NOW for Williamstown.
Casey prepared for a top-of-the-table VFL clash by disposing of Bendigo by 29 points at a windy Casey Fields on Sunday Courtesy of Leader
The hard-tackling Scorpions held the Bombers scoreless in the first quarter and by three quarter time they owned a 21-point lead. Having to kick into the four-goal cross wind to the railway end in the last quarter, coach Greg Hutchison challenged his players with: ``This is the first time you've been tested in a while.'' They passed it. Within five minutes of the final term, instructions to win the contested ball had been rewarded with two goals, one to Ben Waite and then hit-up king Chris Dunne. Frustrating the Bombers, the Scorpions forced them on to the difficult side of the ground, the grandstand flank, where the wind was blowing across. Bendigo's attempts to get the ball into the corridor resulted in high chips easily chopped off by James Taylor, Evan Panozza, Ben McEvoy and Luke Miles. In the two quarters Casey had the wind, midfielders Leigh Fisher (two goals and 21 disposals), Jarryn Geary (23), Aaron Fiora and Shane Birss (27) got busy. Birss, a star at this level, was best-afield by the length of Cranbourne-Berwick Rd. He laid nine tackles and had six inside 50s. It was enough for him to pick up three votes in the Leader player award, joining Alexander Silvagni and Michael Rix on nine votes. The persevering Waite was the best deep target for the onballers. Opposed to Mal Michael, he took nine marks, four of them contested, and had 16 disposals. Waite has been kicking around the club for a while and this was his best performance at senior level. The pity is that he will miss the next two games owing to business commitments in China. Raph Clarke (25 disposals) was another effective forward. He was in attack when the Scorpions had the wing and on a wing/back flank when they were against it. Dunne pushed up for 10 uncontested marks and had 23 disposals. The improving Panozza again did well, but hurt an ankle late in the last quarter. The degree of mobility he had on it on Monday suggested it was ligament damage. His and Hutchison's fingers will be crossed. The Scorpions had lost Michael Rix before the game with concussion, leaving Ben McEvoy to lead the ruck division. Second-gamer Kahn Haretuku was the relieving big man. Captain Kyle Matthews (foot) missed the match but is expected to be on board when Casey, second, travels to ladder leader Williamstown on Sunday. The Scorpions will take into the match the confidence of winning their past four matches. Casey's reserves defeated an undermanned Bendigo by 109 points, with Ryan Creed best-on-the-ground in is 1st game back from injury. Casey 4.6 5.7 9.11 11.14 (80) d Bendigo 0.0 5.5 6.8 7.9 (51) . Casey goals: L. Fisher 2, R. Clarke 2, A. Fiora, M. Ferguson, C. Dunne, E. Panozza, B. Howard, B. Waite, J. Steven. Best: S. Birss, L. Fisher, E. Panozza, B. Waite, J. Steven, A. Silvagni $1000 Leader player-of-the-year award (votes by Craig Lees): 3 Shane Birss, 2 Leigh Fisher, 1 Evan Panozza. Progressive: 9 Silvagni, Rix, Birss 7 Gwilt, McQualter, 6 Jones, 4 Gardiner, 3 Ferguson, R Clarke, 2 Fisher, Milne, Armitage, McEvoy, Allen, Wall, 1 Panozza, Matthews, Howard. Reserves - Casey 2.4 9.15 14.19 22.23 (155) d Bendigo Bombers 1.7 1.7 4.12 5.16 (46). Casey goals: Creed 3 Mercoulia 3 McGrath 3 Arezzolo 3 Griffiths 2 Matheson 2 Fridman Terry MacLeod Mohr Unsworth Galvin. Best: Creed Mercoulia Mohr Snow Youle Terry |
