The Casey Scorpions have continued their fantastic start to the season as Russell Hopkins reports.
The sixth placed Box Hill Hawks hosted second placed Casey Scorpions at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. On a day that started off sunny early but clouded over as the match progressed, a strong swirling tricky wind was omnipresent. The temperature was brisk but fortunately the threat of rain didn’t eventuate.
Both sides entered the match with a plethora of height and experience. For Box Hill, Hawthorn listed players included the likes of McCauley, Cheney, Bruce, Gunston, Murphy and Bateman whilst their Casey counterparts possessed the calibre of Green, Jurrah, Watts, Dunn, Cook and Sellar. Who was going to force an AFL recall in front of Melbourne Coach Mark Neeld was the big question of the day.
A crooked and subsequently recalled opening bounce saw the game underway. Even from the sanctuary of the stands, one could see the ball drifting further with the breeze. It set the tone for the difficulties the umpires would face bouncing the football and the players with disposal for the remainder of the contest.
Early, Cameron Bruce displayed poise and solid leadership in marshalling and settling the Box Hill Hawks defenders against a mini onslaught from the Casey midfield, who helped put Casey in control early. The Casey forwards were unable to put the damage on the scoreboard, kicking inaccurately until McGough was able to gain the breakthrough for the ‘Scorps, with a nice crumbing goal. Green was busy in attack whilst the footskills of Jurrah were exemplary with his pinpoint passes hitting teammates ‘lace out’ on the chest. In a scrappy game early, Casey were indeed the dominant force but were unable to mortally wound Box Hill on the scoresheet. Bateman won a free kick for a high tackle but failed to convert truly from 25m out. It was a tale of two inaccurate forward lines.
Casey’s second goal kicked by Fieldsend came back nicely with the wind before taking an off-break bounce on the goal line that Mark Waugh would have been pleased to bowl, from beyond the 50 meter arc. It was apparent that Casey was finding the ability to play a more direct brand of football, using the corridors, whilst forcing the Hawks to play wide on the flanks, limiting Box Hill’s scoreboard opportunities to tougher shots on goal when they brought the ball in to attack.
A desperate diving McCauley splendidly repelled a couple of rampant Scorpion attacks whilst Watts was finding plenty of the action and showing promise. Overall it was good to see a relaxed Watts enjoying the experience and eager to continue improving his game. At only twenty-one and 196cm, he still has a bright future ahead of him at Melbourne as he has the skills to impress.
A split nanosecond before the quarter time siren, Bruce took a solid contested mark but failed to convert a ‘bread and butter’ shot from only 20 meters out. This typified both sides that were working hard but were continually missing plenty of chances with Box Hill 0.5.5 to Casey 2.5.17 at quarter time.
Early in the second quarter one could sense a more intense and desperate Box Hill as they controlled the game in the first ten minutes but were again profligate with their use of the ball. With a rather fortuitous bounce, Danny Hughes kicked Box Hill’s first for the afternoon thanks to a leg spinning bounce that defied modern laws of football physics. Ben Fagan copped a bump and left the ground with a cut under his chin returning shortly after resembling an extra on the film set ‘The Mummy’. Midway through the term, Bateman left the ground after a fair bump with his arm wrapped in his guernsey signifying a shoulder injury, and was taken to hospital for x-rays which was unfortunate for the Hawks’ bench as it limited rotations for the rest of the afternoon.
Shortly after Bateman left the ground Watts was the beneficiary of a down field freekick and made no mistake in kicking the goal. Casey then began to dominate the contest with plenty of boisterous support cheering them on. When Jurrah’s perfectly rotating long pass hit a teammate in Fieldsend on the edge of the goalsquare and standing alongside two other Casey forwards (with their opponents nowhere in close range), it was a danger moment for Box Hill. Fieldsend kicked truly and Box Hill looked in all sorts of trouble. With Box Hill kicking 1.10.16 to Casey’s 5.10.40 at half time, they needed to tighten up quickly and start taking chances or watch Casey run away with the game.
In the third quarter, Bruce continued to lead his teammates well with encouragement, support and the football nous that AFL experience gifts upon those that have played at the highest level. He was solid in clearing the ball. Another defining moment in this game was when Casey tall Riseley found himself in the goalsquare with three Box Hill players in close proximity but none of the defenders had the foresight to spoil the ball through for a behind. Rather, he was allowed to pick the ball up when it went to ground and kick an opportunistic goal. When Jurrah ran in to goal and kicked accurately from thirty meters, all of a sudden Casey had found three goals in as many minutes to open the floodgates.
The result was telling as Casey who had been playing the ball ‘straight down the guts’ all day whilst Box Hill played the boundary, were starting to punish Box Hill in dominating the scoreboard in the ‘premiership quarter’ to go in at the break with Box Hill only managing 1.14.20 to 10.14.74. Box Hill coach Damian Carroll was openly disappointed with his teams effort and implored his troops to produce greater output and teamwork displays in the final stanza.
In the first minute of the last quarter, Box Hill ruckman Adam Pattison was on the receiving end of a long ball down the corridor, used his body well to take the mark and then go back and kick Box Hill’s second goal for the afternoon. Box Hill began to show more spirit but as a grinning Casey bench looked on with the game well and truly in the bag, Casey had somewhat slowed their tempo and were content to run out comfortable winners by 52 points. The final scores were Box Hill 5.15.45 defeated by Casey 13.19.97 with Casey deserved victors thanks to a dominate midfield and more efficient use of the football.
This week Box Hill host a winning North Ballarat side in a must win game for the Hawks, whilst Casey have the bye.
Photo: Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 16/05/2012 12:16