Alex Silvagni Silvagni rediscovers his passion By Marc McGowan Casey Scorpions defender Alex Silvagni’s first experience with AFL recruiters at the end of 2006 saw him lose his hunger for the sport for an entire year. But the promising 20-year-old hopes his next taste will be much sweeter. Silvagni is enjoying a spectacular start to the Victorian Football League (VFL) season that has already seen him claim the scalps of AFL-listed prospects Mitch Thorp, Jay Neagle and Chris Dawes. The 192-centimetre Pakenham resident has formed a fearsome partnership with fellow backman James Wall. This combination has been a major factor in the Scorpions conceding the fewest points in the competition through the first seven rounds. In Silvagni’s previous two seasons at Casey he spent time at both ends of the ground and even pinch hit in the ruck. "I didn’t mind going up forward, but I prefer staying down back and adjusting to that role and improving," he said. "When you’re playing different positions, you have to adjust to them all and go through routines, but I’m suited to the backline." Silvagni played most of his junior footy for Haileybury College, winning a premiership in his final year at school in 2005. Then after a promising debut in the VFL the following year – highlighted by selection in the VFL’s under-23 team – he attended an AFL state screening session. Essendon, Hawthorn and Carlton all showed interest, but ultimately Silvagni was overlooked in the national, pre-season and rookie drafts. More Marc McGowan/BerwickNews/22May08 G-Train and Tassie's Brennan Savage - Round 5 Source: Superfooty - Picture: James Kerr SCORPIONS SENIORS FIXTURE 2008 RD Date Opponent Venue pm 7 Sat May 17 Coll CaseyF H 1:10 8 Sat May 24 PortMelb TEAC A 2:00 9 Sun Jun 08 Geel CaseyF H 2:00 10 Sat Jun 14 Sandy CaseyF H 1:10 11 Sun Jun 22 CobTgrs ABDGpStd A 2:00 12 Sun Jun 29 BendBmb CaseyF H 2:00 13 Sun Jul 06 Willy Burnbnk A 2:00 14 Sat Jul 12 Tassie CaseyF H 2:00 15 Sun Jul 20 Werrib Bartercd A 2:00 16 Sat Aug 02 BHHawks BxHillCity A 2:00 17 Sun Aug 10 NthBallt CaseyF H 2:00 18 Sun Aug 17 Franks Franks A 2:00 19 Sat Aug 23 CobTgrs CCaseyF H 2:00 20 Sat Aug 30 Coll MCLabPk A 2:00 ABC TV - Rd 7 vs Coll, Rd10 vs Sandy Funding Boost for VFL and the Scorpions! VFL clubs were winners recently, when the State Goverment announced its 2008-09 budget last week with the competitions home grounds recieving a $10million boost! This is fantastic news for VFL clubs and will no doubt re-affirm the VFL as the best state league in the land with facilities to back it up. James Merlino, Minister of Sport and Recreation announced the package, and the Casey Scorpions will benefit with a $538 000 grant to help improve already imposing facilities. ... The grant will provide the Scorpions with a new grandstand on the opposite side to the current one, and will provide the Scorpion supporters with a first class area to enjoy the day at the football. The grandstand will consist of a large undercover seated and standing area as well as food, bar and toilet facilities on the out wing. More scorpions.com.au Dee-Day looms at Casey Fields A Deal that will commit the City of Casey to partly fund a multi-million dollar development for the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) at Casey Fields appears imminent. Serious headway has been made on the agreement between the AFL club and Casey this week, with two separate meetings held to discuss the proposal. The MFC board of directors and partners attended a ratepayer funded dinner in the function room at Casey Fields in Cranbourne on Monday night. All 11 councillors, along with their partners, were invited to attend. Several senior Casey officers, including Casey CEO Mike Tyler, also took part in the event. A day later Casey councillors were presented with confidential documents outlining the bold deal, which will result in the MFC using Casey Fields as its summer training base as soon as October this year. It is believed MFC officials have also made an audacious bid to acquire ownership of a large portion of land at Casey Fields as part of the deal. A Casey source said a major extension to the Casey Fields pavilion, as well as the sealing of a car park, would form part of the agreement. Casey management has been outspoken in its quest to attract a professional sporting club to the municipality. Attempts to lure St Kilda and North Melbourne football clubs to Casey were unsuccessful. More Callan Date/BerwickNews/08May08

