By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 4
“YOU wonder why you’re not getting a game in the AFL – just look at that tape.”
Casey Scorpions coach Rohan Welsh pulled no punches when he addressed his charges after an insipid 58-point loss to Sandringham on Sunday.
Welsh labelled the Scorpions possession efficiency as the worst he had ever seen and the lack of effort to support team mates left him livid.
While Sandringham fought together as a 23-man team, Welsh saw his own unit as 23 individuals waiting for the easy ball.
Casey failed to gain any early traction against the Zebras – not even managing to affect the scoreboard in the first term.
A second-term goal to Jake Best was the first ray of hope for the Scorpions’ offence as it lurched to 1.5 (11) at half-time.
The Zebras had first use of the ball and weren’t fazed whenever they possessed it. Casey let Trent Dennis-Lane (3 goals) and Maverick Weller (2) get their own way up forward as did Sam Dunell (2).
Welsh had to deliver a three-quarter-time address to the Scorpions which you’d be surprised to hear at an under-9s huddle. Defensively, Welsh said, there needed to be accountability when Casey did not have the ball. These were extremely rudimentary concepts spoken to a group of professional footballers – that was the extent of Casey’s ineptitude.
There were some glimmers of talent peeking through the veil, but the Scorpions gave significant effort sporadically and ungenerously.
Some resilience was shown by captain Evan Panozza, Aiden Riley and Michael Evans while Best snagged two goals to be the only multiple goal-scorer for the club.
A bad day got even worse with James Harmes unable to play out the match after a knock to the ribcage left him with a punctured lung and Colin Garland leaving the match in the first term with a leg injury.
The 11th placed Scorpions will hope to bounce back when they host Werribee on Sunday from 2pm.
VFL
Casey Scorpions 0.0 1.5 3.7 5.9 (39)
Sandringham 3.4 7.5 13.7 14.13 (97)
CASEY SCORPIONS
Goals: J. Best 2, S. Blease, T. Davis, R. Ferraro. Best: J. McKenzie, D. Nicholson, M. Gawn, E. Panozza, A. Riley, M. Evans.
SANDRINGHAM
Goals: T. Dennis-Lane 3, M. Weller 2, S. Dunell 2, C. Banfield, D. Minchington, D. Markworth, B. Acres, M. Cook, B. Murdoch, T. Milera. Best: T. Simpkin, D. Markworth, D. Roberton, S. Dunell, A. Cockie, B. Acres.
