Vice Captain and reining  Gairdner- Clark medallist James Wall knocks up his 50^th Game this week for the Scorpions. Wall who was played 49 of the most consistent games will reach the milestone on Sunday.Wall has knocked up some glowing accolades in his 49 appearances for the Scorpions, which include VFL Team of the year and being awarded Gairdner-Clarke Medallists in 2008 and is a firm favourite to add a second to his trophy cabinet.  

Football Manager Craig Lees, was only too happy to reflect on the vice captain. “Wall is a vital part of our footy club, he is super valuable for us, because as at 198cm he can play anywhere, he has tremendous character and  will be pivotal to our clubs success in the next few years”.

Wall caught up with Leader news journalist Paul Amy last week.

BRETT Ratten had seen enough.  He reached for his mobile phone, stabbed out a number and hissed, ``Get someone to man up that bloody Number 11!''

The Carlton coach was sitting  in the outer wing at Casey Fields  last season watching the Blues-aligned Northern Bullants take on the Casey  Scorpions in an elimination final.And here in the third quarter was this  Number 11 for Casey, playing loose across  half back and nonchalantly  taking  intercepting marks like a kid picking  apples from the neighbour's tree. 

Ratten had a hotline  to the Bullants box and presumably singed Gavin Crosisca's ears. After he made his call, his   assistant Mark Riley looked up the name  of the Scorpions player giving the Ants so much grief. ``James Wall,'' he said.

Casey went on to win by five points, and Wall  was named third best.``It's  not a bad position, the old loose man in defence,'' the 22-year-old chortled when told  of the Ratten story.``Wouldn't be too hard to play there every week.''Fact is, Wall has played just about everywhere for the Scorpions  in the past three seasons.

Asked  his best position, he said: ``Not really sure any more, mate. I've played in a few.''At 198cm and 93kg  he's  tooled to  hold down   key positions.But, such is his mobility,  this  year  he's  mainly lining up on a wing, putting his  endurance to use.``Probably centre half back is my preference.

 That's where I read the play best,'' he decided.``But I'm starting to build  some consistent footy  on the wing this year, starting to get an understanding of  what you need to do there. Starting to get   comfortable, too.''The   Casey Scorpions-St Kilda alignment will never be regarded  as the tightest  of the VFL  alliances.

There always seemed to be a chink in the link,  and the truth is  the Scorpions  shed not a tear when St Kilda  decided to go  with  Sandringham.  But  in Wall Casey has a  valuable   remnant from the partnership. Wall was a Sydney rookie in 2006 and had the same status  at St Kilda in 2007.

 He chose to stay  with  the Scorpions  when  the Saints cut him.A few  Casey people were surprised that Wall was let go. With his good closing speed, long arms  and ability to hold his own  in one-on-one battles,  they thought he  had the makings of a  decent backman

. And he had finished  fourth in the best and fairest.``I obviously wasn't privy to what  was said at St Kilda,'' Casey football manager Craig Lees said.  ``But I couldn't believe they didn't keep him.''Lees will not complain too loudly. He signed Wall and watched him win the 2008 best and fairest.Wall is  not the most elegant  player in the VFL _ his kicking  is no thing of beauty _  but ask around  opposition clubs and  they'll tell you Casey has no more important player. The right-footer  plays a long way from home.

He lives at Essendon and  the journey to Casey Fields involves tackling the Monash Freeway. ``Monash Carpark  more  like it,'' he said, explaining how he waxed driving duties with teammates Peter Faulks, Ryan McGough and Chris Clay.

Wall's loyalty was tested  before this season, when Sandringham came calling. There  must have been a temptation  to hook up with his mate Stef Garrubba and his old St Kilda teammates  at Sandy?``Nah,  I wasn't really serious about  it,'' he said.``Good bunch of blokes at Casey and we're building a good side. We're all young.''