THE CASEY Scorpions missed out on the perfect opportunity to secure a top four position on Saturday when they capitulated for the second time this year against a more determined Coburg Tigers.
The defeat came despite a strong performance by full-forward Brendan Fevola, who was in fine form with his marking, leading and kicking to finish with seven goals.
The game was played at Mantello Holden Oval, with Coburg under the watchful eye of Greater Western Sydney List Manager Stephen Silvagni.
The GWS coach Kevin Sheedy has publicly ruled out claiming Casey's controversial recruit for next season, but speculation at the ground still centred on whether SOS was on a mission to check out his former team mate or perhaps, draft combine invitee Tim Mohr. Either way, he would have left the ground suitably impressed.
The Scorpions appeared in control early although they failed to exert their superiority on the scoreboard.
Rian McGough celebrated his return from the reserves with two goals in the first term and the Casey onballers were on top. Although some sloppy play led to turnovers, the Tigers managed a couple of long goals that rolled through an unguarded goalsquare to stay in touch at the first break.
The Scorpions suffered a major blow soon after proceedings restarted when ruckman Robbie Campbell came off second best and was knocked out after a sickening collision on the boundary line. He was to play no further part in the game.
Although Fevola kicked two quick goals immediately after the incident, the big man's departure changed the balance of the game as coach Brad Gotch recast his team.
Coburg's rucks took over and while the game ebbed and flowed for a time, the Tigers booted three late goals to take a six point lead into the rooms at half time.
Beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick, who had been moving well and impressed up forward, was called into the ruck leaving Fevola, who had three goals to half-time now isolated as the main target.
Casey came back with two quick goals in a bright opening to the third term when a Neville Jetta pass found McGough for his third and Jamie Bennell also passed truly to Fevola who slotted through his fourth.
Not to be outdone, the home side returned fire to press back in front, thanks to some errors from the Scorpions' defence. But Matthew Bate struck a purple patch with two goals within minutes to restore the lead.
Bate had an opportunity to further extend the lead, but the redhead's rushed snap from 15 metres missed everything and went out of bounds on the full.
From this point onwards it was mainly all Coburg for the remainder of the term with Fevola the only Casey forward who looked like kicking goals. By contrast, the Tigers were full of running and their passing by hand and by foot was too good for the visitors.
A goal from a Fevola mark on the three quarter time siren was a saver for the visitors, but the Tigers were now brimming with confidence. They led by two goals and an upset was on the cards.
The ultimate result of the game was settled in the opening minutes of the final term when the Burgers, spurred on by their home crowd and a noisy cheer squad, slotted home three goals in five or six minutes to extend the lead to thirty points.
Bate scored his third from a rare Casey free kick which was followed by a 50-metre penalty and the gap could have been narrowed further but for some errant passing close to the Casey goals.
To their credit, the Scorpions refused to surrender and did most of the attacking in the latter stages of the game.
Fevola was always the danger man and he added two more goals to easily stamp himself as his team's best player.
However, time was now the enemy and the game petered out with Casey 15 points in arrears at the final siren.
Tom McNamara, with 25 disposals, was busy all day for the Scorpions and Matthew Bate, who also had 25 touches to add to his three goals, put in an impressive display, given he spent large stretches of the first term receiving attention from the trainers.
McGough proved a handful for the Coburg defence early in the game and Michael Stockdale (23 possessions) was a prolific ballwinner after last week's stint in the reserves.
Neville Jetta with 21 touches and five tackles was brilliant in patches and helped keep the team in touch after half-time.
All in all, it was a disappointing effort from a team that had so much to gain.
The defeat came despite a strong performance by full-forward Brendan Fevola, who was in fine form with his marking, leading and kicking to finish with seven goals.
The game was played at Mantello Holden Oval, with Coburg under the watchful eye of Greater Western Sydney List Manager Stephen Silvagni.
The GWS coach Kevin Sheedy has publicly ruled out claiming Casey's controversial recruit for next season, but speculation at the ground still centred on whether SOS was on a mission to check out his former team mate or perhaps, draft combine invitee Tim Mohr. Either way, he would have left the ground suitably impressed.
The Scorpions appeared in control early although they failed to exert their superiority on the scoreboard.
Rian McGough celebrated his return from the reserves with two goals in the first term and the Casey onballers were on top. Although some sloppy play led to turnovers, the Tigers managed a couple of long goals that rolled through an unguarded goalsquare to stay in touch at the first break.
The Scorpions suffered a major blow soon after proceedings restarted when ruckman Robbie Campbell came off second best and was knocked out after a sickening collision on the boundary line. He was to play no further part in the game.
Although Fevola kicked two quick goals immediately after the incident, the big man's departure changed the balance of the game as coach Brad Gotch recast his team.
Coburg's rucks took over and while the game ebbed and flowed for a time, the Tigers booted three late goals to take a six point lead into the rooms at half time.
Beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick, who had been moving well and impressed up forward, was called into the ruck leaving Fevola, who had three goals to half-time now isolated as the main target.
Casey came back with two quick goals in a bright opening to the third term when a Neville Jetta pass found McGough for his third and Jamie Bennell also passed truly to Fevola who slotted through his fourth.
Not to be outdone, the home side returned fire to press back in front, thanks to some errors from the Scorpions' defence. But Matthew Bate struck a purple patch with two goals within minutes to restore the lead.
