THE CASEY Scorpions have slipped to third on the VFL ladder after suffering a disappointing 11-point loss to Essendon on Sunday at Casey Fields.

Succumbing to their second defeat in as many weeks, the Scorpions struggled with the conditions on what was a sunny but blustery day, conceding four last quarter goals to be overrun by the Bombers.

With the assistance of the strong breeze, Casey, wearing pink guernseys in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, had the better start. A lively Neville Jetta scored the opening goal courtesy of a free kick, and the Scorpions were looking strong across the ground, playing with high intensity.

Jake Best impressed up forward, and captain Evan Panozza had an outstanding first term across half back, ensuring the Scorpions went into the quarter-time break with a three-goal lead, keeping the Bombers goalless.

It was a different story in the second term, as Essendon quickly took advantage of the breeze. Goals to David Hille and Joe Daniher had the Bombers back in the contest. For Casey James Magner fought hard in the middle, while Troy Davis and Panozza performed well under siege, but the game was being played in the Bombers forward half.

Essendon stole the lead at the 26-minute mark through Anthony Tipungwuti, while Casey was able to snatch one back late in the term thanks to a Dom Barry dash along the grandstand wing. The Bombers took a three-point lead into half-time.

Casey had the scoring end in the third term, but it was Hille with the first goal of the term, stretching the Bombers lead. A brilliant goal from Rory Taggert who dodged and weaved his way through the forward 50 sparked the Scorpions, with Best and Panozza also adding majors to wrestle the lead back. Jake Spencer – sharing the ruckwork with Tim Smith – began to start asserting his strength in the ruck contests, and Luke Tapscott was bullocking his way through packs.

Essendon went into shutdown mode late in the term, flooding their defence in an effort to stifle the Scorpion forward line; it did successfully halt Casey’s momentum before a goal to Ben Hughes at the 25-minute mark stretched the Scorpions lead to 14 points. A goal-saving tackle by James Strauss in the dying seconds of the term saw Casey lead by 13 points at the three quarter-time break.

With the strong wind getting stronger, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Scorpions to hold on in the final term. Bomber Luke Davis slotted the first of the term thanks to a lucky bounce, and after Alwyn Davey added two of his own, the Casey lead had disappeared.

The Essendon players were reading the ball far better than their opponents, positioning themselves well at contests around the ground, intercepting Casey’s forays forward with frustrating ease. Jesse Hogan gave Casey a sniff when he kicked his first for the day at the 19-minute mark, but Essendon managed to win by 11 points away from home.

With just five rounds remaining, each game becomes vital as Casey chase a top four spot. The Scorpions head to Victoria Park on Saturday next week to take on Collingwood.

CASEY SCORPIONS 9.4.55 def by ESSENDON 9.15.69