THIS is blossoming into a splendid season for the Casey Scorpions.

Going into 2008 there were no great predictions   about their prospects, especially after the departure of coach Peter Banfield and a group of senior players.

By Paul Amy- Leader News

But  the Scorpions are  thriving under new man Greg Hutchison, and the   relationship between  Casey and St Kilda is as good as it's been.  It's a pity the alignment will cease at the end of the season.

On Sunday  the Scorpions journeyed to Coburg and gave the 2007 grand finalist a 53-point caning to earn their  eighth  win. They are  second on the ladder. They are going  fantastically well.

That they lost two players with injury in the first half  made the performance the more commendable.

Captain Kyle Matthews went off with a foot injury at the 20-minute mark of the first quarter (it was a burst blood vessel, not a  break, as first feared)  and little Beau Vernon was concussed early in the second term.

It tested legs, but Hutchison said his players were running as hard in the last quarter as they did in the first.

``I thought our  guys were terrific,'' he said on Monday.

Experienced Saints  Shane Birss  (32 possessions, six inside 50s),  Adam Fiora (28, eight inside 50s, five tackles)  and the demoted Steve Milne (23, four goals,  four tackles)   set the example.

Milne   clearly enjoyed himself and  Hutchison said his goals were ``the cream  on the cake''.

``I thought his work around the stoppages and through the midfield was really good,'' the coach said. ``His ability  to run and spread and put pressure on and tackle was pleasing.''

 Nick Dal Santo had a harder time of it. He had tenacious  Tiger Nick Carnell as a hard tag (Carnell is  no easier to shake than a leech) and  had  to be content with 19  disposals. But he laid five tackles, which would have pleased Saints coach Ross Lyon, who sat in the Casey coaching box.

``To our players' credit they worked pretty hard for him to get the footy and looked after him at the stoppages,'' Hutchison said.

``It was a tough day but Nick's played footy for a long time and he handled it pretty well. He still made a valuable  contribution.''

Ruckman Michael Rix was again outstanding with  21 disposals and  14 marks. He drifted  forward to  filch three goals, but also  worked hard defensively to cut off Coburg across half-back.

Half-forward lead-up merchant Chris Dunne  was busy again, and Evan Panozza  (23 possessions) gave  rebound  off his back flank. The left-footer is a player on the rise.

 Alex Silvagni maintained his flawless form in the backline.

``He's just  got some confidence about being able to play,'' Hutchison said when asked about Silvagni's improvement this season.

``We gave him the biggest opponent each week in terms of the name and  he's  standing up.He's got himself fit and he's  playing with confidence. We don't complicate it too much for him and he goes about it in a really diligent manner.''

There was a senior VFL debut for  Saints rookie Khan Haretuku, a tall lad who has kicked on since the start of the season. He nailed a goal with his first kick.

The Scorpions host  Essendon-aligned  Bendigo Bombers this Sunday.

Matthews will be on crutches  for three days but may be available.

$1000 Leader player-of-the-year award (votes by Greg Hutchison): 3 Shane Birss,  2 Steve Milne, 1 Michael Rix.

Progressive: 9 Silvagni,  Rix 7 Gwilt, McQualter, 6 Birss, Jones, 4 Gardiner, 3 Ferguson, R Clarke,  2 Milne, Armitage, McEvoy, Allen, Wall, 1 Matthews, Howard.