By JARROD POTTER
VFL – ROUND 10
SUCCESS at the top level came at a cost for Casey this week – with a depleted Scorpions’ line-up beaten down by an AFL-list laden North Ballarat.
With some of Casey’s early season stars off and making their mark with Melbourne, knocking off Geelong by 20 points in one of the upsets of the decade – Max Gawn, Jake Spencer, Alex Neal-Bullen, Billy Stretch, Rohan Bail and Aidan Riley were some first-choice Scorpions who featured in Melbourne’s finest hour – it left the door open for the newer brigade to take up arms in their place.
Although the Scorpions were not without AFL options of their own – with Mark Jamar and Ben Newton guiding the midfield – a lot of fresh faces took the field in an attempt to keep the Scorpions inside the VFL top eight.
While the Roosters’ lead threatened to balloon out beyond 30 points, Casey stuck fast in the contest, but couldn’t strike its way ahead in the crunch moments as the Roosters crowed over the visitors in the low-scoring affair.
“I think it’s always a challenging trip to go to Ballarat – they’re coming off two pretty strong losses and I don’t think we respected the opposition as much as we should’ve,” Casey coach Justin Plapp said.
“The second half was a reflection of their hard work but it was our inability to compete and do it in the manner that we have over the last month and a half.”
Plapp praised Jamar in the ruck while Tim Smith, Mitch Gent and James Harmes – leading possession getter with 28 – also stood out to the Scorpions’ coach.
Jay Kennedy-Harris (2 goals) put his hand up for AFL selection again as he relished the contest while Jack Fitzpatrick and Shannon Byrnes showed their class when it counted.
Gippsland Power/Ellinbank hard-nut Nate Paredes earned his first senior match of the season while another ex-Gippy lad Paul Pattison has also stepped up to the next level.
Former Narre Warren midfielder Ryan Bastinac starred for the Roosters as he looks to battle his way back into the North Melbourne first 22.
Casey sits eighth currently with a bye this weekend before hosting Geelong on 4 July.
VFL
NORTH BALLARAT 3.0 6.2 10.2 11.2 (68)
CASEY SCORPIONS 2.5 3.6 5.10 6.12 (48)
North Ballarat Goals: A. Hooper 3, A. Black, J. Bacon, L. George, B. McKenzie, M. Sewell, R. Marshall, J. Tsitas, N. Rippon. Best: R. Bastinac, N. Rippon, L. Kiel, T. Lockyer, A. Hooper, A. Black.
Casey Goals: J. Kennedy-Harris 2, J. Hutchins, M. King, T. Smith, E. Morris. Best: T. Smith, J. Kennedy-Harris, J. Fitzpatrick, S. Byrnes, B. Rutherford, M. Jamar.
