements Fox Irving Best Casey Scorpions Hillard Jackson Lang Anderson Welsh Del Papa Frankston Irving Fox Alwan Farmer Brennan Beech

After a long hot summer for the Casey Scorpions in which their very existence was challenged, the on field team gave new coach Rohan Welsh a win in his first game at the helm at Casey Fields against Frankston on Saturday. The 68 point win was a fillip for the club after a less than spectacular series of practice matches saw many of the pundits predicting a gloomy season for the club. The experts were proved wrong by a team that showed it was up to the task of playing a strong brand of winning football and the result was a true confidence booster for many of the young players on display seeking to develop their careers at either AFL or VFL level and for the club itself. We saw some outstanding performances from the likes of Luke Tapscott (6 goals), Max Gawn in the ruck and midfielders in James Magner, Tom Couch and Michael Evans and the emergence of a real prospect in Ben Kearns, a teenager from the Gippsland Power who kicked 5 goals. Mitch Gent was another of the Casey younger brigade who underlined his improvement during the off season. The game was played in perfect conditions and the first quarter was a real shootout with the home side booting eight goals to six to take a lead of 11 points at the first break. Casey skipped away in the second term with a dominant midfield and accurate kicking for goal and were untroubled as they won every quarter on their way to a resounding victory. One of the features of the game was the hunger of many of the players sensing the opportunity to gain AFL promotion in the wake of Melbourne's poor performances in the opening rounds. Tapscott was a standout while Gawn showed great skill both in ruck and up forward. Rohan Bail showed good toe and confidence for one who had been sidelined from contact work for the better part of two months while recovering from concussion. It was also a day for Demon rookies with Magner, Couch and newcomer Mitch Clisby amassing the possessions. One of the highlights of the game was the goal kicked from outside 50 by Dean Kent on the run after taking a couple of bounces. Newcomer Jesse Hogan looks the goods as a key forward of the future while Cam Pedersen overcame the disappointment of a poor first up effort at AFL level last week with a commanding performance in defence. The Scorpions have been known in recent years for nurturing and developing local talent and, apart from the outstanding debut of Kearns, the game also saw solid first up efforts from Leongatha's Jake Best and Cranbourne's Michael Boland. While some seasoned veterans opened the season playing in the development league, the youth policy seems to be paying off although we are sure to see some of the regulars pushing for places as the season unfolds. Casey will play North Ballarat next Saturday at Eureka Stadium at 2pm. Casey Scorpions 8.2.50 14.4.88 19.8.122 23.11.149 Frankston 6.3.39 8.5.53 10.8.68 12.9.81 Goals Casey Scorpions Tapscott 6 Kearns 5 Bail Best Gawn Hogan 2 Evans Jetta Kent Magner Frankston Lourey 4 Alwan 3 Delahunty Lloyd 2 Gallagher Best Casey Scorpions Tapscott Gawn Gent Kearns Evans Magner Frankston Lourey Lloyd Alwan Irving Bosward Gallagher The development side was outgunned in the final quarter by a determined Dolphins outfit. 2013 AFL Victoria Development League Casey Scorpions 4.2.26 5.2.32 8.2.50 9.3.57 Frankston 2.2.14 6.8.44 7.10.52 12.14.86 Goals Casey Scorpions Hughes 3 Matthews 2 Lang Meadows Nicholls Taggert Frankston Calvert 4 Maynard Miller 2 Johnson Matheson Sykes Tuddenham Best Casey Scorpions Nicholls Pollard Hill Waters Troutman Rutherford Frankston Newman Boland Sutton Calvert Beech Maynard

CASEY CLIFFHANGER - PART THREE by KC from Casey The Casey Scorpions' incredible start to the 2012 season continued with yet another exciting finish - this time by the closest possible margin of 1 point against Frankston at Casey Fields on Sunday. It follows narrow winning margins of 2 and 6 points respectively in the Scorpions' previous games and remarkably, despite posting three wins and no losses, Casey has now conceded one goal more than it has scored for the season. The Scorpions made their task all the more difficult with errant kicking for goal while the Dolphins were deadly accurate all day until late in the game when they had a couple of narrow misses. Frankston set the tone for the game with two goals in the early minutes before Casey steadied and gained some composure. Unfortunately, it struggled in front of goal despite dominating the rest of the opening quarter while, on a rare foray forward, the Dolphins managed their third straight to lead at the first break 3.0.18 to 2.5.17. Rian McGough was on the end of a chain of good play to put the Scorps in front early in the second term but the plucky Dolphins were far more direct in their approach on goal and fought back with the next two goals. The hosts continued to be wasteful in front of goal despite dominating possession and it was only late in the quarter that they found their targets. Jack Fitzpatrick