The game against the Borough - reigning premiers as well as ladder leaders - was played in perfect conditions, and the home team's last half comeback produced an exceptionally high standard of football as the teams traded goal for goal in a high scoring encounter.
Early in the game, however, it was all Port Melbourne as the visitors piled on the first six goals straight with quick ball movement and precise disposal. Down the other end of the ground, Casey struggled in front of goal, managing only four behinds before former Demon skipper Brad Green scored their first major late in the term. Fellow veteran Aaron Davey added another before the quarter time siren, but Casey was still in arrears by 20 points.
The Scorpions were quick out of the blocks with the first two goals after the break to get them back into the game, but Port regained the momentum with a chain of four unanswered goals to go into the sheds at the main break with what appeared to be an unassailable lead of 34 points. For Casey, defenders Luke Tynan and Evan Panozza were working hard down back while Matt Fieldsend was getting a lot of the ball.
The third quarter fight back by the Scorpions was immediate and dramatic, with three early goals from Jack Fitzpatrick, Neville Jetta and Green, who was starting to do damage on the Scorps' forward line. The Borough tried to fight back, but Couch and Green were on target and, despite a shocking double fifty metre penalty that resulted in a goal to Port Melbourne, one had the sense by orange time that Casey was well placed to come over the top of the visitors, who still led by 10 points.
The Scorpions have become accustomed to close finishes throughout the 2012 season, and this game was to prove no exception, although the visitors started the final term off with a goal from a free kick to extend their lead to 16 points. Fortunately, they couldn’t counter Brad Green’s dominance in the air or on the ground, and he set up the victory with his first two goals of the quarter to peg back the lead.
Both teams were scoring freely as the lead changed hands in a quarter where the talents of Casey first year players Tim Smith and Nathan Page were well and truly showcased, with two goals each. Smith took a couple of great grabs, while Page at one stage scooted out of a pack at great pace to slam through a vital goal. Green and Couch were there to see the Scorpions safely home in a great eight goal winning quarter, and it was fitting that Jack Fitzpatrick took the last shot at goal in the dying stages. His kick registered a point, but the big man’s 31 hit outs and 16 touches were instrumental in giving his team a well earned victory and equal top place on the VFL Peter Jackson ladder.
Casey’s tough stretch of matches continues with an away clash against Bendigo Gold at Windy Hill in the ABC televised match. The team will have to work hard again this week, as their opponents inflicted a heavy loss on them when they met earlier in the season.
Casey Scorpions 18.10.118
Port Melbourne 17.7.109
Goals
Casey Scorpions Green 6 Couch 4 Page Smith 2 Davey Fitzpatrick Jetta Williams
Port Melbourne Galea 7 Burstin Dwyer Hinkley 2 Bonaddio Cain Pleming Valenti
Best
Casey Scorpions Fitzpatrick Green Couch Morton L Tynan
Port Melbourne Galea Valenti Pleming Pinwill Baird Dillon
Casey's Development League team had an even battle with Port Melbourne for the first three quarters before taking control in the final quarter and running away to win by 40 points. The Scorpions are now equal second on the ladder.
Casey Scorpions 16.18.114
Port Melbourne 11.8.74
Goals
Casey Scorpions Galvin 4 McGough 3 Lang 2 Corry Eddy Johnston Lindsay Petropoulos Roberts Troutman
Port Melbourne Weightman 3 Allan Edmondson 2 Bentick Larsen Musso Scipione
Best
Casey Scorpions Gent Collins Corry Galvin Allen McGough
Port Melbourne Bentick Purcell Scipione Gordon Edmondson Weightman
