Fev’s still hungry

By Peter Sweeney
THE only time the Casey Scorpions played Port Melbourne this season, Brendan Fevola was chomping on a ‘Burra burger’ during the first quarter – and walked out of the ground early in the last.
Come Saturday’s qualifying final, and those who follow Casey are hoping man-of-the-moment Fevola is licking his lips on the Burra defence from the start – and know he will stay till the finish.
This time he’s very much in the Casey seniors. On 9 April, he played his first game in their colours, in the reserves, who were thrashed. A “fattish” Fev was sucked in on the field, before he sucked in a bit of food off it.
The Scorpions were just 10 points shy of the Burra in their only clash – with both having 29 scoring shots.
Nobody has feasted out on Port Melbourne in 2011, the Burra being the first side in 55 years (since Williamstown) to go through a home-and-away season unbeaten. But, as they say in the classics, there’s a first time for everything. And if anybody can upset Port – even at their intimidating home of TEAC Oval – it’s Fevola and his Casey team-mates.
They are flying. Shock losses to well-down-the-tree sides Geelong and Coburg were followed by absolute beltings of the Werribee Tigers and the Northern Bullants, fellow finalists, over the past two Saturdays at Casey Fields.
Fev returned a 10 out of 10 on Saturday when he kicked that many goals. He kicked four on highly-fancied Carlton backman Michael Jamison before kicking goals on anybody who came near him. His team-mates also returned top marks, which prompted coach Bradley Gotch to say “it’s a great day to be alive”.
Now Gotch knows each week is different. And he knows finals are so very different.
“But they (the players) know they can do it,” an upbeat Gotch said.
“Confidence is a great thing … and we’ve got our confidence back.
“We have belief back. And there’s a mindset we can play good footy against anybody. We are confident about taking this challenge (Port at home) on. We started planning for the opposition straight after the game.
“Finals are different, it’s a mental game about who wants to win more.
“We’ve stormed home and come good at the right time of the year. Saturday was unbelievable; we were relentless in our pursuit of a good outcome.
“Fev and (Matthew) Bate, who had 38 touches, were standouts … but you couldn’t split the next 10 best players.”
Gotch isn’t sure what Melbourne players will be and won’t be available for the Port clash. The Demons also play Port – the Adelaide version – in its last game of the year on Sunday.
“We’re hopeful of having a few from Melbourne, maybe (Aaron) Davey, (Addam) Maric and maybe (Tom) McDonald. (Liam) Jurrah was subbed off with a shoulder injury.”
Casey warmed-up for the finals as a sun-seeking crowd – the biggest seen at Casey Fields this year – soaked in the sun and the scenery on Saturday. Many wore Carlton jumpers or hats and had travelled long distances to see the Blues’ seconds have a blue day.
“Gee, this ground is perfect. How good’s this?” he said to his travelling mate from the suburbs.
“Hope the cameras weren’t on the freeway,” another said. “Took me half an hour to get here … and then 20 minutes to find a park.”
“Where’s Fev? There he is. We (Carlton) should take him back.” “No way,” his mate roared. Then the first man piped up again. “Well, Ben Cousins was given another chance, wasn’t he?”
The second man: “Yeah, but one has brains.”
First man: “Which one?” Second man: “Well, it’s not Fev.” First man. “Well, it’s not Ben either.” Their debate on brains, and the rights and wrongs of giving Fev another chance, went for a quarter.
“Where’s Juddy?” another inquired. “Why would Juddy be here?” his mate answered. Juddy wasn’t anywhere to be seen – but Blues coach Brett Ratten stood in the outer, and like many Bullant supporters, left at three-quarter time.
One elderly man of foreign descent – who looked more suited to working a vegetable plot or playing bocce – gave his Northern Bullants so much of a verbal spray at the first two breaks that security were called at half-time.
Fev and his mates said little but hurt them more – on the scoreboard.