Scorpions rue Roosters’ rout

By Marc McGowan
THE Casey Scorpions are still yet to register consecutive wins this season after suffering a 14-point loss to the North Ballarat Roosters at Austar Area in Ballarat on Saturday.
Chasing their third victory for 2007, the Scorpions were dealt a blow during the week when St Kilda announced that Barry Brooks, David Armitage and Shane Birss were going to be rested during the AFL’s split round.
It robbed Casey of three of its best performers, but it was given some respite with the inclusion of veteran Andrew Thompson (47 possessions), who was returning from a knee injury and talented youngster Raphael Clarke (29).
The Scorpions also had the added motivation of having been defeated by 45 points in round one by the Roosters.
Unfortunately, the incentive was not enough, as North Ballarat relentlessly won the ball out of the centre in the first quarter on its way to a seven-goal-to-zero term aided by the ground’s trademark blustery conditions.
Casey’s youthful exuberance has been a strength for the side and so it proved again as Steven O’Bryan, Daniel Frost and debutant Adam Parker set about bringing their team back into the contest.
Skipper Nigel Carmody’s form-surge continued too, and with the Scorpions’ Saints-listed players picking up their performances, Casey came roaring back.
Another lopsided stanza ensued, but this time in the Scorpions’ favour and by the time the half-time siren blew, the margin was back to 11 points, following a stunning eight-goal period by Casey.
Whether the wind had dissipated or both squads had realised the importance of the clash, the encounter suddenly became a dogfight and there was to be none of the one-sided dominance that was a feature of the opening two quarters.
If anything, the Scorpions were on top, but a bevy of missed opportunities in front of goal meant they only cut the deficit by a further two points by three-quarter-time.
Holding a slender nine-point buffer, the Roosters were forced into defensive mode again in the first half of the final term as Casey charged for home.
North Ballarat captain Shaune Moloney’s switch to the forward line was paying dividends, but the Scorpions were still in control – if not in front.
But the pivotal moment came when Justin Sweeney, who already had four goals, had a set shot 15 metres out, with the chance to give Casey the lead.
An inexcusable miss by the St Kilda prospect was just the impetus North Ballarat required to kick into gear and the match was played on the Roosters’ terms from then on as they ran out winners.
The loss left Casey coach Peter Banfield ruing another wasteful performance.
“I could honestly say I don’t know how we lost the game,” he said.
“If we’d kicked straight in the third quarter and in the first 10 to 12 minutes of the last quarter, we could have put them away.
“Two of our guys had set shots at goal inside 50 that they missed and we gave two free kicks away in the goalsquare.”
The rollercoaster nature of the VFL season also has Banfield frustrated.
“We should have beaten Coburg (as well) and I said to the players after the game that we need to win those sort of games,” he said.
“We beat Port Melbourne last week and then they came out and beat Werribee (who beat the Scorpions by 73 points in round eight) by 80. How do you draw a line through that?”
Casey now faces a vital match-up with the eighth-placed Bendigo Bombers at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo at 2pm on Sunday to remain in touch with the other finals’ aspirants.
“I just want to get up there and play well. There are still 10 rounds to go and we can still get on a roll,” Banfield said.