Despite windy and wet conditions at TEAC oval on Saturday, Port Melbourne continued their strong start to the season, downing Casey by 10 points after a last quarter comeback by the Scorpions almost saw them steal the points as Brendan Lucas reports.
After a 42-point lead at half time, followed by a 35-point lead at three quarter time, no one could have predicted Casey’s last quarter comeback to salvage a game that seemed all but lost.
The Casey Scorpions first quarter zoning seemed to do little to Port Melbourne, who were kicking into a strong, gusty breeze, as the Boroughs found the holes over the top of the defence.
Despite good quarters from Casey’s Addam Maric and Joel Macdonald, the Scorpions’ turnovers and a 50-metre penalty cost them two late quarter goals, as the Boroughs held a comfortable 25-point lead at the first change.
The second quarter was much of the same, as the Boroughs piled on another 6 goals. Casey were smashed in the second quarter in the stoppages and clearances, as ex-demon midfielder Shane Valenti led the way in the middle for the Boroughs with hard contested football around the packs.
Poor skill errors were a trademark of Casey’s game, causing across goal turnovers. An example of this was Casey’s James Strauss’s kick out of defence to Port’s Patrick Rose leading to a goal, which was a result of the Scorpion’s poor decision-making.
At half time, the Boroughs looked like they were running away with the game, with a 42-point lead being a reflection of their intensity at the ball and their skill execution.
Michael Newton was the only real shining light for the Scorpions up forward, with 6 goals for the day, which was soured by a scuffle later in the third quarter which lead to a report. Borough’s forward Daniel Keely was also strong up forward for Port with 3 goals.
By three quarter time the game looked bleak for the Scorpions. However, coach, Brad Gotch, told the players that despite a 35-point deficit, the game was still there for the taking.
“To your credit you kept in it, anything is possible, but you need to keep working hard from the turnovers, you need to stick tackles and be disciplined,” he said.
Borough’s coach, Gary Ayres, told his players that intensity, work rate and composure were critical to winning the game.
“All I want in this quarter is for every individual to improve in the one percenters,” he said.
“We will up our intensity, we will up our work rate, and we will stay composed.”
In the last term the Scorpions had the breeze, after two goals from Newton, the rain began to pour at TEAC oval, but the early scoring brought the Scorpions within 17 points at the 19-minute mark.
A behind by Newton late in the quarter was unable to clinch the game, the Scorpions leaving their run too late.
Port Melbourne 6.3 12.5 16.6 19.10 (124)
Casey Scorpions 2.2 5.5 11.9 17.12 (114)
GOALS:
Port Melbourne: Keely 3, Galea 2, Bentick 2, Cain 2, Valenti 2, Langford, Fanning, Dwyer, Rose, McMahon, Batsanis, Lynch, Edwards
Casey Scorpions: Newton 6, Maric 3, Wall 2, Fieldsend 2, Bate 2, Petterd, McGough
BEST:
Port Melbourne: Dwyer, Dillon, Batsanis, Bentick, McMahon, Fanning
Casey Scorpions: Maric, Newton, Wall, Jetta, Riseley, McDonald
Last Modified on 13/04/2011 08:57