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by KC from Casey
The Casey Scorpions shook off a determined Sandringham in the mud and slush on Saturday at Casey Fields winning by 20 points; a victory that was significant in many ways, not the least of which was that it saw the Scorpions grab top spot on the VFL ladder at the halfway mark of the season.
Coach Brad Gotch was pleased with the way his players fought out the game with great discipline in trying conditions, tailor made for tight in-and-under football.
Gotch would also have been delighted with the performances of his VFL contingent as the team shrugged off injuries to Demons and Scorpions alike with four players - Ryan Creed, Geelong recruit Scott Simpson, Ben Waite and Gippsland Power youngster Ryan Pendelbury (a brother of Collingwood's Scott) - coming seamlessly into the side to contribute to a superb team effort on their season debuts. With Glenn Chivers and Tim Mohr returning from injury, it was a very different Casey team that took the field for its Round 9 game to renew its strong rivalry with the Zebras.
While the game did not attract as much interest or as many spectators as the Karmichael Hunt show which was unfolding way over the other end of town, it was played for a very worthy cause. The Scorpion players wore pink outfits to mark the club's Pink Ribbon Day to aid breast cancer research and the colours certainly served as a clear contrast to those of their Zebra counterparts in heavy conditions on a day when the rain held off and most of the game was played in bright sunshine until heavy clouds came in late in the day. A goodly sum was raised for the cause and, as well as the financial benefit, the event helped to heighten community awareness about an illness which tragically affects the lives of too many women and a number of men and their families each year.
The visitors, who were early competition leaders but have gone through a rough trot lately, showed they had come out to play. They scored the game's opening two goals with the use of a strong breeze before Danny Nicholls took a heavy knock and then kicked truly to open the scoring for the Scorps. Addam Maric was lively early and snagged a nice goal as he and Austin Wonaeamirri showed it was possible to handle the footy in the heavy going but Sandy regained the ascendency in a tight contest just before the first break with the aid of some accurate kicking for goal.
Paul Johnson won the battle against Saints' ruckmen Steven King and Adam Pattison which helped the cause of the Casey small men who proved a handful, winning the clearances and causing havoc around the goals. The former Liston Medallist finished the game with 25 touches in a dominant display of ruckwork both at the stoppages and around the ground.
With Casey taking its turn to kick with the wind it didn't take long before the home side snatched back control of the game. Defender Joel Macdonald drifted to the wing and rammed home a couple of lovely goals. Ben Macreadie whose season keeps getting better and better kicked truly and the lead had stretched to 18 points. Sandringham fought back in what was becoming a scrappy affair and, thanks to its accuracy in front of goal, managed to peg back the deficit to a single goal as the half time siren sounded.
The all-important third term belonged to Casey which held firm and managed to outscore the visitors against the breeze. On a day made for tight, close in, defensive football it was Macdonald who eventually finished with 28 disposals and was the stand out player with his attacking skillset. He had plenty of support from the likes of Evan Panozza who kept multiple Frosty Miller medallist Nick Sautner goalless and under a tight rein all day, hard nut Kyle Cheney, a pesky James Taylor, state representative Michael Stockdale and strong marking Tom McNamara. They combined well and were backed up by solid contributions from Chivers, Mohr and Simpson. The fact that the Zebra forwards were held at bay allowed the smaller brigade of Creed (two goals), De La Salle recruit Matthew Fieldsend (14 disposals and a goal for the quarter) and speedster Tim Smith to do the damage all around the ground for the hosts although Sandy threatened again later in the quarter when a missed shot after the siren proved costly for them.
The breeze had moderated when the final quarter began and, though Sandringham continued to threaten, it was powerless in the face of Casey's tight and relentless defensive pressure. Johnson continued to dominate the ruck and young Demon James Strauss put on a display of silky disposal skills picking up 23 possessions while keeping a dangerous opponent in check and acting skipper James Wall picked up the pace and led by example with his one per centers. It took until mid-quarter for Casey to end a long goalless deadlock for the term and soon after Nicholls matched his opening goal with the game's last major in the darkening gloom to put the result beyond doubt.
Casey gained top place as a result of Williamstown's last gasp loss at North Ballarat but faces a challenge from the Seagulls next week as it travels to Point Gellibrand for what should be a fascinating encounter between the top-of-the-ladder teams that switched their coaches during the off season. It's a game which coach Gotch is looking forward to and will be the ABC's televised Match of the Day. Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 6.7.43 9.7.62 11.9.75
Sandringham 4.0.24 6.1.36 8.3.51 8.7.55
Goals
Casey Scorpions Creed Macdonald Nicholls Smith 2 Fieldsend MacReadie Maric
Sandringham Magner Cahill Dempster Lynch Pattison Tregear Winmar
Best
Casey Scorpions Johnson Strauss Macdonald Creed Wall Panozza
Sandringham Ferraro Pattison Miles Irving Tregear Cahill
Reports
Casey Scorpions Nil
Sandringham Tom Simpkin for allegedly striking.
Casey Reserves held the upper hand in a scrappy first half but allowed a winning opportunity go begging with their inaccuracy in front of goal and the Zebras finally kicked away in the last quarter. Coincidentally, the winning margin in both games at Casey Fields was 20 points.
Exciting youngster Luke McDonald put in another fine performance and was his team's best while Matt Moore's comeback after being sidelined for a year with a knee injury was marred by a report for alleged rough conduct.
Casey Scorpions 3.3.21 5.6.36 6.9.45 6.10.46
Sandringham 2.1.13 5.1.31 7.3.45 10.6.66
Goals
Casey Scorpions Cleven Jones Fitzpatrick Leeds Lees Sykes
Sandringham Geary 2 Allan Andrews Boland Cathcart Hardiman Jones McGrath Waller
Best
Casey Scorpions L McDonald Cleven Purdy Fitzpatrick Weekes Jones
Sandringham Waller Hunter Andrews Johnston Cathcart Allan
Reports
Casey Scorpions Matt Moore for alleged rough conduct.
Sandringham Nil |
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