THE SIGNS were ominous for the Casey Scorpions early on against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields, as a chilly northerly wind swept down their beleaguered ground.
The surface showed the scars of the recent heavy rains in the Cranbourne area, which saw the venue of their last home game moved, but it provided few problems for the players.
The same could not be said of the tricky winds, which the Scorpions struggled to handle in the early phase of the game.
Casey had first use of the strong breeze, but had trouble in going forward let alone scoring.
Port Melbourne used the ball well, kicking into the wind and working hard in-and-under the packs to get the footy, while its intensity and desperation was on show from the start.
The young Scorpion ruck duo of Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Cleven, with half a dozen senior VFL games between them, had their hands full with the bigger bodied, experienced ex-AFL ruckmen David Fanning and Dylan McLaren.
Fanning and McLaren gave their teammates first use of the ball at the stoppages and Port took first blood after James Taylor kicked defensively across goal.
By halfway through the first quarter, it led 2.2.14 to 0.1.1.
Addam Maric and Luke Tapscott kicked goals to narrow the margin, but Casey's poor disposal coming out of defence was still causing it grief. As a consequence, Port Melbourne had well and truly set up an important victory by hanging on for a one-point lead at the first break.
Coach Brad Gotch called on his players to play smarter when kicking into the wind and they responded early in the second quarter with the first three goals of the quarter.
Brad Miller started things going with a goal off the ground and then Austin Wonaeamirri, who had been quiet, marked at the end of a nice chain of slick kicks.
Maric was starring at this stage and combined with Tapscott for another nice goal and suddenly, the Scorpions goals led by 14 points - 5.2.32 to 2.6.18.
However, at this point, there was yet another momentum swing.
Port took over, their ruckmen lifted a notch or two, giving their onballers an armchair ride and the Borough completely dominated the second half of the term, after scoring their first major at the 15-minute mark.
Goal after goal followed and the flow was only temporarily stemmed when Ben MacReadie, who was having a good game, accepted a pass from skipper Matthew Wall.
A goal after the siren gave the visitors a three-goal buffer as the players went into the sheds at half-time. By that time, Port had kicked six of the last seven goals in just half of the quarter.
To make matters worse, the Scorpions again conceded the first goal, despite having the advantage of the stiff breeze.
They were simply being outplayed.
Port Melbourne was winning in the air and was cleaner with the football; it locked Casey down for the first 12 minutes of the term, when Wonaeamirri scored his second.
This was the lifter and Maric chimed in for his third, followed by a goal from Neville Jetta after a 50-metre penalty. When Miller booted his second at the 23-minute mark, scores were level.
Playing just his second game of the season, Wade Lees kicked a nice goal, followed by another from Rian McGough and the home team held a 13-point lead at the final break.
The game was there to be won, but it needed a massive effort against the strengthening wind.
Port Melbourne struck first with a goal in the first minute, but Evan Panozza, who had been rock solid in defence, followed his man down to goal and the Scorpions squandered a couple of opportunities, before the momentum shifted again in midterm.
The Borough took control, kicked the last six goals of the game and finished strongly to record a well deserved by 25-point win. Despite its emphatic finish, Port Melbourne probably secured its win with the statement it made in its great opening quarter.
MacReadie was the big possession winner with 16 kicks, nine handballs and five marks and Danny Nicholls continued his consistent line of form with 19 disposals (15 and four) and two marks.
Unfortunately, there were too many players who didn't work hard enough on the day, as evidenced by the large number of players who failed to make it to double figures on the possession stats sheets.
The level of Port's dominance was shown by its 100 disposals to 70 against the wind in the first quarter and 76 to 59 in the last when the game was there to be won.
For the Scorpions, it was a disappointing return home and the team now has an eight-day break to rest up and regroup for what has become a vital match up against fourth placed Collingwood.
With the Borough breathing down both their necks, neither side can afford to give away the four points on offer.
Casey Scorpions - 13.9.87
Port Melbourne - 16.16.112
Goals
Maric 3. Miller, Wonaemirri 2, Jetta, Lees, McGough, Panozza, Tapscott, Wall
Best
MacReadie, Miller, Warnock, McNamara, Maric, Nicholls
The surface showed the scars of the recent heavy rains in the Cranbourne area, which saw the venue of their last home game moved, but it provided few problems for the players.
The same could not be said of the tricky winds, which the Scorpions struggled to handle in the early phase of the game.
Casey had first use of the strong breeze, but had trouble in going forward let alone scoring.
Port Melbourne used the ball well, kicking into the wind and working hard in-and-under the packs to get the footy, while its intensity and desperation was on show from the start.
The young Scorpion ruck duo of Jack Fitzpatrick and Dean Cleven, with half a dozen senior VFL games between them, had their hands full with the bigger bodied, experienced ex-AFL ruckmen David Fanning and Dylan McLaren.
