The story of Casey's demise was best told in the pressure cooker opening quarter scramble in the blustery conditions of the VFL first semi final when Williamstown, kicking towards the end favoured by the strong cross breeze, defended brilliantly and attacked relentlessly. The Seagulls shut Casey out of the game, and forced them to cede three goals in the opening half hour.
Williamstown maintained their stranglehold throughout a dour second term, when both teams had difficulty posting a score and the Scorpions missed the goal kicking prowess of Jack Fitzpatrick. Only a handful of Demons were available (a season low six in number) for what turned out to be their last game of the season.
The pressure finally took its toll when one of Casey's best on the day in Luke Tynan passed backward 30 metres to skipper Evan Panozza, who kicked across goals to Willy's attacking side for an opposition goal. The first and only Scorpion goal for the half came soon after, when Jai Sheahan accepted a handpass and snapped truly at 26 minutes.
If the game was not over at the long break when Casey- with still only a single goal to its name - was down by 20 points, then it was certainly done and dusted when the Seagulls swooped to score two goals in the first three and a half minutes of the third term.
By that time, courageous veteran Kyle Matthews was off the ground concussed after becoming a victim of friendly fire and, later in the term, the final body blow was delivered when young ruckman Luke Hill turned an ankle to end his day.
The deficit at the final break was out to 40 points, and any hope of a miraculous Casey revival was snuffed out as a driving rain squall hit the ground, making the ball harder to handle even when conditions improved later in the day.
The young team fought it out to the end and, although outclassed on the day, never gave in and managed to reduce the deficit marginally to 37 points at the bitter end. The minor premiers had finished the final series once again out in straight sets, and with a combined effort of only eight goals in two matches and eight consecutive finals defeats going back to 2008.
In a game in which many players were down on their form, the club had significant input from last year's reserves club best and fairest Luke Tynan, a much improved player who was named this week in the VFL team of the year with Panozza. Diminutive Jordan Pollard, who came up from the development league team after winning the A. Todd Medal for best player in that competition, also worked persistently and won many hard balls. Jai Sheahan fulfilled a number of roles admirably on the day, playing strongly both in defence and when moved to attack and the odd run in the ruck, while Jordan Gysberts was a prolific ball winner with 26 disposals, two marks and a goal.
The season was not a total loss for Casey which achieved some outstanding results in its first year under Brett Lovett. The club lost several of its VFA stalwarts at the start of the year, including the game's best on ground James Wall, who dominated the ruck for Williamstown, particularly after Hill's departure from the ground, GWS recruit Tim Mohr, former state rep Michael Stockdale as well as goal kicker Brendan Fevola.
They were replaced in the main by young unsung local talent like Hill, Michael Riseley, Luke Tynan, Mitch Gent and Tim Smith who combined with mature players in Panozza and Matthews, Danny Nicholls (the latter two late in the year), Dave Collins and Rian McGough.
There were many others who received their introductions to the VFL this year, and the groundwork laid in 2012 by Lovett, who has been reappointed coach for next year, will ultimately assure the club of a better future in the years to come.
Casey Scorpions 0.0.0 1.4.10 3.4.22 5.8.38
Williamstown 3.3.21 4.6.30 9.8.62 11.9.75
Goals
Casey Scorpions Gysberts Nicholls Sheahan Smith Thompson
Williamstown Panos Veszpremi 3 Hill 2 Carr Conway Roberts
Best
Casey Scorpions L Tynan Pollard Smith Sheahan Nicholls Gysberts
Williamstown Wall Jolley McNamara Goodes Carr Lockwood
