The Casey Scorpions played their Round 17 game against North Ballarat in a country setting at Morwell on Saturday. It was a fitting venue for the game as the region feeds the club with many of its younger players and the atmosphere was true country with cars and the odd gleaming red fire truck ringing the ground amid the smell of food cooking on barbies tantalising the nostrils.

Casey's Melbourne alignment partner is suffering an injury crisis of major proportions at the moment and this has left the Scorpions heavily reliant on their reserve depth as witnessed by the selection of nine first year VFL players (some of them from the Gippsland area) and including three first gamers in these ranks. Catani's Russell Lehman was the Gippsland Power TAC Cup 23rd man for the week.

 The final result, a 29 point loss to the reigning premiers, might be considered somewhat flattering because of the visitors' inaccurate kicking for goal but the young undermanned and undersized Casey lads fought the game out well.

They even gave their coach Peter German some positives heading towards the business end of the season with the way they finished the match. The game opened in disappointing fashion with the Roosters, who form only half an alignment with North Melbourne, firing on all cylinders from the outset.

 Fielding nine AFL listed players to Casey's two (Simon Buckley and rookie Trent Zomer), they applied enormous pressure on the young, inexperienced side and were constantly in attack in the early going. Fortunately for the "home" side, the swirly conditions affected their kicking for goal and prevented a blow out of major proportions

James Wall goaled on a rare expedition forward but North Ballarat was in control when the siren ended the first term leading 3.9.27 to 1.0.6. Any thoughts that a change of ends might give the Scorpions a chance to get back into the game were dispelled early in the second quarter as the Roosters maintained control and rarely allowed the ball out of their attacking half.

In the absence of any recognised AFL playmakers in the Casey team, they were able to concentrate on covering players such as Kyle Matthews and young up an comer Michael Stockdale. Close checking tactics on forward Ben Waite also kept him quiet in the first half. As is usual, Wall, Alex Silvagni and Peter Faulks were called on to work overtime.

Two first gamers Tim Smith and Gareth Snow helped them out, as did inexperienced pair Glenn Chivers and Wade Lees but still, the half time scoreboard was daunting. One goal to seven and a sizeable deficit of 48 points was not a pretty picture. 

This was a tribute game for our heroic CFA fire fighters and their fine contribution for the community in the bushfires that ravaged the state just six months ago. Ironically, it was coach German who was breathing fire during the main break. He gave his charges a red, hot bake and called on them to show similar inspirational heroics to get back into the game.

 While some of the gleaming red fire trucks were called out to duty not long after that, there was also an immediate reaction on the field from German's team. A pass from Glenn Chivers to Waite gave the Scorpions the first goal of the second half. A few minutes later Zomer did likewise when he found Waite again for his second.

 The Roosters kept the pressure on the Casey defence and restored their big lead with the next two goals by mid quarter but for most of the term, goals were hard to come by as both defences were on top

. A late one to Zomer after a mark on the siren gave his team a win for the quarter although the deficit was still 43 points at the final break. Silvagni was on the ball and accepted a pass from Buckley to start proceedings in the final term. Pierce Liddle scored a soccer goal off the ground and a Zomer pass to Waite for his third gave the Scorpions a faint glimmer of hope.

When Lees marked for his first goal in senior company the difference was 20 points with plenty of time still left to win the game. Casey had its chances but a goal to Rooster forward Driscoll at the 18-minute mark and another one two minutes later killed the contest. The Scorps fought the game out and the lively Liddle booted a consolation goal late in the game to keep the margin under five goals. 

The bye could not have come at a better time for Casey and the extra week's rest should see the return of a few players from injury and the team fit, refreshed and regrouped or battles against Williamstown (home) and Box Hill (away) which need to be won if the Scorpions are to claim a top four spot.

 Casey Scorpions 1.0.6 1.2.8 4.2.26 9.6.60

North Ballarat 3.9.27 7.14.56 9.15.69 12.17.89

Goals

Casey Scorpions Waite 3 Liddle 2 Lees Silvagni Wall Zomer

North Ballarat Driscoll 4 McKenzie Spolding 2 Edwards Greig Sewell WundkeBest

Casey Scorpions Faulks Smith Snow Lees Liddle Wall

North Ballarat Sewell Feery Driscoll Searl Clifton Lower

Needless to say, the reserves were also in a spot of bother as a result of the loss of players to the senior team. They managed to field a team thanks to a number of local players and were within striking distance for two or three quarters but ultimately succumbed to a fitter, stronger outfit. Luke Williams booted four goals and Scott Virtue and Gus Patti were the best players.  

Casey Scorpions 2.1.13 4.3.27 6.4.40 8.7.55

North Ballarat 2.7.19 5.11.41 9.15.59 17.21.123

Goals

Casey Scorpions Williams 4 Palazzolo 2 Campbell Seeger

North Ballarat Benjamin 5 Dinnell Limb Micallef Murnane Raworth 2 Bell George

Best

Casey Scorpions Virtue Patti Sykes Crespin MacLeod Singh

North Ballarat George Benjamin Dinnell Caldow Niblett Bell