Casey Scorpions hard-nut Clint Bartram chases down a loose ball against Werribee opponents Michael Barlow and Dominic Gleeson at Casey Fields on Saturday. The Scorpions wore pink jumpers in support of the Pink Ribbon Foundation. 31881 Picture: Luke PlummerBy Marc McGowan
ALEX Silvagni enjoyed a break-out year for the Casey Scorpions in 2008 after finally finding a permanent spot in defence.
But it was his versatility that shone brightest in the Scorpions’ runaway 50-point victory over Werribee, which fell to its fifth straight loss, at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Silvagni started down back on Tigers focal point Marty Pask before playing a pivotal role in the ruck in his 50th game for the club.
Casey’s vice-captain is one of just two players on his club’s youthful list – alongside skipper Kyle Matthews – to have reached the milestone.
The Scorpions rarely reached great heights in the opening three quarters as they battled to a 15-point advantage.
But Casey turned on the afterburners in the last term as it slammed on seven goals to one to run out an easy winner.
The clash endured a particularly scrappy beginning and it took nine minutes for Demon Liam Jurrah to boot its opening goal from 20 metres.
Werribee ruckman Todd Goldstein responded soon after, but the Scorpions kicked three of the last four majors to establish a 12-point quarter-time lead.
Casey’s star-studded forward line was functioning well together, with Jurrah, Michael Newton, Brad Miller (23 possessions and 15 marks), Ricky Petterd (22) and Danny Hughes (21) all featuring strongly.
The Scorpions’ buffer was as much as 22 until a courageous Jake Spencer was forced from the field after a heavy hit.
The big ruckman’s absence led to two Tigers majors in quick fashion to Michael Barlow and Goldstein as the difference was reduced to single figures.
But Silvagni thumped through a long goal just before half-time to give Casey a 15-point edge at the long break.
Miller was dominating up forward, but his kicking for goal – much like team-mate Russell Robertson when he played for the Scorpions the week before – reduced his impact on the match.
Lachlan Baddeley brought Werribee within 10 points again before Miller finally slotted his first major after multiple attempts.
The Tigers remained within striking distance despite Casey’s midfield, including Jordie McKenzie (30), Clint Bartram (29), Lynden Dunn (25), and Ben MacReadie (22), winning plenty of the ball.
James Wall (29) was also playing well as a link man in the middle of the ground.
Bartram and Paul Wheatley combined late in the quarter to again give the Scorpions breathing space.
The game was still up for grabs at three-quarter time, but it took Casey just six minutes to snuff out the visitors’ hopes.
Dunn found Jurrah early on and the latter registered his fourth goal before Werribee gave up a needless 50-metre penalty to gift Neville Jetta his second.
The Scorpions’ lead was a match-winning 34 when Miller, who was particularly unstoppable in the final term, became the side’s third multiple goal-kicker.
The Tigers tried to work their way back into the contest, but their wayward kicking let them down and they ultimately produced 1.6 in the last quarter.
Gippsland Power teenager Mitch Dowse made the most of his opportunity for Casey when he snapped its fourth major of the term and Miller and Jetta (twice) added further goals.
Eighteen-year-old Dowse was able to pull on the boots for the Scorpions due to the new rule allowing TAC Cup players to compete at VFL level at certain times during the season.
German was pleased to register back-to-back triumphs for the second time this year.
“We did it earlier against Frankston and Coburg and then we had the bye – which stunted our momentum a bit,” he said.
“It’s always tough coming back after a bye. It was good because we’ve sort of followed up the same work ethic we’ve had for the last five or six weeks.
“There are no concerns with that area – it’s just our ability to be able to finish off our work.”
Casey travels to Princes Park this Saturday at 2pm to face the Northern Bullants.
