Addam MaricBy Marc McGowan
THE Casey Scorpions started the Peter German coaching era with a disastrous 103-point defeat to a more experienced and physically mature Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday.
The Zebras booted the opening six goals of the match and 10 of the first 12 to blow the Scorpions away in a dominant and disciplined display.
Fullback Alex Silvagni added further woe to Casey’s afternoon when trainers had to help him from the field late in the second term after a heavy clash.
He suffered a bruised ribcage and consequent breathing problems and did not return to the field.
German admitted the game was as good as over at quarter-time.
“I don’t think you’re going to win many games coming back from (conceding) nine goals even though there’s a bit of a breeze,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult day for us, but the disappointing thing was they got the score on the board and actually kicked really well for goal, so that certainly helped the scoreboard look positive for them.”
The Scorpions had the aid of just seven Melbourne players, due to the AFL club’s injury-besieged list.
Sandringham, by contrast, boasted 13 St Kilda players.
Leigh Fisher set up eight-time league leading goalkicker Nick Sautner for the first of his three majors for the quarter in the opening minutes.
Xavier Clarke and David Armitage also wreaked havoc through the midfield and both pushed forward for first-term goals.
Russell Robertson slotted the visitors’ first after 19 minutes following Rian McGough’s run through the midfield.
Skipper Kyle Matthews then gave Casey a second major only moments later, courtesy of a down-field free kick against Matt Maguire.
But three goals in time-on saw the Zebras enter the first break 43 points ahead.
German singled laconic Demon Liam Jurrah out for criticism in the huddle and was thoroughly disappointed in his group’s lack of run, intensity and hardness.
Little changed on resumption as Sandringham continued to out-muscle and out-work its youthful opposition.
The Scorpions offered a brief period of resistance, but were unable to make inroads on the margin before an Addam Maric turnover gifted Sautner – now opposed to Trent Zomer after Silvagni’s exit – his fourth goal.
The difference was 52 at half-time and was 93 at the last break following the Zebras’ blistering seven-goal term.
Casey managed just five behinds for the quarter.
Matthews ended Sandringham’s run of eight straight majors with a brilliant solo effort from near the right behind post three minutes in and Ben MaCreadie marked and goaled a minute later.
But the Zebras slammed on five majors in the next 15 minutes to boast a 111-point advantage.
Jurrah and James Wall brought the deficit back under 100 points with consecutive goals before the irrepressible Sautner earned a free kick and booted his eighth major as the siren sounded.
German was – not surprisingly – unable to find many positives in the result, but feels his players are now aware of what it takes to be successful at VFL level.
“They got a first-hand look at what sort of footy they’re going to come up against on small grounds and against harder bodies and (players with) more experience,” he said.
The Scorpions face another difficult task against impressive first-up winner Port Melbourne under lights at Casey Fields from 7pm on Saturday.
Melbourne’s number-one draft pick Jack Watts is a chance to make his debut in the match.
