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

VFL

Saturday, June 13, Casey Fields, 2pm

Casey Scorpions 14.13 (97) d Coburg 14.5 (89)

“COBURG has had the wood over us over the last couple of seasons. They generally play well against us, so we knew it would be a pretty decent contest and Coburg was coming off a five-day break. We thought they might be struggling a little bit from a recovery point of view, but we knew the contest they were going to bring. To the boys’ credit, we were really focused on winning the first quarter and we did that. It was the best quarter of football we’ve played all year, so we started really well. During the middle part of the game, in the second and third quarters, Coburg probably got the upper hand and they turned the game into a real contested match. They put a lot of physical pressure on us and they got the game back on their terms. At three quarter-time, we changed some things structurally and we utilised our taller players and got the ball to the outside. We were really compliant and had a really good last quarter and the game was really tight. Max King kicked a couple of really important goals for us and Jordie McKenzie took a really good contested mark in the goalsquare, which really needed to be taken, and we ended up winning the game by eight points. We certainly had some worrying moments, but we finished well and we’re now five [wins] and three [losses], before we have the bye. The last few weeks have produced pretty strong wins.” – Justin Plapp

Rohan Bail: Rohan was one of our best players for the day. He ended up having 34 possessions, kicked 1.1 and had seven tackles. Rohan really provided some hard running for us. He worked tirelessly with his defence to offense connection. His past two weeks have been really strong and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since coming back from AFL footy. That was one of his best performances this year, so we’re really, really happy with his output.

Chris Dawes: Dawesy ended up kicked 1.1. He had 10 possessions and four tackles. Dawesy started slow, but he missed three weeks with a calf injury and it can be tough coming back to VFL level at times. Dawesy relies on that forward-mid connection, particularly playing that key position role. He worked his way into the role, even though he was on limited game time. He finished the game really strongly and took a couple of really good contested marks and kicked a really important goal late. He did what was needed from his point of view.

James Harmes: I was really excited for Harmesy. He played his best game of VFL footy. He was our first or second best player and right in the mix for best-on-ground. We sent him to do a shut down role on one of the opposition’s key midfielders. He did that really well and also had 31 possessions, with five tackles. He also had the opportunity to hit the scoreboard a couple of times as well. Harmesy’s attitude to play the role we needed him to was fantastic and he also showed plenty of resilience. His effort to win the amount of ball he did, while doing a role, was really good.

Mark Jamar: He certainly dominated the hit outs with 29, plus he had 17 disposals and a couple of tackles. Russian’s performance was really pleasing on the weekend. And the most pleasing aspect of his game was his ability to provide us with some ball-winning ability. There was a period of time, where he wasn’t troubling the stats too much, but he not only dominated stoppages with hit outs, he was also a bit of a link for us, which was really good. His past two weeks have been at a level we need him to be at.

Matt Jones: Jonesy was one of our better players. He had 36 disposals and seven tackles. There were times when we needed Matty to be a little bit more efficient, but we’re trying to get some consistency in his game. He played in the midfield and certainly found plenty of the ball. 

Max King: Big Maxy played his first senior VFL game for the year after playing the first six games in the Development League. He rewarded us with five very exciting goals. He ended up having nine possessions and six tackles. Max has got really good agility and his second effort stuff is really good. We were elated with Kingy’s performance on the weekend. I would think a lot of credit has got to go to the way the club has managed him. We’ve been working on a couple of really key areas with him and he’s been able to show some real improvement in that area. He got a good reward on the weekend. He really showed he can play and it should give him the confidence to know that he can play at the level now.

Oscar McDonald: He continues to improve week in, week out, as he continues to get exposed to the bigger bodies and forwards in the VFL. Oscar’s still got some areas of his game we’re working with him, but a lot of that will come through physical maturity. Oscar’s one-on-one stuff was really strong on the weekend and he reads the game really well. That’s another game that Oscar played at the level we need him to, so he played a good game. 

Jordie McKenzie: To his credit, he bounced back after getting injured early in the game – he received a bad corkie. To Jordie’s credit, he really could’ve come off the ground, but we needed him to play, as Ben Newton was concussed and Chris Dawes was on limited game time. Macca just had to dig in and find a role for us, because he was struggling to get around the ground. He took a really good contested mark late in the game, in the goalsquare, which helped put us in front. He only had the 10 disposals, but he was really limited. I thought his effort to play the game out, play his role and fight under duress was a credit to him. He should be given a pat on the back.

Ben Newton: Benny started the game really well. It was his first game in the VFL and he kicked a really good, classy and important goal for us early. It was a ground level snap at the fall of the ball. He received a head knock just after half-time and came off the ground. He ended up having 10 possessions and four tackles, but Newts showed his class and ball-winning ability while he was on the ground. Hopefully he’ll be OK for this week.

Jake Spencer: With Spence and Mark Jamar in the ruck, they provide us a lot of opportunities with their hit outs. He ended up having 31 hit outs, 15 possessions, four tackles. When he went forward, he took a couple of really strong, contested marks and ended up kicking 2.1. From an overall performance, it was a really solid game from Jake. We really challenged Spence to try and hit the scoreboard when he went forward and not to just be another number down there for us. Some of his follow up work was really solid, so he had a good game.

Mitch White: Whitey played really well on the weekend. Some of his 50/50 contests and one-on-one stuff was really strong, particularly in critical contests. He had 15 possessions, one tackle and eight marks. Two or three of those marks were from opposition kicks, where he got himself into really good position and impacted the footy in the air. He was also able to close out his opponent really well. Whitey is growing and improving at a really good rate and he’s a pleasure to coach, because he follows instructions. He’s showing some really strong improvement, so he was one of our better players.

AFL Victoria Development League

Saturday, June 13, Casey Fields, 11 am

Casey Scorpions 6.12 (48) d Coburg 12.11 (83)

Jayden Hunt: He ended up having 15 possessions and six tackles. Hunty’s building nicely after a long layoff with injury. We don’t want to be putting him under too much pressure, but he was certainly one of our better players, even though the side didn’t have a great day. He puts himself into contention to play senior VFL footy this week, if selection falls his way. But he’s on track to keep developing and improving.

Jay Kennedy-Harris: He was on limited game, but had 24 possessions and four tackles. Jay dominated the game for the time he was on the ground. He showed his class, skill and speed, and I think it was a pretty good return from a four-week layoff. He’s another one who puts himself into contention to play VFL senior footy this week.