CASEY coach Brad Gotch runs through the Melbourne-listed players who played for the Scorpions in round five
Seniors
Casey Scorpions 21.8 (134) d Frankston 8.10 (58), Casey Fields, Saturday, April 30 (1.10pm)
Sam Blease: Sammy had an interesting game. He got concussed early after Juice Newton and his opponent crashed into him, as they went for a mark. So Sam copped knees in the back of the head from both players. He tried to come back on, but he’s under a bit of a cloud and had to go to hospital later on. He still had nine possessions and set up a couple of goals, when he was on.
Matthew Bate: Matthew was clearly our best player. He kicked six goals, had 11 marks and 25 disposals. It was an excellent game. His work-rate was outstanding. He’s put himself right in the mix for Melbourne.
Lucas Cook: Lucas was OK. He played at both ends of the ground, as a key forward and key back. He took seven marks and had 12 possessions. He did enough and is building up.
Michael Evans: He’s doing really well, this kid. He was very good with 26 possessions, and kicked two goals as a midfielder. He also set up a couple of other goals, because he runs hard. He also has good skills and he’s showing a lot of promise. As a rookie, he’s putting his best foot forward.
Max Gawn: Maxy struggled a bit on the weekend, but we were very tall as a side, particularly with Juice Newton and Brendan Fevola coming in. I couldn’t utilise him as often as I would’ve liked. He had about 50 per cent game time, but gave away a few free kicks in the ruck, which he has to watch.
Jeremy Howe: Jeremy played his second game in the seniors, and I threw him back and forward a bit. He kicked a goal up forward and did some good defensive things down back. He was also good one-on-one and took some really nice marks - contested and aerial. He was also good on the ground. He looked likely.
Neville Jetta: Neville was a very good performer with 24 possessions, playing midfield. I thought his run and work-rate around the stoppages were great. He set us up and is going really well at the moment.
Kelvin Lawrence: Kelvin kicked three goals and did his job. He provided some pressure and class around the ground at times as well. His used the ball well with his goal kicking.
Joel Macdonald: Joel had a very good game. He played off half-back and had 25 touches. He set us up well and used the ball well, showing what a smart player he is. He’s got a lot of experience, and it showed.
Addam Maric: Addam traveled with Melbourne to Perth and then came back and played. I thought he was very, very good. He kicked two goals and had 26 possessions. He did a bit of work on the ball, as well up forward. He uses the ball sensationally, so that was great. His last quarter wasn’t as dominant as his first three, but in the context of his week, he did a really good job.
Tom McDonald: Tom has been up and down, but his highs were good. His marking and his ability to rebound and help his teammates out in defence was very good. He made a few skill execution and decision-making errors, but that’s just part of being a young player learning the role. He played across half-back and provided some rebound. He got 19 possessions.
Michael Newton: Juice kicked two goals this week, after kicking five and six in the first two matches. He came back from a week off, due to suspension, and he looked a bit rusty. With Brendan Fevola playing his first game in the seniors, Juice had to work out the dynamics of the forward line, plus Matthew Bate kicked six goals. So he might have been starved of opportunities a bit, rather than being the main man. But he still had a couple of opportunities he didn’t quite take. He was OK.
Daniel Nicholson: Daniel had another good game. He started on fire. He had quieter patches in the second and last quarter and not a bad third quarter, but he was very impressive with his leg speed. He kicked a goal from the midfield, which was a really nice goal from a stoppage. He contested hard and was very physical for a player who has played just a few games. He’s been very consistent in the past few weeks.
Ricky Petterd: Ricky took 10 marks for the game and had 18 possessions. He played mainly up the ground and didn’t get a lot of opportunities to kick goals. He played more wing/half-forward and knocked his knee in the first quarter. He got a little bit tired, because he had travelled as an emergency with the group to Perth.
Jake Spencer: Jake played the best I’ve seen him play in the ruck. He really launched at centre bounces, and was good at throw-ins. He went forward and took a big catch, but unfortunately didn’t score a goal. He looks as though he’s getting more experience when he goes forward. It was the best I’ve seen him do his ruck work. He picked up 13 touches, so that’s not a bad result.
Matthew Warnock: It was another usual display from Matty - he was very good. He had 22 possessions at full-back and did his job as always. He was also one of our rebounding defenders and is in sensational form for us. He rarely gets beaten.
Reserves
Sam Blease: Sammy had an interesting game. He got concussed early after Juice Newton and his opponent crashed into him, as they went for a mark. So Sam copped knees in the back of the head from both players. He tried to come back on, but he’s under a bit of a cloud and had to go to hospital later on. He still had nine possessions and set up a couple of goals, when he was on.
Matthew Bate: Matthew was clearly our best player. He kicked six goals, had 11 marks and 25 disposals. It was an excellent game. His work-rate was outstanding. He’s put himself right in the mix for Melbourne.
