CASEY had a disappointing start to its finals series, going down to top-placed Geelong by 49 points on Friday night.

On what was a wet and windy night at Simonds Stadium, the Scorpions were outplayed across the board by the home side, with the Cats leading at every change.

Casey was competitive early with Mark Jamar working hard in the ruck, and winning the ball out of the centre.

Nathan Page scored the opening goal of the game for the Scorpions, before Joshua Walker booted Geelong’s first.

The Scorpions were getting their hands on the ball first at the clearances, but struggled to move the ball beyond the half forward line, with Geelong getting their opportunities on the rebound.

The Cats had the majority of the play in their forward half, through the middle of the term, but were unable to convert their opportunities, missing three relatively easy chances in succession.

Casey took advantage of the Geelong wastefulness, with new-found forward Tom Gilles slotting his first from some good rebound football.

The Scorpions briefly took the lead when Tom Couch dribbled a roving goal through traffic, but a late Geelong goal through Shane Kersten saw the Cats take a five-point lead into the first break.

Casey had the lead back early in the second term when Tom Corry capitalised on a free kick. And when Gilles put through his second for the game, the Scorpions had a six-point advantage.

This was short-lived, however. Geelong took control of the game, scoring the next four goals unanswered during a period of utter dominance, with Casey struggling to get their hands on the football.

A late goal to Cam Pederson – a long bomb from 60 metres – kept Casey in touch, bringing the margin back to 15 points at the half-time siren.

A torrential downpour greeted the players as they returned to the field after the main break, making what was a relatively slender 15-point margin immeasurably greater.

Casey again opened the scoring for the term, with Will Petropoulos taking advantage of a 50-metre penalty to bring the margin back to nine points within the opening minutes. But when Walker took a brilliant mark in the conditions and slotted a goal from 45-metres, the tide again turned in the Cats’ favour, and they never looked back.

Geelong worked harder in the conditions and played smarter football. When Kersten soccered through his fourth goal of the night, Geelong had an insurmountable 40-point lead, which they took to the final break.

The fourth term went through the motions. Josh Hunt put through the first goal at the eight-minute mark, stretching the Cats lead to 46 points. Ricky Plummer snapped Casey’s only goal for the term, however Jaxson Barham ended the night on a high note for Geelong, soccering through the final goal of the game and taking the winning margin to 49 points.

Not many Casey players could argue they won their position on the night, however Cam Pederson with 29 possessions and a goal could hold his head high. Mitch Gent worked hard through the middle of the ground for his 25 touches, and Tom Gilles, with two goals, was the only multiple goal scorer for the Scorpions.

Casey will now face off against the winner of the Werribee v Essendon clash for a place in the preliminary final.

GEELONG 14.16.100 defeated CASEY 8.3.51