CASEY has fallen to Collingwood by six points in a tight encounter on Saturday at Casey Fields.

In wet and windy conditions, the lead changed multiple times across the afternoon, but it was the Magpies with their noses in front when it counted.

The lights were on and a heavy downpour greeted the players as they took to the field. Though the ground held up well in the conditions, the wet and heavy ball made clean possession and link-up play difficult.

Collingwood was the first on the board after two minutes, but Dean Kent responded for Casey soon after with a snap from 25 metres.

As expected, it was a game of stoppages being played mainly through the centre of the ground. Michael Evans started strongly, working hard across the half-back line, while Jordie McKenzie was battling hard in the midfield.

Collingwood put another on the board after ten minutes, before Matt Rennie was able to mark and goal for the Scorpions. As the siren sounded, the scores reflected a tight opening term, with the Magpies taking a one-point lead into the first change.

The rain stopped by the opening bounce of the second term, and Dom Barry took advantage of the drier conditions, kicking the opening goal within the first three minutes. Collingwood was able to respond quickly, however, and the game remained an arm wrestle.

Casey’s pressure and tackling intensified, with the game being played mainly in its half of the ground. The Scorpions, however, were unable to land any blows in what had become a congested forward line.

It wasn’t until the final 30 seconds of the term, when Kent was able to break through, roving the ball from a pack, and then running into an open goal, to give Casey a five-point lead at the main break.

With sunshine bathing Casey Fields as the players returned after half-time, Collingwood was quick out of the blocks and regained the lead within the first minute, before a mercurial Barry was able to wrestle it back for Casey, soccering the ball though from 10 metres for his second.

When Rennie and Kent were able to kick their second and third goals respectively, Casey’s lead stretched to 17 points and the Scorpions had momentum.

That momentum was short-lived, as the rain began tumbling down again, so did the margin with Collingwood scoring the next two goals in quick succession.

After goals had been tough to come by early in the game, both sides began to hit the scoreboard with relative ease. Luke Tapscott, who had shifted forward, took advantage of a free kick to steady the Scorpions, before the Magpies booted another two in succession to steal the lead.

Again though, it was a last-gasp goal from Casey – this time through small forward Patrick Rosier – which sailed through as the siren sounded, giving the Scorpions a slender three-point buffer at the final break.

Within 90-seconds, however, that lead had evaporated with Collingwood booting the first for the term. When they stretched the lead to nine shortly after, the Scorpions were under huge pressure to respond.

They did, through Viv Michie who marked and goaled from 30 metres, and when Tim Smith put through a brilliant set shot from the pocket at the 11-minute mark, the Scorpions had regained the lead.

Collingwood’s pressure increased and the Scorpions found it harder to get any clean possession. The Magpies took the lead at the 19-minute mark, and from then – while they were unable to score another major – the ball remained in their forward half, and the siren sounded with Collingwood six point victors.

Of the Melbourne-listed players, Kent, with three goals to go with his 22 possessions, was most damaging. He worked hard through the midfield, using his strength in the wet conditions, and took full advantage when he was able to drift forward.

McKenzie relished the conditions and was – as always – at the bottom of packs and applying huge amounts of pressure to the Collingwood midfielders. He had 23 possessions by half-time, when he was withdrawn from the game.

Aidan Riley used his strength through the midfield and played well for his 21 possessions, while Michie, with 19 possessions and a final quarter goal was also good.

The Scorpions now fall to 13^th place on the VFL ladder, with every week now vital if they are to give themselves any chance of playing finals.

Casey travel to Eureka Stadium next Saturday, where they take on North Ballarat.