Casey Scorpions have stamped themselves as a serious finals contender, outclassing Frankston 21.8.134 to 8.10.58 in a dominant performance at Casey Fields as Anna Harrington reports.
Despite the Dolphins pushing hard early, the Scorpions, led by Melbourne-listed players Matthew Bate and Neville Jetta, showed their class, stepping up late in the game to secure an authoritative 76 point win.
Bate led the way with six goals for the Scorpions in a best-on-ground performance while Luke Clark was again the top-scorer for Frankston with an end tally of four.
Frankston coach Simon Goosey said the extent of the loss was disappointing, given his team’s general competitiveness around the ground, citing turnovers as the key factor within the game.
“That was really disappointing, especially the last half, to give it up like that,” Goosey said.
“It’s just the same story with us at the moment, [with] our turnovers, we’ve got to just get a lot better than that.
“We win a bit of the ball, we just don’t give ourselves enough [of an] opportunity.”
Frankston drew first blood through Luke Clark, the enigmatic forward slotting a straight-forward shot to give his team a six point headstart.
But Casey soon replied, Melbourne-listed forward Bate snaring a diving contested mark, subsequently converting to level the scores.
For a short time, the two teams traded goals before late in the quarter the class of the Scorpions began to prevail, Casey kicking four goals to Frankston’s solo effort from Rob McCallum.
The Scorpions went into the quarter time break ahead 38-19, the three-goal lead defying a largely even first quarter.
At the huddle, Frankston coach Simon Goosey implored his team to lift but unfortunately for the Dolphins it was more of the same early, Casey kicking four goals to stretch the lead out to 39 at one point.
But the Dolphins weren’t done yet, with both McCallum and Joel Miller sneaking goals to keep the underdogs in touch at half time, Casey entering the main break up by 32.
For Frankston, Mark Baguley and Luke Potts were busy as ever through the midfield while Jetta was everywhere for the Scorpions, combining well with Michael Stockdale and nifty goalsneak Kelvin Lawrence.
Former Collingwood rookie Toby Thoolen did a sterling job for Frankston in defence, keeping big-name Scorpions recruit Brendan Fevola in check while taking the hanger of the day late in the third quarter.
Casey maintained their intensity throughout the third quarter, capitalising on both their own hard work and Frankston’s mistakes, kicking four goals to one for the term, Bate leading the way with two.
At the three quarter time huddle, Scorpions coach Brad Gotch told his team to “make a statement” in the final quarter and they certainly did, piling on seven goals to two in the final term.
While Frankston were competitive in the packs and had a significant amount of possession, their ball use was left wanting and Casey punished them viciously around the ground.
Bate coolly slotted two goals for the quarter, taking his tally to six and confirming his best on ground status while Fevola had several shots on goal, registering his first goal for the Scorpions in the final term to finish with 1.3 for the day.
The Scorpions theme song rang out as Michael Newton registered a behind with the final kick of the game, Casey running out 76 point winners.
This week Frankston head to TEAC Oval to take on the undefeated Port Melbourne, while Casey travel to Preston for a similarly tough assignment against the Northern Bullants, fresh off their Foxtel Cup belting of Greater Western Sydney.
Last Modified on 02/05/2011 00:45