On a Saturday that went started cold but fine and ended in torrential rain the Scorpions had two good wins against the Box Hill Hawks. Please read on for match reports from KC from Casey and Chris Weaver from Leader Newspapers.

DUNN AND DUSTED by KC from Casey

The catalyst for the Casey Scorpions' seventh win of the season a scintillating third term, a period often called the "premiership quarter". The Scorpion push for victory was headed by key forward Lynden Dunn who booted eight goals for the match including three of the five unanswered goals scored after half time in the driving rain that inundated Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks were desperate for a win to re-establish their place in the top eight and they jumped the Scorpions early in the game when the conditions of the day were at their best. The home side seemed a little disorganised at the start of proceedings playing one man short as they waited for the arrival of Kyle Cheney from emergency duties at the MCG. The problem was compounded when Michael Newton was forced out of the game with a calf injury. Box Hill held the ascendency at the first break by 13 points.

Casey lifted its game early in the term with Paul Johnson working hard in the ruck and McKenzie and Nicholls doing well at the stoppages. When Austin Wonaeamirri goaled the Scorpions had drawn to within a point. The Hillmen regained their composure and drew away with two goals and, as the game deteriorated into a bit of a slog in the worsening conditions it was clear that Casey had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, the accurate Dunn was around and when the lively Maric kicked a goal it had drawn back to within five points. The dark clouds threatened more heavy rain as the visitors led by a goal at the main break.

Whatever Brad Gotch told his charges should have been bottled because they completely dominated the third quarter. The defence with McNamara, Joel McDonald, Stockdale and Panozza in complete control was impassable and when the ball went forward Dunn was sublime in front of goal. Glenn Chivers was also welcomed back after injury. By the three quarter time siren Casey was seemingly home and hosed with a 25-point lead as the rain drove down making the chances of a final quarter revival from the visitors look slim.

However, Box Hill would not be denied and it worked hard to make up the deficit. Twice during the final term the Hawks looked threatening as they got to within a little over two goals and twice it was Dunn who denied them with his seventh and eighth goal of the game. Acting skipper James Wall, who never lets his team down was leading his team with another inspirational performance and conditions suited James Taylor and his close checking play. The Scorpions had the game well in hand when a Box Hill goal on the siren reduced the margin back to 14 points.

Results elsewhere see Casey occupying second spot on the VFL ladder with a game coming up against early pace setters Sandringham at Casey Fields next Saturday.

Casey Scorpions 2.2.14 6.4.40 11.7.73 13.9.87

Box Hill Hawks 4.3.27 7.4.46 7.6.48 11.7.73

Goals

Casey Scorpions Dunn 8 Chivers Hughes MacReadie Maric Wonaemirri

Box Hill Hawks Breust Suckling 3 Gibson 2 Curnow Muston Smithwick

Best

Casey Scorpions Dunn Wall Johnson Macdonald Hughes McKenzie

Box Hill Hawks Suckling Curnow Andrews Pedersen Schoenmakers Breust

The Casey Reserves set the tone for a big day for the club when they comfortably accounted for the previously undefeated Box Hill Hawks. David Bell was the Scorpions best in their biggest win for some time.

Casey Scorpions 4.3.27 5.4.34 6.7.43 9.10.64

Box Hill Hawks 1.4.10 1.5.11 2.8.20 2.10.22

Goals

Casey Scorpions Smith Waite 2 David Bell Cleven Fitzpatrick Purdy Sykes

Box Hill Hawks Johnston Lowden

Best

Casey Scorpions David Bell Hillberge L McDonald M Dowse Cleven Mohr

Box Hill Hawks Tobin Warby Tuck Sierakowski Walker Mirra

Hawks unDunn

Chris Weaver - Leader Newspapers

 IT was a display to warm the coldest of afternoons.  Lynden Dunn's eight-goal haul was the highlight on Saturday at a saturated Casey Fields, ensuring  the Casey Scorpions emerged victorious in their Round 8 VFL  encounter with the Box Hill Hawks.