Fanning and McLaren gave their teammates first use of the ball at the stoppages and Port took first blood after James Taylor kicked defensively across goal.
By halfway through the first quarter, it led 2.2.14 to 0.1.1.
Addam Maric and Luke Tapscott kicked goals to narrow the margin, but Casey's poor disposal coming out of defence was still causing it grief. As a consequence, Port Melbourne had well and truly set up an important victory by hanging on for a one-point lead at the first break.
Coach Brad Gotch called on his players to play smarter when kicking into the wind and they responded early in the second quarter with the first three goals of the quarter.
Brad Miller started things going with a goal off the ground and then Austin Wonaeamirri, who had been quiet, marked at the end of a nice chain of slick kicks.
Maric was starring at this stage and combined with Tapscott for another nice goal and suddenly, the Scorpions goals led by 14 points - 5.2.32 to 2.6.18.
However, at this point, there was yet another momentum swing.
Port took over, their ruckmen lifted a notch or two, giving their onballers an armchair ride and the Borough completely dominated the second half of the term, after scoring their first major at the 15-minute mark.
Goal after goal followed and the flow was only temporarily stemmed when Ben MacReadie, who was having a good game, accepted a pass from skipper Matthew Wall.
A goal after the siren gave the visitors a three-goal buffer as the players went into the sheds at half-time. By that time, Port had kicked six of the last seven goals in just half of the quarter.
To make matters worse, the Scorpions again conceded the first goal, despite having the advantage of the stiff breeze.
They were simply being outplayed.
Port Melbourne was winning in the air and was cleaner with the football; it locked Casey down for the first 12 minutes of the term, when Wonaeamirri scored his second.
This was the lifter and Maric chimed in for his third, followed by a goal from Neville Jetta after a 50-metre penalty. When Miller booted his second at the 23-minute mark, scores were level.
Playing just his second game of the season, Wade Lees kicked a nice goal, followed by another from Rian McGough and the home team held a 13-point lead at the final break.
The game was there to be won, but it needed a massive effort against the strengthening wind.
Port Melbourne struck first with a goal in the first minute, but Evan Panozza, who had been rock solid in defence, followed his man down to goal and the Scorpions squandered a couple of opportunities, before the momentum shifted again in midterm.
The Borough took control, kicked the last six goals of the game and finished strongly to record a well deserved by 25-point win. Despite its emphatic finish, Port Melbourne probably secured its win with the statement it made in its great opening quarter.
MacReadie was the big possession winner with 16 kicks, nine handballs and five marks and Danny Nicholls continued his consistent line of form with 19 disposals (15 and four) and two marks.
Unfortunately, there were too many players who didn't work hard enough on the day, as evidenced by the large number of players who failed to make it to double figures on the possession stats sheets.
The level of Port's dominance was shown by its 100 disposals to 70 against the wind in the first quarter and 76 to 59 in the last when the game was there to be won.
For the Scorpions, it was a disappointing return home and the team now has an eight-day break to rest up and regroup for what has become a vital match up against fourth placed Collingwood.
With the Borough breathing down both their necks, neither side can afford to give away the four points on offer.
Casey Scorpions - 13.9.87
Port Melbourne - 16.16.112
Goals
Maric 3. Miller, Wonaemirri 2, Jetta, Lees, McGough, Panozza, Tapscott, Wall
Best
MacReadie, Miller, Warnock, McNamara, Maric, Nicholls
The reserves took on Port Melbourne for the third time this season and despite a good start against the breeze, were overpowered by an experienced opponent that had the luxury of a goal kicking full-forward, who kicked six goals.
To their credit, the Scorpions narrowed the gap to eight points at the end, after the visitors held a six-goal lead midway through the final term.
David Bell continued his brilliant run to be his team's best, but only a whisker ahead of Brad Sykes, who was dangerous around goal all game and finished with five goals.
Sam Blease showed flashes of brilliance on a wing and later in the middle.
Casey Scorpions - 15.9.99
Port Melbourne - 15.17.107
To their credit, the Scorpions narrowed the gap to eight points at the end, after the visitors held a six-goal lead midway through the final term.
David Bell continued his brilliant run to be his team's best, but only a whisker ahead of Brad Sykes, who was dangerous around goal all game and finished with five goals.
Sam Blease showed flashes of brilliance on a wing and later in the middle.
Casey Scorpions - 15.9.99
Port Melbourne - 15.17.107
Goals
Sykes 5, Hillberge, Petropoulos 2, Lillie, Patti, Purdy, Smith, Tynan, Waite
Best
David, Bell, Sykes, Plummer, Blease, Burke, Petropoulos
Best
David, Bell, Sykes, Plummer, Blease, Burke, Petropoulos
