THE MEASURE of a good team is in the way it responds to adversity and on Sunday, the Casey Scorpions  showed tremendous spirit by turning around last week's disappointment to crush Sandringham by 63 points at Casey Fields.

The Scorpions came into the game with a steely determination to erase all memory of their disastrous visit to Corio Bay and they dominated proceedings in the first half to such an extent that the Zebras failed to penetrate the goals until the early stages of the third quarter. 

The team flexed its muscle early with the defence taking full control.

 

Matthew Warnock, who has been shunned by the selectors at AFL level, set the tone for the game, assuming the leadership role of a very powerful defence.

 

Cale Morton, who was the top possession gatherer last week, started in the middle and repeated the dose. He was a ball magnet in a winning on ball squad.

 

James Wall was solid as usual and showed great leadership, while Danny Nicholls was lively in just his second game back after a long layoff after injury.

 

Addam Maric booted the first goal but the forwards frittered away opportunities in front of goal.

Casey stretched its lead in the second term with Brendan Fevola showing he has recovered from his bout of flu.

 

After a quite start to the game, the enigmatic forward added three goals for the quarter in a five minute burst while Neville Jetta and Liam Jurrah added more excitement to the team's forward thrusts.

 

The unselfish Fevola did more than just kick goals, giving a couple of goals away to his fellow forwards as the home team streaked away to go into the sheds at the main break with an unassailable 51-point lead.

The Zebras were fired up after half time with tall forward Will Johnson booting the first of his three goals seven minutes into the third term to lift the visitors' spirits.

 

In between, midfielder Tom McNamara kicked a great check side goal.

 

Evan Panozza was relishing his return to the senior team with a goal and, when Fevola booted his fourth, Casey had snuffed out the Zebra challenge.

 

The three quarter time lead was 64 points by which time the star full forward had added another for his 40th goal of the season.

The fourth term was a high scoring finale with the ball moving from coast to coast at great pace given the time of the game.

 

Young defenders Sam Blease and Troy Davis were outstanding for the Scorpions who ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Brad Gotch's charges have now restored their claim for a top four placing and with forthcoming games against Coburg, Werribee and the Northern Bullants, the team's destiny is in its own hands.

Casey Scorpions   2.4  8.6  13.8  18.12 (120)
Sandringham  0.1 0.3  3.4  9.5 (59)

Goals
Casey Scorpions: Fevola 5, Jetta 3, Jurrah 3, McNamara 2, McDonald, Maric, Morton, Panozza, Sylvia 
Sandringham: Johnson 3, Archer 2, Coleman 2, Curren,  Lynch 

Best
Casey Scorpions: Morton, Warnock, Blease, Lawrence, Fevola, Jetta
Sandringham:  Simpkin, Baker, Gallagher, Johnson, Lynch, Walsh

The Casey Reserves have made rapid strides since losing their opening game to the Northern Bullants and continued on their winning way with an emphatic 100 point victory over Sandringham. 

David Bell starred with six goals and Stef Baumgartner was in prolific form as the team consolidated its place in the top four.

Reserves

Casey Scorpions   4.2  9.3  13.9  20.14 (134)
Sandringham   1.3  2.6  3.8  4.10 (34)

Goals
Casey Scorpions: Bell 6, Purves 4, Fieldsend 2, McShane 2, Lees 2, Allen, Cook, Matthews, Weekes  
Sandringham: Ferraro, Lourey, Wade, Michaliades 

Best
Casey Scorpions: Bell, Baumgartner, Cleven, Patti, Clay, Purves
Sandringham: Andrews, Ferraro, Lourey, Porebski, Mavric, Shakallis