Scorpions scare Burra

By Marc McGowan
A WEEK is a long time in football.
The old cliché sums up the Casey Scorpions’ contrasting fortunes in the opening two rounds of the VFL season.
Sandringham handed the Scorpions a 103-point hiding in round-one, but a vastly improved Casey gave last year’s grand finalist Port Melbourne an almighty scare before going down by four points at Casey Fields on Saturday night.
The Borough led by 22 points early in the third term, but Melbourne veteran Russell Robertson’s third goal of the match in the 27th minute of the final quarter drew the Scorpions within four points.
Pierce Liddle charged forward with two bounces only a minute later, but his long kick went astray and Port Melbourne was able to avert what was Casey’s final chance at an unlikely victory.
But Scorpions’ coach Peter German praised his players’ commitment to the cause and improvement in attitude.
“We knew we weren’t as bad as what we showed last week, but, in saying that, we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“We played (this Sunday’s opponent) Frankston a few weeks ago and it was the same result pretty much – we lost by three points.
“Their home ground presents another challenge, but, as I said to the boys after the game, we’ve set a standard now and there’s no excuse.”
There were several impressive performers for Casey.
De La Salle recruit Matt Moore shone up forward with his strong marking – he hauled in eight grabs – and only errant kicking prevented him from having an even bigger impact.
The 22-year-old sports an athletic 194cm, 90kg frame and, if his senior VFL debut is any indication, AFL recruiters are sure to give him a long look.
Skipper Kyle Matthews was his typically inspirational self; filling in holes down back and putting his body on the line.
But one such effort in the third term, when tackling Borough onballer David Robbins, saw him cop a poke in his right eye and he was not sighted from then on.
Defenders James Wall (24 disposals) and Alex Silvagni also starred, while Melbourne-listed Shane Valenti (38), Robertson and ruckman Jake Spencer were influential.
The clock had ticked past 17-and-a-half minutes before Port Melbourne’s Billy Burstin slotted the game’s first major in the opening quarter.
Borough forward Adrian Bonaddio added another three minutes later as the visitors went to quarter-time with a 13-point advantage.
Robertson booted the Scorpions’ first goal from 50m 90 seconds into the second term after a brilliant pass from teenager Addam Maric.
The spring-heeled Robertson bobbed up again soon after with a towering chest mark – combining with Maric again – but missed his set shot.
The difference was just 10 as the quarter entered time-on, but Jarred Matheson gave away an unnecessary 50m penalty that resulted in a major to Matthew Smith and a 16-point buffer at half-time.
Casey lost Matthews at the start of the third term and Port Melbourne shot to a 22-point break.
Moore and Demon Liam Jurrah responded with quick goals, but the Scorpions could get no closer than 10 points before three-quarter-time.
Liddle set up Robertson for the first kick on goal after a heavy hit moments earlier, but he was unable to convert.
A 55m major to Maric cut the margin to three after four minutes, but back-to-back majors to the Borough – the second after a Casey turnover – saw it restore a 15-point lead.
The Scorpions hit back again, but ultimately Bonaddio’s third from 45m out near the boundary in the 25th minute was the difference, despite Robertson matching the Port Melbourne big man a couple of minutes later.
Casey locks horns with Frankston at Frankston Park on Sunday from 2pm.
Melbourne’s number-one draft pick Jack Watts is a likely starter after a 20-possession, one-goal debut for the Scorpions’ reserves last weekend.