Dunn's performance was a victory for percentage football, the now stocky 23-year-old holding front position throughout  as he remained rooted to the goal square. Reading conditions perfectly, Dunn notched several of his goals simply through his understanding that a heavy football on a wet day would often fall short of the  intended target. His timing was perfect. It  is a make-or-break juncture in the utility's career, having recently been demoted to the VFL after a month of inconsistent displays in the AFL. Saturday's effort would have done his chances of an AFL recall little harm, but any promotion would be doubly costly for the Scorpions should full-forward Michael Newton also depart the side. 

Newton left the ground five minutes into the game, his right calf remaining tightly strapped and iced as he sat a disconsolate figure on the bench. Having been re-rookied by Melbourne six months ago, such a blow could be crucial for a player whose career stands on a precipice. Few would have expected the conditions to favour key position players, yet several excelled. Paul Johnson and the Hawks' Ryan Schoenmakers duelled keenly in the ruck, the shorter and rawer Schoenmakers redeeming his losses at the stoppages by presenting confidently at marking contests around the ground. 

The Scorpions, however, looked altogether more disciplined and organised at the many stoppages that accompanied the heavy rain falling after half-time.  Brad Gotch's side burrowed in hard, with Jordie McKenzie, Michael Stockdale, Danny Nicholls and Ben MacReadie extracting the ball with determination and courage.  Their hard work created space for flankers Joel Macdonald and Glenn Chivers, who in turn delivered capably to Dunn.  Ultimately it was the presence of a deep-lying forward and victory at the clearances that turned the game the Scorpions' way.  With Steve Kenna missing, Box Hill depended too much on the veteran Marco Bello and 18-year-old Jayden Hoegel at the packs.  

That dependency in turn hurt Sam Gibson, Luke Breust and Matt Suckling, all-action midfielders who were expected to fill too many roles. The Hawk trio kicked eight of their side's 11 majors, yet would have benefitted from feeding off a talisman up forward. The loss hurts Box Hill deeply, as it  sits four points outside the eight after a number of narrow losses. The Scorpions enter this week's game against Sandringham knowing that a win will keep them in the top two at the halfway mark. 

It's  Casey ``Pink Ribbon Match'' and  there will be handball competitions, an around-the-ground raffle and  face painting.

Meanwhile,  Michael Stockdale, Danny Nicholls and Kyle Cheney share the lead in the $3000 Leader Alarah award.

Casey Scorpions   2.2  6.4  11.7  13.9 (87) d Box Hill Hawks   4.3  7.4  7.6  11.7 (73)

Goals: Casey Scorpions: Dunn 8 MacReadie  Wonaemirri  Hughes  Chivers  Maric.

Box Hill Hawks: Suckling 3 Breust 3 Gibson 2 Muston  Smithwick  Curnow

Best: Casey Scorpions: Dunn Wall Johnson Macdonald Hughes McKenzie.

Box Hill Hawks: Suckling Curnow Andrews Pedersen Schoenmakers Breust 

Reserves - Casey Scorpions   4.3  5.4  6.7  9.10 (64) d Box Hill Hawks   1.4  1.5  2.8  2.10 (22)

Casey goals:  Waite 2 Smith 2 Bell  Sykes  Purdy  Cleven  Fitzpatrick.

Best:     Bell Hillberge MacDonald Dowse Cleven Mohr  

$3000 Leader Alarah Casey Scorpions player of the year: 22 Lyden Dunn, 14 Paul Johnson,  11 James wall, Kyle Cheney,  Joel MacDonald.  Progressive: 87 Michael Stockdale, Danny Nicholls,  Kyle Cheney, 82  James Wall, 67 Ben MacReadie, 65 Tom McNamara, 61 Brad Miller.

$500 Alarah reserves player of the year: 3 David Bell, 2 Ryan Creed, 1 Dean Cleven. Progressive: 7 Mark Weekes, 5 Luke McDonald, Michael Johnson, David Bell.