In the end, it was a successful afternoon on both scores with Casey, wearing a predominantly pink strip for the occasion, winning the four premiership points on offer in its game against Collingwood as well as achieving the fundraising target of $15,000 and raising public awareness for this very worthwhile cause.
The win also moved the home team into equal top position on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder as they move into yet another bye this weekend, and following Port Melbourne's shock defeat down at Geelong.
The Magpies were full of running and had the first two goals on the board within minutes of the opening before Casey responded with four unanswered goals from Stef Martin, Rian McGough, Tom Couch and Lucas Cook. Despite kicking against a slight breeze, there was plenty of run in the legs for the Casey boys and they appeared in control, although a late goal by the visitors saw the Scorpions up by just six points at quarter time.
Casey was winning in the ruck through Jake Spencer and Martin, whose dominance allowed Couch and Davey to turn it on at ground level. The latter was in scintillating form, turning the clock back a few years with his brilliant footwork and pinpoint delivery of the football. The result was a goal feast for both Martin and Cook, who booted his fourth goal late in the second term. By that time, the Scorpions were out to a commanding 37 point lead.
Casey was winning everywhere and it surely must have been pleasing for coach Brett Lovett that his VFL listed players were blending in so well with their AFL counterparts, and that they were led so admirably by skipper Evan Panozza, who is in career best form. Luke Tynan is another who continues to impress, and he combined well with brother Josh in defence.
Lesser known Scorpions such as Michael Riseley, Matt Fieldsend and Ricky Plummer were all important contributors on the day, and underlined the improvement that Lovett's coaching has brought to the team.
The second half opened in scrappy fashion, with both sides struggling to kick goals until Martin put the Scorpions up by six goals at the eleven minute mark. With Davey off for the rest of the game and Troy Davis - who had been the dominant defender in the game - off under the blood rule, the momentum of the contest changed. The Magpies responded with four unanswered goals (the last a booming 70 metre kick from Paul Seedsman) to narrow the margin to 13 points, before the lively Tim Smith marked and kicked a crucial Casey goal on the siren.
There were some nervous moments for Scorpions fans as Collingwood opened with the first two goals of the quarter before Smith kicked a steadier, but the Pies were not to be denied and replied once more to nudge their way back to a seven point deficit with half of the term gone. Hard nut midfielder Couch, who was recruited from the Magpies' VFL side of last year and hasn't put in a bad game this season, was revelling in the tight going against his former teammates in the latter stages of the game.
Josh Tynan finally bobbed up for a relieving goal - the last of the game - although several tense minutes elapsed before Smith marked fifteen metres out as the siren sounded. Unfortunately, he played on, causing the game to come to an abrupt end and his attempt at a third goal didn't count.
What did count, however, was Casey's eighth win from nine games - an excellent result from a team whose players were recently shunned by selectors when choosing the VFL representative side and currently missing key players co-skipper Kyle Matthews, Danny Nicholls and Wade Lees through injury.
The results show that the future looks bright for the Scorpions, who approach the halfway mark of the season in the pink.
Casey Scorpions - 13.12.90
Collingwood - 11.11.77
Goals
Scorpions: Cook, Martin 4, Smith 2, Couch, McGough, Tynan
Collingwood: Boland 3, Farmer, Ferraro, Hahn, Mooney, Paine, Seedsman, Witts, Wood
Best
Scorpions: Martin, Riseley, Spencer, Fieldsend, Cook, Couch
Collingwood: Sundberg, Hine, Hellier, Farmer, Yagmoor, Seedsman
Final stats winners Couch 27 (10 hard ball gets & 8 tackles) L Tynan 26 Panozza (& 7 tackles) Fieldsend 20 Martin 19 (& 18 hit outs)
2012 AFL Vic Development League
Casey Scorpions - 6.11.47
Coburg Tigers - 10.7.67
Goals
Scorpions: Galvin, Williams 2, Clay, Johnson
Coburg Tigers: Hore 4, Jordan, Murphy 2, Robertella, Turner
Best
Scorpions: Troutman, Rosier, Williams, Cleven, Page, Clay
Coburg Tigers: Venditti, Bamblett, Duhau, Robertella, Hore, Price
