CASEY coach Brad Gotch runs through the Melbourne-listed players who played for the Scorpions in round two
Seniors
Seniors
Port Melbourne 19.10 (124) d Casey Scorpions 17.12 (114), Saturday, April 9, TEAC Oval (2pm)
Sam Blease: Bleasey did really well defensively, but didn’t show enough run. I’ve been getting into him about the defensive side of his game. But I was pretty happy with him overall. If I sacrifice a bit of his run to get him improving the defensive side of his game, then hopefully we’ll get that right balance.
Matthew Bate: Bater had a really quiet first half, but then he sparked us in the second half with 12 touches. He really made an impact and gave us a link across half-forward. He ran around and presented well. He also kicked a couple of goals.
Lucas Cook: Cooky was pretty reliable. He had nine possessions on the day and had five marks. He was a reasonable target and was pretty clean. He definitely showed enough.
Michael Evans: Michael continued on his merry way. He looks a very good player. He had 21 touches and played in the midfield. He’s got very good composure and skills. His second and fourth quarters were a little bit quiet - he had eight touches in the first and third terms - so he’s an interesting performer. With a bit more consistency, he’s going to be a very good player. He’s got good all-round skills.
Max Gawn: I had a bit of a go at Max and Jake Spencer at half-time, because I didn’t think they made enough impact at the centre bounces. But then Max and Jake got better in the second half.
Neville Jetta: Neville came back from the AFL and although he had a quiet third quarter, he was very good otherwise. He was another positive and was up-and-about. He’s fitter and more confident at this level and had a very good attitude.
Michael Newton: Juice was fantastic again, but unfortunately he got reported for a late spoil. The ball dropped on him and he unfortunately made contact with his forearm on his opponent’s head. He got reported by two umpires and we were offered a week, so we’ve taken it. He’s got a good record and he was a bit stiff. Otherwise, he kicked six goals and played very well. He helped us get right back in the game.
Kelvin Lawrence: Kel struggled until the last quarter, when he had a couple of really good involvements. He laid a tackle, put some pressure on and flicked the ball out. He had a hand in a couple of goals. He was lively for us.
Addam Maric: After coming back from the AFL, I was worried about how he might react to being dropped, but he was nearly the best player. He was a real positive. Addam had 25 touches and kicked three goals. He laid tackles and played in the midfield. Addam kept going all day. He also stood up for himself when he got whacked by one of the opposition. Addam showed some real ticker, so that was good.
Joel Macdonald: Joel had a really good game. He came with a great attitude. I played Joel in the midfield during the game and he was very good with his stronger body. Joel started getting his hands on the ball and was very good with his physical presence.
Tom McDonald: Tom again showed he is developing nicely at centre half-back.
Daniel Nicholson: Nicholson wasn’t as good as last week, but he wasn’t bad. He played on some good players like Shane Valenti and Adam Bentick and got lost a bit. We put him to half-back and he played much better. He gave us a bit of run with the footy. He had a very quiet first half, but had 12 touches in the second half, which helped spark us.
Ricky Petterd: Ricky was a little bit slow to start with, but he got better in the second and third terms and then in the last quarter he was good. He kicked 1.2 and missed a couple of long shots. He was pretty lively and came with a good attitude. We played him on the wing and on the ball, just to give him a bit of a taste of the midfield. It was a reasonable hit-out by him.
Jake Spencer: Jake had a good battle with Fabian Deluca and David Fanning. Along with Max Gawn, Jake had a big duel with them and had 10 possessions. I thought Jake had a pretty ordinary first half, but he was much better afterwards.
James Strauss: Straussy was sold defensively. We expected a bit more out of him from a possession rate. His kicking wasn’t as strong as what it can be, but he was still OK.
Reserves
Sam Blease: Bleasey did really well defensively, but didn’t show enough run. I’ve been getting into him about the defensive side of his game. But I was pretty happy with him overall. If I sacrifice a bit of his run to get him improving the defensive side of his game, then hopefully we’ll get that right balance.
Matthew Bate: Bater had a really quiet first half, but then he sparked us in the second half with 12 touches. He really made an impact and gave us a link across half-forward. He ran around and presented well. He also kicked a couple of goals.
Lucas Cook: Cooky was pretty reliable. He had nine possessions on the day and had five marks. He was a reasonable target and was pretty clean. He definitely showed enough.