Bate had an opportunity to further extend the lead, but the redhead's rushed snap from 15 metres missed everything and went out of bounds on the full.
From this point onwards it was mainly all Coburg for the remainder of the term with Fevola the only Casey forward who looked like kicking goals. By contrast, the Tigers were full of running and their passing by hand and by foot was too good for the visitors.
A goal from a Fevola mark on the three quarter time siren was a saver for the visitors, but the Tigers were now brimming with confidence. They led by two goals and an upset was on the cards.
The ultimate result of the game was settled in the opening minutes of the final term when the Burgers, spurred on by their home crowd and a noisy cheer squad, slotted home three goals in five or six minutes to extend the lead to thirty points.
Bate scored his third from a rare Casey free kick which was followed by a 50-metre penalty and the gap could have been narrowed further but for some errant passing close to the Casey goals.
To their credit, the Scorpions refused to surrender and did most of the attacking in the latter stages of the game.
Fevola was always the danger man and he added two more goals to easily stamp himself as his team's best player.
However, time was now the enemy and the game petered out with Casey 15 points in arrears at the final siren.
Tom McNamara, with 25 disposals, was busy all day for the Scorpions and Matthew Bate, who also had 25 touches to add to his three goals, put in an impressive display, given he spent large stretches of the first term receiving attention from the trainers.
McGough proved a handful for the Coburg defence early in the game and Michael Stockdale (23 possessions) was a prolific ballwinner after last week's stint in the reserves.
Neville Jetta with 21 touches and five tackles was brilliant in patches and helped keep the team in touch after half-time.
All in all, it was a disappointing effort from a team that had so much to gain.
Next Saturday provides it with the perfect opportunity to atone against the VFL's other Tigers, Werribee.
The two meet at Casey Fields and the loser will almost certainly miss out on a final opportunity to challenge for a top four placing.
The two meet at Casey Fields and the loser will almost certainly miss out on a final opportunity to challenge for a top four placing.
Seniors
Casey Scorpions 4.2 7.5 12.7 15.12 (102)
Coburg Tigers 3.1 8.5 14.7 18.9 (117)
Goals
Casey Scorpions: Fevola 7, Bate 3, McGough 3, Bennell, Nicholls
Coburg Tigers: Hicks 5, Carnell 4, Contin 4, Jordan 2, Browne, Clifton, Griffiths, O'Rielly, Westhoff, White
Best
Casey Scorpions: Fevola, McNamara, Bate, McGough, Lees, Stockdale
Coburg Tigers: Browne, Rayson, O'Rielly, Hicks, Carnell
Reserves
Casey Scorpions 4.2 7.5 12.7 15.12 (102)
Coburg Tigers 3.1 8.5 14.7 18.9 (117)
Goals
Casey Scorpions: Fevola 7, Bate 3, McGough 3, Bennell, Nicholls
Coburg Tigers: Hicks 5, Carnell 4, Contin 4, Jordan 2, Browne, Clifton, Griffiths, O'Rielly, Westhoff, White
Best
Casey Scorpions: Fevola, McNamara, Bate, McGough, Lees, Stockdale
Coburg Tigers: Browne, Rayson, O'Rielly, Hicks, Carnell
Reserves
The Casey Reserves continued on their winning way although they were helped by Coburg's inaccuracy in the first half.
The match marked the welcome return to form after a long layoff after a series of injuries of courageous the club's co-skipper Kyle Matthews who was clear best on ground and staked a claim for a return to the seniors with an inspired performance.
The goals were evenly shared with Rohan Bail, Mitch Dowse and Ben Waite, the multiple goal scorers with two each.
The 38 point win puts Casey in the box seat for a top four berth with the finals looming.
Casey Scorpions 6.1 8.3 13.6 18.9 (117)
Coburg Tigers 2.5 5.8 6.13 11.13 (79)
Goals
The match marked the welcome return to form after a long layoff after a series of injuries of courageous the club's co-skipper Kyle Matthews who was clear best on ground and staked a claim for a return to the seniors with an inspired performance.
The goals were evenly shared with Rohan Bail, Mitch Dowse and Ben Waite, the multiple goal scorers with two each.
The 38 point win puts Casey in the box seat for a top four berth with the finals looming.
Casey Scorpions 6.1 8.3 13.6 18.9 (117)
Coburg Tigers 2.5 5.8 6.13 11.13 (79)
Goals
Casey Scorpions: Bail 2, Dowse 2, Purves 2, Waite 2, Allen, Clay, Collins, Cook, Fieldsend, McShane, Matthews, Pollard, Purdy, Weekes
Coburg Tigers: Pound 2, Xuereb 2, Ambrose, Ambrose, Cartello, Dahl, Duhau, Lirosi, Morris
Best
Casey Scorpions: Matthews, Patti, Cleven, Bolton, Dowse, Purdy
Coburg Tigers: Thomas, Cartelli, Dahl, Garland, Lirosi, Robortellas
Coburg Tigers: Pound 2, Xuereb 2, Ambrose, Ambrose, Cartello, Dahl, Duhau, Lirosi, Morris
Best
Casey Scorpions: Matthews, Patti, Cleven, Bolton, Dowse, Purdy
Coburg Tigers: Thomas, Cartelli, Dahl, Garland, Lirosi, Robortellas
