By JARROD POTTER
VFL – ROUND 4
WIND plagued Casey Scorpions again as the blustery Casey Fields arena played havoc in the Scorpions 35-point loss to Sandringham.
Under the bright lights and multi-camera set-up from the Channel 7 telecast, the Scorpions struggled to match pace with the faster Zebras through the midfield.
Imploring his charges at the first break to focus on their defensive efforts and impact the contest, Casey coach Justin Plapp’s words resonated with the Scorpions, which upped their intensity through the second term to rattle off goals through Matt Jones, livewire youth Tom Muir and Melbourne skipper Jack Grimes.
The run-and-carry of Jones and Muir were outstanding alongside Viv Michie – who is on the rollercoaster between taking one of Melbourne’s last spots and being one of Casey’s finest each week.
Casey’s performance in the second term – booting majors against the high winds – should have boded well for a second-half charge, but instead the Scorpions were dissected by the Zebras’ better attack on the footy.
Casey couldn’t halt Sandringham even with the wind as the Scorpions still trailed entering the final stanza and up against the gale-force Casey Fields zephyr.
Sandringham would boot away with four goals as the Zebras’ smalls Adam Cockie, Blake Acres, Ahmed Saad and former Berwick player Yilber Zijai bagged two goals apiece and ran riot once the ball came to ground.
“Little bit with the wind against us – couldn’t put enough scoreboard pressure on in that first quarter – where we kicked behinds,” Plapp said.
“From the rest of the game we were battling to stay in it.
“Didn’t start well… you can’t play 60 minutes of football and expect to win.
“From a contest point of view were already seeing the ball a lot and getting more numbers around the ball and better use inside 50 allowed us to try and hit the scoreboard early.”
Hopefully Grimes has put his Demons about playing elite football behind him, no pun intended, with an exceptional match through the midfield/half-back a sure sign of his return to the top flight, snaring 29 disposals, while Jones (29), Michie (29), Terlich (26) and McKenzie (22) showed the way in the 8.10 (58) to 13.15 (93) loss.
Plapp also hopes to regain injured AFL-experienced duo Jack Hutchins (hamstring) and Shannon Byrnes (foot) for a season-defining match this weekend against Port Melbourne on Saturday from 2pm.
VFL
CASEY SCORPIONS 0.3 3.5 7.8 8.10 (58)
SANDRINGHAM 1.2 7.6 9.8 13.15 (93)
Casey Goal Kickers: J. Harmes, T. Muir, M. Gawn, W. Petropoulos, O. McDonald, M. Gent, M. Jones, J. Grimes. Best: J. Grimes, V. Michie, T. Muir, M. Gawn, B. Rutherford, A. Neal-Bullen.
Sandringham Goals: A. Cockie 2, Y. Zijai 2, B. Acres 2, A. Saad 2, J. Saunders, E. Templeton, M. Hayes, S. Gilbert, M. Brown. Best: B. Acres, A. Cockie, T. Curren, T. Lee, H. Goddard, A. Saad.
