Part-time partners frustrate Scorpions

Marc McGowan says the the high profile partnership seems not to be as fruitful as hoped.
MELBOURNE Football Club officials made it clear when they aligned themselves with the Casey Scorpions that they wanted to establish the best partnership in the VFL.
Demons general manager of football operations Chris Connolly was at the forefront of the spruiking.
And everything seemed to be going along swimmingly until the last two VFL rounds.
Melbourne’s injury list grew beyond 20 and fewer and fewer of its players pulled on the boots for the Scorpions.
You can’t help injury or illness, but it seems that’s not the only reason players aren’t playing for Casey.
The Scorpions have had the use of just two – yes, two – AFL-listed players in each of their past two matches.
Communication between officials from both clubs also seems to be seriously lacking.
Casey coach Peter German has chosen not to comment on the issue after each of the club’s past two clashes, but is visibly frustrated with the number of Demons’ players at his disposal.
One high-ranking Scorpions’ official was heard saying ‘they’ll be hearing from me’, in reference to their AFL affiliate, after their round 17 loss to North Ballarat in Morwell.
Melbourne players Lynden Dunn, Clint Bartram and Brad Miller did not play in the AFL or the VFL last weekend despite not appearing on the Demons’ injury list last week or this week.
Dunn is believed to have not trained for Melbourne in its final training session last week, but there seems to be no feasible reason for the others’ absences.
Melbourne football manager Craig Notman did not return calls this week when I inquired about their status.
There is still one more home-and-away round for the Demons to show their commitment to their VFL partner.
But I won’t be holding my breath.