who had been good in the ruck, marked strongly and kicked his team's fifth goal and when Matt Fieldsend kicked truly on the siren, Casey led 6.9.45 to 6.1.37. Frankston came back full of determination to boot the opening goal of the third term while Casey continued to be wasteful in front of goal. Fitzpatrick showed great pace for a big man but his shot just missed, then he kicked out on the full with his next. The Scorpions continued to attack for little result as the game ebbed and flowed and a nice goal from Will Petropoulos settled the team down. At the final break Casey had more than doubled Frankston's scoring shots but was only up by 13 points. The Scorpions were being well served by Wade Lees and Tom Couch who dominated possessions with 31 each. Danny Nicholls was good around the ground and last year's reserves best and fairest winner, Luke Tynan was playing his best game for the club. Cale Morton was excellent and in always giving himself time to set up play from out of defence, was an important player at this stage of proceedings. The final quarter was again a slog for the home side which had plenty of possession but struggled to convert as the opposition crowded their forward fifty. The teams traded goals and halfway through the term Casey led by 14 points before Frankston moved the ball coast to coast for a goal. And so it continued with the Scorpions unable to convert when they went forward and the Dolphins kicking truly at almost every opportunity, a couple of late misses and the final bell robbing them of the opportunity to steal victory. Special mention must be made of young defenders in Troy Davis, Jai Sheahan and Luke Tynan who were cool in the crisis late in the game and Tim Smith who was excellent on his return after a long lay off with injury. The Scorpions might have slipped under the radar so far this year as they have not yet been involved in either the VFL telecasts or radio broadcasts but next Sunday's home game against Bendigo promises to be a ripper. HOW THE DEMONS FARED Only nine Demons turned out for Casey on Sunday after James Strauss and Josh Tynan failed to take their places in the team. Presumably, Strauss failed to come up again after copping a bad knock a fortnight ago while Tynan arrived late on the flight after the Melbourne game in Perth. Aaron Davey was not selected for the VFL while the other emergency for the Demons, Tom McDonald had replaced the injured Stef Martin at Paterson's Stadium. Dan Nicholson was under suspension for drinking during his rehab. In all, 15 Melbourne listed players were not available to take part in games this weekend. Sam Blease - a real enigma. He has pace to burn which is in short supply at Melbourne at the moment but he made some poor decisions and coughed up the ball a bit. Frustrating and as much as someone with his flair and speed are needed by the Demons, I can't see him moving up this week. Thomas Couch - a ball magnet at this level and he picked up numerous possessions but he's similar to a few of the players already in the Demon midfield. Troy Davis - after being touched up in one or two NAB Cup games, Davis has gone back to the VFL where he continues to impress. He is creative, contests well, has good pace and looks to have a good future. Jack Fitzpatrick - played well in the ruck (23 hit outs) and around the ground (17 disposals) and came close to kicking goal of the year with a great run from a flank. Marking is improving but still needs to work on his kicking. Kelvin Lawrence - flashes in and out of the game and needs to do more. Cale Morton - was always in the game sweeping the ball in defence and although he didn't always hit his target did enough to get promotion. Jai Sheahan - another defender with a future, Sheahan's development will be watched closely. He hasn't put in a bad game yet in defence at Casey. Luke Tapscott - tackled and shepherded strongly and showed composure when the team needed it. That said, it still wasn't his best of days although that might be due to the fact that he took one or two heavy knocks in play. Leigh Williams - playing in his first game, Williams struggled to keep up with the game's tempo and struggled to hold his marks but found his footing and kicked a goal in the last quarter. Needed the run. Casey Scorpions 2.5.17 6.9.45 8.14.62 9.16.70 Frankston 3.0.18 6.1.37 8.1.49 11.3.69 Goals Casey Scorpions Riseley 2 Fieldsend Fitzpatrick McGough Petropoulos Salton Smith Williams Frankston Kitchin 3 Haretuku 2 Appleford Clark Greeley Martin Matheson Potts Best Casey Scorpions Lees L Tynan Couch Nicholls Morton Smith Frankston Kitchin Martin Van Unen Osborne Irving Miller Disposals Couch Lees 31 Davis Nicholls 24 Collins 22 Sheahan, 21 Morton 20 Casey's Development League team broke the ice against Frankston. Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 6.5.41 7.8.50 11.11.77 Frankston 1.1.7 3.2.20 5.5.35 7.7.49 Goals Casey Scorpions McPhie 3 Clay Lang Plummer 2 Hill Rosier Frankston Orr Uzarevic 2 Boland Policha Sykes Best Casey Scorpions Plummer Page Patti Lang Rosier McPhie Frankston Corp Jaroszczuk Lombardozzi Heddles Smrdel Ndongo