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Round 8

Scorpions left kicking themselves
It was a test of depth, and the result suggests the Casey Scorpions failed it. But Saturday's loss to Port Melbourne wasn't all done to a weakened line-up. With St Kilda opting to take three "spares" Andrew McQualter, Matt Ferguson and Ben McEvoy to Brisbane on Sunday, the Scorpions were left with only eight Saints for Saturday's Round 8 clash at TEAC Oval. As it was St Kilda didn't require the trio, which would have significantly strengthened the Scorpions. That said, they had a lot of the ball, but drowned in a sea of mistakes. Their kicking for goal was particularly poor. They had 2. 10 on the board at half-time, and club great Denis Knight, down from Queensland for the weekend, opined that four of the misses should have been kicked at this level. The Scorpions also gifted Port a handful of goals, most notably in the third quarter when Jimmy Taylor turned the ball over, allowing Adrian Bonaddio to kick one of his five goals. Still, Casey was well in the game in the last quarter. Alex Silvagni, who'd battled not only a stomach bug but powerful Port forward Bonaddio, went forward to kick a goal and put the Scorpions within five points.Port responded with a burst of goals that buried the visitors, two from little Jonno Mullins as he broke free from Taylor. The inside 50s told a story: Casey had 53 and Port 50. But Casey had no dominating forward. Jarryd Allan, always a good target, was used as a key defender, at the request of St Kilda. That meant James Wall, who has sparkled at centre half back this season, played in the forward line, where he did little damage.With St Kilda withdrawing McEvoy on Saturday morning, Casey had to pull Ben McDonald out of the reserves.
Saintsational match reports
By 'spiral2'
Caught a quarter and a bit of the game (end of 1st and all of 2nd). Port playing better footy, scorps = turnover crazy. Port cleaner and smarter. Even still scorps doing alright in ground ball scraps and creating opportunities. None of the saints listed players were doing all that great.
Allen - playing down back, wasn't doing very well. not a lot of intensity
Gwilt - in the centre and forward a bit. looked better on ball, used his strength in close to get through traffic. kicking good
Howard - can do good things but just seems to run around pointlessly half the time, looks to lack intensity and purpose at times. almost kicked a very good goal. skills by foot are good.
Armo - playing tough but not getting much footy
Gardiner - some clever touches and body work
Rix - tried but didn't achieve much
Steven - scooting around and trying but not much happened for him
Bakes - on and off the bench. didn't look 100% to me, seemed slowish. knee heavily strapped
no Ferg or Mini
McEvoy in civies. Goose in moonboot. Gilbo watching.
Wall doing well for casey up forward.
... From the bit I saw Howard was down back and middle/wing? a bit. Seemed to be doing a bit of tagging at one point. hard to figure out quite what he was doing. maybe the coach was throwing him around, not sure.

By 'iceman'
McEvoy is apparently flying up to Brissy as King has a suspect calf, he may still be right though.
So Jones Geary Ferg all made the trip, took 3 emergencies inc. McEvoy, left the Scorpions with 8 AFL listed players and 14 VFL listed, we should have won the game, Wall started Forward, and Allen Started back which proved costly as both struggled a bit, Allen more so than Wall, and the disposal of the Scorps was terrible. Should have won, but thats footy.

By 'saintspremiers'
I saw the second half. At the 22 minute mark of the last term, we kicked a goal to be only 5 points down, had all the run, were kicking with the sun, rather than directly into it as Port were, had the umpires (those Port fans are feral, like the Filth!!!). For some reason, the Scorps stopped dead, and Port kicked 3 goals in 3 minutes to run out easy winners.
Gwilt kicked a lovely running goal from about fifty in the last term and did some good running work also, but overall, way too many turnovers and basic stupid footy.
TEAC Oval though is top nick, and was a lovely place to spend the afternoon with the kiddies running amuck on the grass.

Round 7

Scorpions over the line in wet
The Casey Scorpions (10.11.71) defeated Collingwood in extremely wet conditions (3.10.28) at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Casey has played a good brand of football and lost only one game this year, so they were confident of doing well against a Collingwood outfit that has struggled against all opposition in the competition this year. Both teams struggled to do anything meaningful with the football as wet and windy conditions wreaked havoc, but the Scorpions kicked five goals to one to set up a comfortable last quarter victory. Scorpions coach Greg Hutchison was happy to get a win in the wet conditions. "Today was a fantastic effort by the boys, the conditions were really difficult and I thought they handled it very well," he told ABC TV. "I thought our first quarter set it up for us and it was a fantastic result by us." Chris Dunne kicked three goals and Clinton Jones was best with 25 disposals for the Scorpions. Scorps vs Collingwood
Scorpions with too much sting for Pies
The Casey Scorpions have continued their impressive early-season form this afternoon with a comfortable 43-point victory over Collingwood in difficult conditions at Casey Fields. In the face of strong winds and near-freezing temperatures, the Scorpions put a low-scoring first half behind them to boot six goals to two in the second, running out winners 10.11.71 to 3.10.28. Casey were particularly effective kicking with the wind in the last, 5 goals in a previously tight match an outstanding effort, three to Matthew Dunne ensuring he was one of only two multiple goal-scorers of the day. The victory was set up by brilliant performances from Clinton Jones and Michael Rix, both of whom revelled in the trying conditions, putting their bodies on the line to inspire their team. Best-on-ground Jones in particular was hard at the ball all day, ending the match with his head heavily bandaged following a clash in the third term ... Rix was the standout in the term for the Scorpions, displaying his courage on several occasions and earning a free kick and goal, while Steven made it four for the quarter with another late major, an 18-point half-time lead very handy given the nature of the match. The teams managed just a goal apiece in the third as the weather set in, conditions worsening as the rain and wind intensified. But Casey put it out of their minds in the last, playing dry-weather football to run out easy winners.
Saintsational match reports
By 'Mr Magic'
Half time stats show we have had just under 50% more disposals than Collingwood - 151 to 107.
Commentators, Peter Donnegan and Andrew Thompson (our Board member) analysing the game.
Fiora had a lot of the ball but had done a number of things that a 'senior player' shouldn't do - like dropping marks.
CJ playing very well and Thommo mentioned that there have been questions about his skills but today, in these conditions his skills by either hand or foot have been excellent.

