CASEY has won a hard fought victory, beating the Northern Blues by 16 points in difficult conditions at Visy Park on Saturday.

On a wet and muddy surface, the Scorpions led all day and despite being challenged strongly during the second half were able to hold on for an impressive win.

It was ‘old-fashioned’ football at its best, with players sliding around and the ball incredibly difficult to control.

Casey opened the scoring after four minutes with a goal through Tim Smith, and it took another eight minutes before the Blues were able to respond with a major of their own.

The ball bounced around the middle of the ground with endless stoppages, smothers, tackles and throw-ins.

It wasn’t until the 23rd minute when Smith bobbed up again to kick a goal for Casey and then a minute later, had another thanks to some beautiful link-up play between Sam Blease and Jordie McKenzie, who delivered the ball into the forward line, extending the lead to 14 points.

The Blues were able to pinch one back just prior to quarter-time, with the Scorpions taking a seven-point lead into the first change.

Jack Fitzpatrick, who had been playing predominantly in the ruck, was taken down to the rooms at quarter-time with his left ankle heavily strapped – he played no further part in the game.

Heavy rain came down as the second quarter started, making conditions increasingly difficult for the players. Again scoring was difficult, as clean possession was almost impossible to come by.

Blease, who had been playing deep in defence early in the game, was moved into the midfield, collecting possessions and working hard. McKenzie, a player who was relishing the conditions, was at the bottom of every pack.

It took until the 14-minute mark for Casey to finally trouble the scorers – a goal through Patrick Rosier – and with that the Scorpions found some momentum.

Smith scored his fourth goal shortly after and when a free kick gifted Viv Michie his first in the 20th minute, the Scorpions held a solid 26-point lead.

A free kick and 50m penalty provided the Blues with their first major of the second term, and when they followed with another, the margin was cut to 14 points and the Scorpions were under pressure to respond.

And respond they did.

Smith put through his fifth goal for the half at the 27-minute mark– a phenomenal effort considering the conditions – and when Luke Tapscott scored a brilliant goal from the boundary, just before the half-time siren, the margin was back to 26 points.

The Blues applied pressure on the Scorpions almost immediately after the second half began. They had a goal on the board within the first minute, and were doing all the attacking in the opening part of the term, winning the clearances easily against an under strength Scorpion ruck division. When they added two additional majors, the margin was reduced to just six points, and Casey was under immense pressure.

Tapscott was able to give the Scorpions some breathing room – utilising his brute strength and bursting through a pack in the forward line to kick his second – but the Blues responded late in the term, with the margin just eight points at the final change.

The first goal of the final term was vital for both teams’ chances, and the pressure was intense as the quarter opened.

Blease was moved back into defence and took some telling marks as the Blues made several forward thrusts, although the Scorpions defence held strong.

The tackling pressure from both teams was incredible, with neither giving an inch. Casey managed to gain some ascendency, with the ball spending much of the time in its forward half, but it was unable to land the killer blow, adding just two behinds.

It wasn’t until the 27-minute mark that the Scorpions were able to land that blow, when Jayden Hunt snapped truly to give Casey a 16-point buffer, which remained until the final siren.

The result was just reward for Casey’s pressure and perseverance.

Having given up a lead to lose the game the previous week, the Scorpions did well to wrestle back control after the Blues came hard at them in that second half.

Of the Demon-listed players, Blease and McKenzie were the most prolific with 32 and 30 touches respectively. Both players worked hard in then conditions and did their chances of senior selection no harm.

Tapscott worked his way into the game well, scoring two important goals, while using his strength around the ground. Michie and Aiden Riley both worked hard around the ground and under packs.

Dom Barry played an important running role across the wing, and Jimmy Toumpas worked his way into the match during the last term, with his defensive pressure impressive.

The Scorpions take on Coburg away next Sunday.