Lucas Cook: Lucas was OK. He played at both ends of the ground, as a key forward and key back. He took seven marks and had 12 possessions. He did enough and is building up.
Michael Evans: He’s doing really well, this kid. He was very good with 26 possessions, and kicked two goals as a midfielder. He also set up a couple of other goals, because he runs hard. He also has good skills and he’s showing a lot of promise. As a rookie, he’s putting his best foot forward.
Max Gawn: Maxy struggled a bit on the weekend, but we were very tall as a side, particularly with Juice Newton and Brendan Fevola coming in. I couldn’t utilise him as often as I would’ve liked. He had about 50 per cent game time, but gave away a few free kicks in the ruck, which he has to watch.
Jeremy Howe: Jeremy played his second game in the seniors, and I threw him back and forward a bit. He kicked a goal up forward and did some good defensive things down back. He was also good one-on-one and took some really nice marks - contested and aerial. He was also good on the ground. He looked likely.
Neville Jetta: Neville was a very good performer with 24 possessions, playing midfield. I thought his run and work-rate around the stoppages were great. He set us up and is going really well at the moment.
Kelvin Lawrence: Kelvin kicked three goals and did his job. He provided some pressure and class around the ground at times as well. His used the ball well with his goal kicking.
Joel Macdonald: Joel had a very good game. He played off half-back and had 25 touches. He set us up well and used the ball well, showing what a smart player he is. He’s got a lot of experience, and it showed.
Addam Maric: Addam traveled with Melbourne to Perth and then came back and played. I thought he was very, very good. He kicked two goals and had 26 possessions. He did a bit of work on the ball, as well up forward. He uses the ball sensationally, so that was great. His last quarter wasn’t as dominant as his first three, but in the context of his week, he did a really good job.
Tom McDonald: Tom has been up and down, but his highs were good. His marking and his ability to rebound and help his teammates out in defence was very good. He made a few skill execution and decision-making errors, but that’s just part of being a young player learning the role. He played across half-back and provided some rebound. He got 19 possessions.
Michael Newton: Juice kicked two goals this week, after kicking five and six in the first two matches. He came back from a week off, due to suspension, and he looked a bit rusty. With Brendan Fevola playing his first game in the seniors, Juice had to work out the dynamics of the forward line, plus Matthew Bate kicked six goals. So he might have been starved of opportunities a bit, rather than being the main man. But he still had a couple of opportunities he didn’t quite take. He was OK.
Daniel Nicholson: Daniel had another good game. He started on fire. He had quieter patches in the second and last quarter and not a bad third quarter, but he was very impressive with his leg speed. He kicked a goal from the midfield, which was a really nice goal from a stoppage. He contested hard and was very physical for a player who has played just a few games. He’s been very consistent in the past few weeks.
Ricky Petterd: Ricky took 10 marks for the game and had 18 possessions. He played mainly up the ground and didn’t get a lot of opportunities to kick goals. He played more wing/half-forward and knocked his knee in the first quarter. He got a little bit tired, because he had travelled as an emergency with the group to Perth.
Jake Spencer: Jake played the best I’ve seen him play in the ruck. He really launched at centre bounces, and was good at throw-ins. He went forward and took a big catch, but unfortunately didn’t score a goal. He looks as though he’s getting more experience when he goes forward. It was the best I’ve seen him do his ruck work. He picked up 13 touches, so that’s not a bad result.
Matthew Warnock: It was another usual display from Matty - he was very good. He had 22 possessions at full-back and did his job as always. He was also one of our rebounding defenders and is in sensational form for us. He rarely gets beaten.
Reserves
Casey Scorpions 30.19 (199) d Frankston 5.6 (36),
Casey Fields, Saturday, April 30, 10.10am
Troy Davis: Troy played 50 per cent game time. He’s been starting to get some consistency after that thyroid problem. He’s getting better.
Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack kicked six goals and took 13 marks. He also had 25 touches, playing in the forward line. He’ll be right in contention for the VFL seniors this week.
Cameron Johnston: Cam had 21 touches, playing off half-back wing. He used the ball really well. It was his first game back and he should get a bit of confidence from that.
Tom McNamara: Tommy had 22 touches, playing as a winger/half-forward. He did well.
Troy Davis: Troy played 50 per cent game time. He’s been starting to get some consistency after that thyroid problem. He’s getting better.
Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack kicked six goals and took 13 marks. He also had 25 touches, playing in the forward line. He’ll be right in contention for the VFL seniors this week.
Cameron Johnston: Cam had 21 touches, playing off half-back wing. He used the ball really well. It was his first game back and he should get a bit of confidence from that.
Tom McNamara: Tommy had 22 touches, playing as a winger/half-forward. He did well.
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