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It was the Casey Scorpions’ turn to host the struggling Essendon at Casey Fields last Sunday.
The last time they met Casey won by a huge 83 points, but the highlight of the day was the two young gun full forwards Jesse Hogan and Joe Daniher who kicked eight between them.
It was a cold, wet and windy day on Sunday which meant that it was not going to be a great day for forwards or for anyone to kick goals.
The Scorpions had the early jump over the bombers kicking with the wind and kicking the first two goals of the game in quick succession.
The scoring went with the wind all day but Essendon were far too strong in the last quarter kicking four goals, seven behinds to the Scorpions one goal one behind. Essendon ended up winning 9.15.69 to Casey’ 9.4.58.
In a day that not many positives could be reconciled from the loss. Scorpions captain Evan Panozza played his 100th game and played it in style.
He played a key position backline role sometimes on Daniher, he managed to have the equal-most disposals for the game with 26 and also had nine marks, one goal and a solid five tackles.
The next best for the Scorpions was James Magner he also had 26 disposals 10 of which were contested, and he also played well defensively having seven tackles.
The ability of the Scorpions midfield to gather the footy was from the strong ruckwork from Jake Spencer.
This was Spencer;s first game back after a three-week suspension, he was able to run the game out well and had 38 hitouts and also managed 11 disposals.
However Spencer battled Essendon veteran David Hille who had 30 hitouts, 20 disposals and kicked two goals which won him the battle between them.
Both teams’ backlines played very well despite the strong wind conditions.
The Scorpion’s backline of Tom Gillies, Daniel Nicholson, James Sellar and James Strauss were all strong contributors in defence.
Gillies was relatively quiet disposal wise by only having 12 but played hard defensively, Nicholson played well having 22 disposals and two tackles, Sellar was one of the Scorpions best racking up 20 disposals and three tackles and Strauss had the hard task of taking kick ins against the wind.
Strauss backed up his previous two good games by providing good run out of defence and gathering 21 disposals.
Essendon’s defence was very impressive as they were able to limit Casey’s opportunities especially when going inside 50 with the breeze.
Essendon players Ariel Steinberg, Dylan Van Unen, Sean Gregory and Alex Browne all played solid roles in defence.
Despite Steinberg’s nine-disposal game he was named best for Essendon as he was able to limit the Scorpions use of the footy when going inside.
Van Unen had a relatively quiet game but played his role in defensive 50.
Sean Gregory played a key defensive role and was able to limit Casey’s forwards from scoring, while Browne managed nine disposals and a goal.
As mentioned previous it was not a day for tall forward as Jesse Hogan, Joe Daniher and Scott Gumbleton all struggled to get on the scoreboard, kicking only three between them.
The Scorpions’ Jesse Hogan only managed the one goal (34 for the season) and was kept quiet all day credit to Essendon’s backline.
Essendon players Joe Daniher and Scott Gumbleton had their opportunities but failed to convert.
Daniher had seven disposals and four shots on goal resulting in 1.3, and the same story was told for Scott Gumbleton who had 14 disposals and three shots on goal resulting in 0.3.
Essendon’s small forward Alwyn Davey was able to convert playing a vital role kicking two goals two behinds, gathering 15 disposals and having a match-high 10 tackles which is definitely what Essendon supporters are looking for from him.
The same can’t be said about the Scorpions’ smaller players.
After a few good weeks Dom Barry was quiet and did not provide the run in which he has known to do of recent weeks.
Other running players like Jordie McKenzie and Neville Jetta also failed to have an impact on the game both very quiet in a game which was set up for the running players.
The conditions were good for Luke Tapscott who is a tough and thrives on the contested ball; he played a good game both offensively and defensively.
He had 15 disposals, kicked two goals and had six tackles. Other Melbourne listed players Troy Davis, Rory Taggert and Josh Tynan all played their roles well but couldn’t get the result Casey wanted.
Davis backed up his previous games by again playing well having 19 disposals and five marks.
Taggert was quiet but had an impact after dominating in the reserves last week and Josh Tynan was very good defensively having seven tackles.
Other Essendon listed players Jason Ashby and Will Hams had relatively good games for the bombers.
Ashby managed 18 disposals and nine tackles, while Hams played on the wing and had 14 disposals and also managed nine tackles.
Hal Hunter had a quiet game and an injury saw him stretchered off in the third quarter while Kyle Hardingham who was playing well out of defence also sustained and injury but was the in fourth quarter.
Even though Essendon were two men down, they were able to run over the top of the Scorpions and come out 11-point victors.
The Scorpions’ development squad managed another win. They played Sandringham, beating them 12.13.85 – 2.4.16. No AFL listed players played.
Results from around the VFL in Round 14
Geelong 17.15 – 117 def Collingwood 10.14 – 74
Northern Blues 9.5 – 59 def Box Hill Hawks 6.7 – 43
Port Melbourne 13.10 – 88 def Williamstown 2.7 – 19
North Ballarat 9.10 – 64 def Frankston Dolphins 3.5 – 23
Sandringham Zebras 17.22 – 124 def Bendigo 7.7 – 49
Coburg Tigers 9.12 – 66 def Werribee Tigers 9.9 – 63
VFL Ladder after Round 14
1. Geelong
2. Casey Scorpions
3. Port Melbourne
4. Williamstown
5. Box Hill Hawks
6. Collingwood
7. Werribee Tigers
8. Northern Blues
9. North Ballarat
10. Sandringham Zebras
11. Essendon
12. Frankston
13. Coburg Tigers
14. Bendigo
Round 15
Round 15 will see the Casey Scorpions take on Collingwood at Victoria Park at 12.00pm on Saturday July 27th.
Last time these two teams met it was a very one-sided affair, with the Scorpions winning by 90 points.
With the form the Scorpions are in I can’t see that happening again as Collingwood are fighting to keep a spot in the top eight.
It should be a tough contested game of footy but my prediction is that the Scorpions will win by 20 points.
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