EMOTION is a word that isn't found in the dictionaries of some of the hardnosed people, who operate at the pointy end of elite sports.

 

But on Saturday at Casey Fields, it was there in bucket loads as the Scorpions surprised the pundits and thrashed the Northern Bullants by 100 points.

The story of the day started with the return of courageous Casey co-captain Kyle Matthews - after almost two years in the football wilderness - but there are many other stories to tell from the game.

Mathews suffered head injuries, including a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, after an attack outside a Hawthorn hotel left him in a coma in March, 2010.

 

He worked hard to return to the game after a 12-month absence, but suffered further setbacks in the form of two hamstring injuries and a fractured fibula (from a mid-season scratch match).

He was in line for senior selection last week against Werribee after three reserves games, but his brother's wedding meant that his senior comeback was delayed a further week.

 

The wait was worth it and his triumphant return came almost two years to the day after his last game, which was his team's disastrous loss in the 2009 elimination final against Collingwood.

Wearing a head guard and looking like a kid with his slight build, Matthews took the game by the scruff of the neck. He set the example with his second, third and sometimes fourth efforts, which could only be described as sublime.

 

His desperation, his attack on the football and the way he threw his body into every contest permeated through the team and inspired the group to produce its finest performance for the season.

Matthews set the example through the midfield and up forward where he had five goals on the board by the final break.

 

By that time, he had earned a rest and the opportunity to watch his team coast home against an opposition, which until very recently was considered a top four certainty.

The Bullants had every reason to feel confident when they arrived at the ground, their team brimming with AFL experience.

They had 15 Carlton listed players, many with aspirations of taking part in the finals at elite level, while suspensions and injuries at Melbourne kept Casey's AFL list down to a season's low of 10 players.

The early part of the game suggested that the Bullants' size and greater experience would prevail.

 

At the midpoint of the opening term, they had Brock McLean and Jordan Russell dominating possessions and things looked ominous after goals to Shaun Hampson and Ryan Houlihan gave them an 11-point lead - 3.1.19 to 1.2.8.

 

Casey's lone goal had been kicked by Lynden Dunn.

However, the game was dramatically turned on its head by the brilliance of Matthews and Demon Matthew Bate.

 

The pair was the catalysts for the turnaround, which started when the day's other big emotional story Brendan Fevola kicked his first goal after accepting a fine pass from Rohan Bail.

It was the first of 10 for Fevola.

 

During the week, it was revealed that he had yet to attract any interest from any AFL club for 2012. His father Ange made a plea to the Demons to give his son a chance at AFL redemption in 2012.

Fevola came to the club as an overweight tormented soul, missed the early part of the season, struggled for form and finally hit his straps with two double-figure totals in the run home. It resulted in Fevola finishing four goals shy of the Frosty Miller Trophy for the VFL's top goalkicker.

Moreover, he's been a model citizen on and off the field and has well and truly justified the faith put into him by the Scorpions' board.

 

He seems contented in his life and his work and was paid the ultimate compliment on Ten's Before the Game program, which crossed to the Casey rooms to award him the player of the day prize.

Fevola revealed he had lost 16kg since March on the same diet that has given Shane Warne a new slim line figure.

The star forward saw off three quality AFL opponents in Michael Jamison, Paul Bower and Matthew Watson and finished with 17 possessions and 10 marks.

 

His 10.2 haul included angle goals, snaps and a couple that just dribbled through the big sticks.

Posters of the man affectionately known as "The Fev" were on sale for $10.00.

 

By the game's latter stages he even had the large contingent of Carlton fans on hand at the ground, applauding as he destroyed the defenders, who were unfortunate enough to be pitted against him.

Casey won every quarter on its way to claiming a top four placing and an appointment with undefeated Port Melbourne for next week's qualifying final at North Port.

The emotion of the day did not end there.

 

Bate has had a tough time trying to get an AFL game this season, but has been very good at the Scorpions. He blitzed in the midfield with 38 possessions (14 in the final quarter).

 

Bail starred with his pace and long-kicking, picking up 27 touches and Dan Nicholson (25 disposals) provided great run.

 

Kelvin Lawrence also showed brilliance and some scintillating running and passing.

Big men Robert Campbell and young Max Gawn dominated in the ruck and around the ground, while beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick bobbed up with four goals and demonstrated amazing pace for one so tall.

These big stories overshadowed the tale of Casey's dominant defence. Matthew Warnock led the way and he was well backed up by Demon youngster Troy Davis, who overcome a thyroid problem to rise to prominence in the Scorpion backline.

 

Davis underscored his future potential at a higher level and the much improved Tim Mohr who is bound for the AFL draft combine in October.

There's more because Matthews' inspiration also lifted many of his fellow Casey listed players to their personal best games of the season.

 

His ever reliable co-skipper James Wall dominated his wing with 24 possessions, Danny Nicholls (who also overcame a serious injury to break back into the team), Rian McGough, Dave Collins and Will Petropoulos played out their respective roles.

 

And 23-year-old debutant Jess Bolton will never forget his own impressive debut in senior ranks.

 

Wade Lees captured another big scalp in shutting out Ed Curnow.

The win was also a tribute to the work of coach Brad Gotch.

 

Mindful of the fact that there's much work to do in the month ahead he fired his charges up at the last break urging them to go on with it and not to let up.

"Good sides don't hold back."

They didn't hold back and their coach's message will remain on the mind of every player as the team takes on the undefeated minor premiers in the big one next weekend.

 

Seniors

Casey Scorpions 4.6 13.8 19.10 28.12 (180)
Northern Bullants 3.3 5.3 7.8 11.14 (80)

Goals
Casey Scorpions: Fevola 10, Matthews 5, Fitzpatrick 4, Bate 2, Dunn 2, Petropoulos 2, Bail, McGough, Wall
Northern Bullants: Lambert 2, Saad 2, Arrowsmith, Austin, Biffin, Hampson, Houlihan, Iacobucci, O'hAilpin

Best
Casey Scorpions: Bate, Bail, Fevola, Mohr, Lees, Matthews
Northern Bullants: Lucas, McLean, Iacobucci, Russell, Lambert, Dare

The Casey reserves made it 10 games straight, with a seven-goal victory over the Bullants. Tom Corry starred in the midfield and was ably backed up by Matt Fieldsend, while Blake Carew bobbed up with four goals. Aaron Purves finished as the top goal kicker in the VFL Reserves competition.

Casey Scorpions 3.2 8.4 13.7 18.13 (121)
Northern Bullants 2.6 3.10 7.13 11.13 (79)

Goals

Casey Scorpions: Carew 4, McShane 3, Dowse 2, Waite 2, Baumgartner, Clay, Hill, Lindsay, Newton, Purves, J Roberts
Northern Bullants: Bray 2, Casboult 2, Marcon 2, Bransgrove, Dorman, Dufficy, McLellan, Wilson

Best
Casey Scorpions: Corry, Fieldsend, McShane, Pollard, Dowse, Purdy
Northern Bullants: A Gianfagna, Dirago, Marcon, Gale, Lincoln, Bransgrove