CASEY coach Justin Plapp reviews the Melbourne-listed players who played in the VFL

2016 Peter Jackson VFL

Sunday, July 24, 11.40am, Casey Fields

Casey Scorpions 12.20 (92) d Sandringham 7.4 (46)

From the coach …

“It was a really good response from the previous week. We started the game really strongly and conditions were really testing again for our players. It was a really challenging day from a wind point of view. We were set the task of kicking into a pretty strong breeze early on and we were able to defend and compete in a fantastic way, which saw us go into the first break four points down. We thought that was a huge effort by our players and it set the day up for the way we performed over four quarters. It was a fantastic four quarter effort and it was a good response from the week before, when we were below our best. We felt the 23 players that represented our club on the day played their role and made a contribution to the result of the day.” – Justin Plapp 

Tomas Bugg: Tom had 26 possessions, including 15 contested. He had a massive 18 tackles and seven clearances. His numbers give you an indication that he was right among the action. He led the way in a manner that he attacked the ball. It was a really solid game from him – it was what we expected and what we need from him. He’s had two games back at VFL level and both of them have been at a really high level. Tom is in line for a recall, if the opportunity is there.

Lynden Dunn: Lynden had 18 possessions, five marks and six rebound 50s. Dunny has been building. The last couple of weeks for him have had some inconsistencies in his game and we felt that his effort across four quarters was really solid. He has a lot of experience that he can give our VFL team through positioning and organising our defenders – to set-up in the way that we need to. Dunny was a real leader in that area on the weekend and he’s tracking in the right way. He certainly played the role that we needed him to on the weekend.

Colin Garland: Col had26 possessions, five marks and six inside 50s. I thought it was one of his best games defensively. He just had some good moments throughout the game – one was a tackle in the first quarter, which set up a goal, and another was going back and taking a critical intercept mark. I think it was a huge step forward for Colin.

Jack Grimes: Jack had 33 possessions, including 15 contested. He also had seven tackles and kicked a goal. Jack was again a prolific ball-winner and gave us a lot of drive through the middle of the ground. He was very good around stoppages and also did some really team-inspiring acts, including some chase-down tackles, which we promote really highly. It was a good performance from Jack and he’s another one who came back from the AFL and performed at a really high level.

Liam Hulett: Liam had 13 possessions, five marks and kicked 2.1 He continues to impress and improve. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of fluctuation in his form. He’s going really well without starring and continues to play the role we need him to. The weekend’s game was another example of that – he was able to lead and come at the ball really strongly. His field kicking was a real highlight. He’s improving week by week.

Ben Kennedy: Ben had 34 possessions, including 15 contested, while he had six tackles and seven inside 50s. It was a good response from Benny, after being dropped from the senior team. He continually won critical contests and put a lot of pressure on the opposition. We were rapt with his performance, his energy and the hunt mentality he gave us around the ball. It was a very good performance from Ben.

Viv Michie: He had 36 disposals, 10 marks and six inside 50s. Viv continued to perform at a really high level in the VFL. His ability to create uncontested chains and give our team some real run and creativity, around his ball use, was particularly good. He’s had a super year in the VFL and he’s put himself in line to be selected, if an opportunity presents itself at AFL level.

Ben Newton: Ben had 28 possessions, which included 16 contested. He had six clearances and kicked a goal. Ben’s past three weeks have been really solid. He plays a number of different roles for us and plays off half-back and the wing. Ben’s a creative player – he won the ball on the inside and on the outside. He’s another player who had a big impact on the day. He’s pushing to play senior football, if an opportunity comes up.

Clayton Oliver: Clayton had 28 possessions, including 15 contested. He had eight tackles and five inside 50s. He’s one of our first-year players and was down a bit in the past couple of weeks, but he really responded in a really strong manner. Clayton was really good around the stoppages and he’s a hard player to play on because he shows really quick reaction time to get in at the football. He uses his hands to release people from tight situations. That was as good a VFL game as I’ve seen him play. He’s another one who is pushing to play senior football, if an opportunity comes up.

