Matthews key in pivotal year

Casey Scorpions coach Peter German was impressed with his players’ performances in last week’s intra-club match at Casey Fields. 24318 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Marc McGowan
SECOND-YEAR skipper Kyle Matthews is set for a full-time return to the midfield under new Casey Scorpions coach Peter German this season.
The two-time VFL team of the year recipient spent much of last season across half-forward after an interrupted pre-season.
But German said Matthews would be a pivotal member of his midfield brigade in 2009.
“I think that last year a lot of the (Casey) players were pushed out of the midfield because of the St Kilda alignment,” German said.
“I see it as important that we have Melbourne players who will play in there, but we need to get some Casey players as well who are capable of playing through the midfield and Kyle is one of them.
“He’s one of our key players and leaders and one of our most experienced players even though he’s young.
“He has had a good pre-season and that’s all you can ask from anyone.”
The Scorpions played an intra-club match at Casey Fields last Thursday night and German was impressed with Sydney recruit Peter Faulks, who played down back and up forward, left-footed on-baller Ben McCreadie and Frankston discard Brad Sykes.
“Sykes went to training at Frankston and they cut him before Christmas and he ended up coming to us,” German said.
“We think he’s a ripper and is going to be a really good player in time to come. He played really well and even impressed a couple of the Melbourne guys who played.
“We’re pretty buoyed by the fact that the newer-type players who’ve come into the squad will give us some good depth this year.”
Northern Territory livewire Pierce Liddle pulled on the boots just two days after arriving in Melbourne, but former De La Salle forward Matt Moore sat out with an ongoing back complaint.
Hastings midfielder Jason Kestle, who has been playing for Southern Districts in the Northern Territory Football League, is yet to decide whether he will play for Casey this year.
Melbourne-listed players Colin Sylvia, Shane Valenti, Trent Zomer, Jordan McKenzie and James Strauss also took part in the intra-club contest.
German said the first-year alignment between Casey and the Demons would be a work in progress.
“It’s the first year of the alignment with Melbourne and there’s always going to be those teething problems as far as a lack of knowledge of team-mates,” he said.
“They’re going to have to work through that for the first half of the year and the more we get those guys playing with us during the practice matches the better.”
The Scorpions play their first practice match against Box Hill at Casey Fields on Saturday from 2pm.