Michael Evans: Michael continued on his merry way. He looks a very good player. He had 21 touches and played in the midfield. He’s got very good composure and skills. His second and fourth quarters were a little bit quiet - he had eight touches in the first and third terms - so he’s an interesting performer. With a bit more consistency, he’s going to be a very good player. He’s got good all-round skills.
Max Gawn: I had a bit of a go at Max and Jake Spencer at half-time, because I didn’t think they made enough impact at the centre bounces. But then Max and Jake got better in the second half.
Neville Jetta: Neville came back from the AFL and although he had a quiet third quarter, he was very good otherwise. He was another positive and was up-and-about. He’s fitter and more confident at this level and had a very good attitude.
Michael Newton: Juice was fantastic again, but unfortunately he got reported for a late spoil. The ball dropped on him and he unfortunately made contact with his forearm on his opponent’s head. He got reported by two umpires and we were offered a week, so we’ve taken it. He’s got a good record and he was a bit stiff. Otherwise, he kicked six goals and played very well. He helped us get right back in the game.
Kelvin Lawrence: Kel struggled until the last quarter, when he had a couple of really good involvements. He laid a tackle, put some pressure on and flicked the ball out. He had a hand in a couple of goals. He was lively for us.
Addam Maric: After coming back from the AFL, I was worried about how he might react to being dropped, but he was nearly the best player. He was a real positive. Addam had 25 touches and kicked three goals. He laid tackles and played in the midfield. Addam kept going all day. He also stood up for himself when he got whacked by one of the opposition. Addam showed some real ticker, so that was good.
Joel Macdonald: Joel had a really good game. He came with a great attitude. I played Joel in the midfield during the game and he was very good with his stronger body. Joel started getting his hands on the ball and was very good with his physical presence.
Tom McDonald: Tom again showed he is developing nicely at centre half-back.
Daniel Nicholson: Nicholson wasn’t as good as last week, but he wasn’t bad. He played on some good players like Shane Valenti and Adam Bentick and got lost a bit. We put him to half-back and he played much better. He gave us a bit of run with the footy. He had a very quiet first half, but had 12 touches in the second half, which helped spark us.
Ricky Petterd: Ricky was a little bit slow to start with, but he got better in the second and third terms and then in the last quarter he was good. He kicked 1.2 and missed a couple of long shots. He was pretty lively and came with a good attitude. We played him on the wing and on the ball, just to give him a bit of a taste of the midfield. It was a reasonable hit-out by him.
Jake Spencer: Jake had a good battle with Fabian Deluca and David Fanning. Along with Max Gawn, Jake had a big duel with them and had 10 possessions. I thought Jake had a pretty ordinary first half, but he was much better afterwards.
James Strauss: Straussy was sold defensively. We expected a bit more out of him from a possession rate. His kicking wasn’t as strong as what it can be, but he was still OK.
Reserves
Port Melbourne 22.10 (142) d Casey Scorpions 9.11 (65), Saturday, April 9, TEAC Oval (12pm)
Troy Davis: Troy got 10 possessions in the first half and looked lively. It was his first game back after a thyroid problem. He has a good crack and looks impressive. It was a good effort, considering his limited training in recent weeks. But for his first game, I thought he showed a lot.
Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack got through about 60 per cent game-time and looked ok, so he’s progressing well.
Jeremy Howe: Jeremy kicked two goals in his first match back after an ankle injury. He was lively, which was good.
Tom McNamara: Tommy got through some more game-time, which was good. We played him through the midfield and then wing. He struggled a bit for possessions, but we had him on John Baird, who is an experienced player. He was a little bit too defensive. But it was a good experience for him.
Troy Davis: Troy got 10 possessions in the first half and looked lively. It was his first game back after a thyroid problem. He has a good crack and looks impressive. It was a good effort, considering his limited training in recent weeks. But for his first game, I thought he showed a lot.
Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack got through about 60 per cent game-time and looked ok, so he’s progressing well.
Jeremy Howe: Jeremy kicked two goals in his first match back after an ankle injury. He was lively, which was good.
Tom McNamara: Tommy got through some more game-time, which was good. We played him through the midfield and then wing. He struggled a bit for possessions, but we had him on John Baird, who is an experienced player. He was a little bit too defensive. But it was a good experience for him.
