James Wall was of the few Casey Scorpions to shine against North Ballarat in Morwell on Saturday. Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Marc McGowan
INJURIES look set to destroy the Casey Scorpions’ 2009 campaign after a second straight loss on Saturday sent them tumbling out of the VFL’s top four.
The Scorpions had just two Melbourne-listed players – Simon Buckley and Trent Zomer – in their 29-point defeat to reigning premier North Ballarat in Morwell.
The Demons’ injury list grew to 20 last week and ruckman Paul Johnson, who was slated to play for Casey, was a late inclusion in the AFL team for defender Jared Rivers.
Enigmatic forward Russell Robertson was another set to compete for the Scorpions, but a bout of gastro saw him sit the match out also.
Saturday’s contest was as good as over at half-time, with the Roosters establishing a 48-point lead over Casey, which had managed just one major to the long break.
The Scorpions booted five consecutive goals from late in the third term to the 10-minute mark of the final quarter to reduce the margin to 18 points.
But North Ballarat’s second-half hero Bill Driscoll, the visitors’ leading goalkicker, slotted two majors in as many minutes to end Casey’s brief challenge.
A deflated Peter German struggled to find positives afterwards.
“We knew we were under the pump – we were, pretty much, playing half a reserves side from two weeks ago – but that’s the way it is,” he said.
“Maybe when I look back at the video (I might find some positives), but I’ll be looking more at reasons why we made the mistakes we did and why we missed targets like we did and see if there’s any common denominator.
“We’ve just got to try and get the players who are making the mistakes better and that’s all you can do.
“Regardless of who we’ve got, we’ve got to treat them all equally. They’ve all got to be held accountable for the way they play.”
German revealed that a further four of his players who took to the field were well short of 100 per cent, including big man Tim Mohr, who returned from what looked a serious knee injury three weeks earlier.
The Scorpions unveiled three more debutants – speedster Tim Smith, defender Gareth Snow and Gippsland Power midfielder Russell Lehman – and all made solid contributions.
Backman Peter Faulks was Casey’s best player, restricting Kangaroos forward Aaron Edwards to just one goal – the first of the match – and six disposals, while utility James Wall (26 touches) also tried hard.
But the Scorpions continually turn-ed the ball over by foot in the first half, with former St Kilda rookie-lister Glenn Chivers among the worst offenders.
Even so, Wall looked to have settled Casey when he slotted its opening goal at the 24-minute mark of the first term after a free-kick to cut the difference to 10 points.
But the Roosters continued on their merry way and only errant goalkicking – they had 3.9 at quarter-time – kept the Scorpions within reach.
The floodgates opened in the second quarter as North Ballarat slammed on four unanswered majors to move 48 points clear at half-time.
Casey, on the other hand, battled to even get the ball out of its defensive arc.
Smith and Ben Waite combined for the opening goal of the second half and the Scorpions were far more competitive in the third term. Two Driscoll majors prevented them from making too much ground.
A Zomer goal after the three-quarter-time siren was the unlikely trigger for a Casey onslaught.
Alex Silvagni, Pierce Liddle, Waite and Wade Lees scored further majors as the Scorpions threatened to cause a major boilover.
But Driscoll stepped in again to quash the Casey comeback.
The Scorpions have the bye this weekend before resuming against top-of-the-ladder Williamstown in the VFL’s penultimate round at Casey Fields on Sunday, 23 August at 2pm.
