Scorpions Tom McDonald (74) and Troy Davis (52) thwart the efforts of Werribee star, Majak Daw, the first goalkicker of the game. Picture: Donna Oates.
By Peter Sweeney
THERE has been more ins and outs at the Casey Scorpions in recent weeks than you’d see through the main door of a city nightclub over a long weekend.
Coach Bradley Gotch didn’t use the seemingly endless number of comings and goings as an excuse for a surprise thrashing by Geelong and an upset loss to Coburg – but he says it has restricted his side from showing what they are capable of.
There will be more changes again this week. Melbourne duo Colin Sylvia and Aaron Davey – regular faces at Casey in recent times – were offered two-week and seven-day bans following the Demons loss to Richmond on Sunday.
If accepted, as they probably will be, there will be at least two players from Casey’s senior side of last Saturday promoted to the AFL this week.
However, judging by what they showed at Casey Fields on Saturday, the Scorpions are getting more adaptable to change. And, just as importantly, more consistent.
Opposition coach Paul Satterley probably summed them up best.
“They (Casey) will take a few scalps in the finals if they play like that,” Satterley remarked after his Werribee Tigers were taken to the cleaners by the Scorpions.
The Tigers arrived at Cranbourne East in fourth spot on the VFL ladder. Casey took that sitting with an emphatic 44-point victory.
The teams both had five scoring shots in the first term. Casey didn’t miss on goal; Werribee could only find the big opening once. Come half-time and the difference was 43 points. It was as good as over.
“They gave us a bit of a touch-up,” Satterley said.
“Only two of our 23 (players) stood up. You’re going to struggle if that’s the case.
“We’ve been the number 1 side in the competition for clearances this year … and Casey smacked us in the clearances.
“The way they spread across the ground was good. They gave it to us, but we’ve got character … we will bounce back.”
In giving his three best players to – Neville Jetta, “unlucky not to be in the Melbourne side”, Wade Lees (“we’d done our homework on Travis Tuck”) and Tom McNamara– Gotch apologised to their team-mates.
“They could have all got awards,” he said.
Now Gotch is chasing just two things. A home win against the Northern Bullants on Saturday to secure fourth spot – and consistency.
“Last Saturday, we treated as our first final … and this week we’ve got another one,” Gotch said.
“We win this week, and we can actually threaten (top sides) from there.
“We’re becoming more definitive and our leaders are starting to steer the ship. That’s a good sign.
“We’ve had the likes of six, eight and 10 changes to our team in recent weeks. The boys are knuckling down.”Casey Scorpions
5.0 10.4 13.9 17.11. (113)
Werribee Tigers
1.4 4.7 7.8 10.9 (69)
Goals, Casey: Fevola 6, Jetta, Lawrence, Bate 2; Fitzpatrick, McGough, Pan-ozza, Nicholls, Gawn.
Werribee: McIntosh 3, McKinley, Daw, Mangan, Rockefeller, Harding, Warren.
Best, Casey: Jetta, Warnock, Lees, Campbell, Bate, McNamara.
Werribee: McIntosh, Ross, Mather, O’Dwyer, Tighe, Hartigan.
