Rohan Bail played his first game for the Scorpions

After a slow start to the season the Casey Scorpions have continued to gather momentum and in front of a big crowd at ABD Group Stadium on Saturday they recorded a resounding 42 point win over the Coburg Tigers.  

The Burgers had a long string of top level AFL players in their line up headed by Ben Cousins, Troy Simmonds, Kane Pettifer, Andrew Raines, Jay Schultz, Jake King and Trent Cotchin but it was the evenness of the Casey combination that won the day. Exactly half of the Scorpions team were AFL listed (three of them rookies) and they included number 1 draft pick Jack Watts for the first time.

 The Tigers made the early running winning the clearances through Simmonds' strong work in the ruck, which allowed them to control possession all around the ground. They booted the first two goals and were doing most of the attacking but strong defensive work from Alex Silvagni, Kyle Cheney and Matthew Whelan enabled Casey to keep Coburg in check and a fine snap by Watts late in the opening quarter saw them trailing by seven points at the first change. 

The Scorpions lifted their intensity in the second quarter with Matthews and Valenti taking control of the middle. This allowed the team to play a more free flowing open game and, with Wall having an influence and Newton starting to convert (he added three goals for the term), Casey went into the rooms at the main break holding a narrow lead.

 Valenti continued to shine with a magnificent third quarter and managed to overshadow Cousins and Cotchin as Casey took control of the contest through the agency of some string marking from Danny Hughes who booted three goals for the term. The siren sounded with the visitors 29 points in front and this heralded an interesting few minutes of pushing and shoving in front of the social club as frustration set into among the Tiger camp..

 However, if any complacency had crept into the minds of the Scorpions, the home side took just four minutes to sow some seeds of doubt in their minds with two Coburg goals early in the final term. The team-lifter for Casey came when the youngest player on the ground won the ball from a ruck contest, paddled  the ball, turned to the left and swung through an amazing snap goal to restore his team's advantage to 22 points. It was Jack Watts' third goal on a very impressive senior debut. 

 Coburg was quick to reply but a Valenti leg break sealed the issue. Silvagni continued to produce good work in defence and defender Peter Faulks was playing his best game since coming to the club at the start of the season from the Sydney Swans.

Newton came off the interchange to add two  goals to make his tally five for the game earning him the ABC award for best on ground.  Valenti continued to win  the ball and  youngsters MaCreaie and McGough were impressive. Hard working young ruckman Tim Mohr (24 disposals, 6 marks) improved as the game went on and forward Matt Moore underlined his promise kicking the last two goals as Casey ran out easy winners by 42 points. 

 The Scorpions now have a week's rest courtesy of the bye and resume hostilities in a fortnight's time at home to the Box Hill Hawks.  

Casey Scorpions 1.1.7 7.6.48 11.11.77 17.13.115 Coburg Tigers 2.2.14 7.4.46 7.6.48 11.7.73 

Goals Casey Scorpions: Newton 5 Hughes Moore Watts 3 McNamara Valenti   Wall   Coburg Tigers: Hislop  Liddle Pettifer 2 Allan Connors Horne King Schulz  

Best Casey Scorpions: Newton Mohr McKenzie Faulks Watts Silvagni

Coburg Tigers: Edwards Cousins Simmonds Morgan King Caruso  

The reserves led for most of the day and had to withstand a spirited last quarter comeback from the Burgers to win by two points. Luke Williams was again solid and Augustine Patti showed the benefit of some seniors experience in a good quality reserves game.

 Casey Scorpions 2.4.16 9.5.59 16.7.103 17.7.109 Coburg Tigers 3.6.24 6.10.46 11.11.77 15.17.107

 Goals Casey Scorpions Scanlon 4 Vernon 3 Bolton Chivers Healey 2 McLeod Oldmeadow Patti Taylor

 Coburg Tigers Hughes 6 Browne Clifton Deledio De Sousa Kandilakis Kellett Hislop Polak Rayson 

Best Coburg Tigers Hughes Ambrose Groves Browne Rayson Cattapan 

Casey Scorpions Williams Patti Strauss Healey Chivers Vernon