By JARROD POTTER
VFL – ROUND 8
EDGING its way into the VFL top eight, Casey overcame a fast-starting Collingwood to book back-to-back wins.
Still in a peaceful slumber after coming off the bye, a woeful opening term left the Scorpions three goals down and staring up at a huge mountain to climb as Collingwood booted ahead through Jack Blair and Corey Gault (two goals each).
After a quarter-time charge up, the Scorpions awoke to slam on four goals and steal back the lead, which would be the trend of the day between the sides.
Eddie Morris drilled a crucial goal after the three-quarter time siren to keep Scorpion hopes alive heading into the last term.
It came down to the wire in the final term as Casey came home with a wet sail.
Rohan Bail proved the miracle-maker as he snapped a crumbing goal to pinch back the lead and Casey managed to hold on in front of the home crowd to take the four-point victory.
“They probably just got a bit of a jump on us,” Casey coach Justin Plapp said. “We didn’t panic – we just felt they got a couple of lucky goals early and we just had to stick to what we had to do.
Lucky enough and to their credit they stuck at it, and it came down to the last minute of the game to win it – it was a really tough, gritty, mature win and we were pleased with the outcome and getting the points.
Came off the foot of Rohan Bail – crumbing goal snap and put us in front, so it was a good result.
Dom Tyson excelled in his inaugural VFL match, snaring 33 disposals and marshalling the troops through the midfield.
Also putting his name up in bright lights for Melbourne selection was new recruit Alex Neale-Bullen, who had the ball on a string for 35 possessions while Morris showed he’s up to standard with a 25 possession master class through the midfield, resulting in two goals.
“Alex is one of our first year kids – taken reasonably high in the draft – and he’s a tough, inside mid and shows really good composure and plays above his years that’s for sure,” Plapp said.
“We were really happy with his progression and performance.”
Plapp also praised his defensive trio – with captain Evan Panozza, Jack Hutchins and James Munro holding down the fort to negate the Maggies’ advances.
The win keeps Casey within striking distance of the top four and sneaks the Scorpions back into the VFL top eight before a pair of tough clashes against Coburg and North Ballarat.
“The next two weeks we have Coburg and North Ballarat – Coburg had a good win yesterday (Monday) and we know what we’ll get with them they play a pretty tough brand of footy, but we see this as any other game, just need to play our brand of footy and start a bit better.”
Casey hosts Coburg on Saturday from 2pm.
CASEY SCORPIONS 1.2 5.8 7.8 10.12 (72)
COLLINGWOOD 4.4 5.6 8.13 9.14 (68)
CASEY Goals: E. Morris 2, R. Bail 2, T. Muir, V. Michie, J. Moncrieff, N. Page, S. Byrnes, M. Jamar. Best: A. Neal-Bullen, D. Tyson, E. Morris, V. Michie, B. Stretch, M. Jamar.
COLLINGWOOD goals: J. Blair 2, C. Gault 2, B. Monkhorst, M. Cox, N. Gray, M. Goodyear, M. Still.
Best: J. Williams, P. Karnezis, L. Wallace, B. Reid, J. Marsh, S. Dwyer.