Cameron Pedersen: Cam had 21 possessions, six marks, nine tackles and seven inside 50s. He played predominantly as a key position forward for us, but he released Jake Spencer and spent some time in the ruck. Cam also had 17 hit outs as well. What he brings to the team is a big body and someone who can compete in all areas of the ground. He led the way early in the match and created opportunities for our smaller forwards. It was a solid game and he’s been building after missing a few weeks through a minor injury. We expect him to continue to improve over the coming weeks.

Joel Smith: Joel had 22 possessions, including 13 uncontested and took three intercept marks. It was a good return for Joel. He’s a rookie and had a long layoff, with some management of some groin issues. Joel played a game at development level the previous week, which earned him a recall in the VFL team. He played his role – and played with speed and energy. It was a really exciting return for Joel. He’s been on limited game time, but we expect him to improve. It was a really impressive return from him.

Jake Spencer: He only played half a game, as he went off the ground with a knee injury, but we expect him to be available this week. He started the game really strongly and was able to provide our midfield with really good service and opportunity around the ground at stoppages. He started the game so well, but to rate him on half a game – we were really delighted with what he did with the time [he was] on the ground.

Dean Terlich: Dean had 14 possessions, six tackles, four inside 50s and kicked 4.1. It was a good game from Terls. He created a lot of opportunities and played predominantly as a small forward. Dean was able to put the opposition under really solid forward pressure. He was able to hunt the opposition, when they had it and he was rewarded. That’s as good a game I’ve seen Terls play in recent times, which is a credit to him.

Jack Trengove: Jack had 30 possessions, including 10 contested. He also had eight tackles and five clearances. It was a good response from Jack. He won good ball-winning numbers and his work in-and-around the stoppages – particularly the contested ball – was his highlight. He used his hands really well in contested situations and created them into uncontested chains. As one of our more experienced players, he continues to impress from a leadership point of view as well.

Sam Weideman: He had 11 possessions, three tackles and didn’t kick any goals. It was always going to be challenging for our forwards and Sam didn’t have as big an impact on the game as what some of our others did. But he continues to contest really strongly, when the ball is in his area. He’s really predictable when the ball is in the air – you know what you’re going to get from him in a contest point of view. The challenge for him is to round his game and a lot of that is around learning. He’s heading in the right direction, but the past three or four weeks haven’t allowed him to have an impact on the game, because of the conditions. But we’re really impressed with his attitude and competitiveness.

Mitch White: Mitch had 21 possessions, five rebounds and seven marks, including two intercepts. It was a good return from him, after he spent two weeks at senior level. He got his opportunity, but was left out of the team and then came back and really competed in a manner we expected him to – particularly his ground level and aerial contest, which was a highlight. Mitch was able to use the ball and create [opportunities] across half-back. He’s been in really good form for us and is certainly tracking the right way.

AFL Victoria Development League

Sunday, July 24, 2.40pm, Casey Fields

Casey Scorpions 15.11 (101) d Sandringham 8.5 (53)

Jay Kennedy-Harris: Jay had 30 possessions, six tackles and three inside 50s. It was a really good return from him after having injuries this year. He’s had some real challenges from that, so he was on limited game time, but we expect to build him up over the coming weeks. He looked sharp and his body shape has really changed. The one thing that his time off has allowed him to do is prepare his body and get it in really good shape, from a conditioning and strength point of view. We expect Jay, with a bit of luck, to really have a strong last five or six weeks, particularly at VFL level. Expect him to be pushing hard for a recall to the VFL in the coming weeks.

Max King: Max had 12 possessions, six marks and kicked 3.1. Kingy’s form had fluctuated at senior VFL level, so he’s back at development level to get some consistency in his game. A lot of that is around consistency of effort, when the ball leaves his area. We know he’s got some talent, but we’re expecting him to take some ownership around competing. He played well, but our expectations are that he’ll build on that now.

Christian Salem: He was on limited game time, but had 22 possessions, five tackles and six inside 50s. Christian also kicked a goal. He’s a highly-rated player at Melbourne and he looked really sharp. He moved well and freely, and was really damaging around stoppages. Christian moved the ball well when he had it. It was about introducing him back into football and getting some game time into him. I’d expect Christian to push hard to play VFL footy this week, and then push hard to play AFL footy in the coming weeks. It was a good return for him.