McEvoy rucking the whole of the third qtr - against the wind.
Rix playing a permanent FP - taking marks and looking ok
Howard HBF - flashing in and out
Ferg - HBF - doing ok
Jones - on the ball - our best so far
Allen - chf - not doing much
Steven - hff/on the ball - getting some nice touches
Mini - hardly sighted this qtr
On the half I've seen on TV, MacEvoy is quite a long way away. He's getting resoundly beaten by the Collingwood ruckmen (no idea who they are but remember that Collingwood picked Bryan in the ruck last night and Carlton preferred Ackland to him!). Is trying very hard but these conditions are certainly not helping him much.

By 'Otiman'
CJ will play for the saints next week.
Gwilt looks like he would struggle under the pressure and pace of AFL, and does not seem to be a marking target, which is what we need across half forward.
Ferguson is also playing quite well, albeit down back. His effort and intensity puts some of the efforts last night to shame.

By 'saintsRrising'
Geary has been good...but not as good as Jones. Gwilt ... has been quiet ... but has not shone out. Has been ok though.
Howard has improved a lot since I last saw him ... Not saying is AFL level, but he has improved. Playing mainly asa HBF I think
I would say that McEvoy is good around the ground. Marks well, and gets disposal.For his age he looks good. But that his ruckwork is not good. This accords with the other games I have seen this year. I would not be rushing him into the seniors. (Kosi has his spot up forward and you could not play both in the one forward line) Madden needs to teach him how to ruck. Next time Gardi or King is injured ... give hima game then.

Well for a wet, windy and cold day what did we learn???
Jones was very good. If you want more run in the seniors...and some one who is hard at ... he would be worth an other go,
Geary was pretty good ... but our small/medium defenders were good ... and bakes is back too. however Geary looks likea player ... so I would like to see him gets some games.
McEvoy - looks very good around the ground. Needs to improve tapwork. He looks likely for our future.
Fiora - ok ... but really made too many clangers for someone of his experience. would prefer Jones and geary to him.
Ferg - was hard at it and thereabouts. Did not star ... but put his hand up fora HF spot. Not compelling though.
Allen - day did not suit him. He did some good things..but some casual play too. looked ok without looking good.
Steven - did not do a lot but did a bit. he just 'looks' like a player though. Would not play him in the seniors yet. But next year watch out

By 'maverick'
Jones - Scorps best 1 or 2, in and around all the packs, good midfielders game, just don't think he can make the step
Geary - played well, liked his game, just goes to ground too much
Mini - played well in patches, didn't dominate, pretty clean in possession, kicked a good opportunist goal, give him a go next week.
Allen - didn't do too much, tough game for forwards, promising though
Steven - didn't do too much, but what he did was good
Fiora - very quiet off half back
Gwilt - better first half, looks quality at this level with plenty of time, if only he could transfer it.
Rix - was tough all game, probably BOG, especially early, like Jones though
McEvoy - solid in the ruck, good up forward, took some nice marks, looks like he will be something very good, too early to play seniors for mine.
Ferguson - started up forward, provided plenty of pressure, moved down back to help the backline, was solid pretty much all day, did his chances no harm for mine, FOR A FORWARD SPOT

By 'mad saint guy'
McEvoy definitely the most impressive of the kids. His ruck work is ordinary even at VFL level, but around the ground he is excellent. He took 3 or 4 pack marks, got 16 disposals, used the ball well and looked good at ground level.
Geary was good. His effort is excellent and has good skills. Would be disappointed if he isn't brought in.
Steven didn't get a huge amount of the footy but when he's near the ball good things happen. Seems like he could walk into an AFL game and have an impact.
Allen was a bit disappointing. Didn't look very interested and struggled to get away from his opponent. Still should have ended up with 3 goals though.
Ferguson tries very hard but looks like a player who would struggle at AFL level. Doesn't have any strengths that would make him damaging in the seniors.
Jones and Rix as we know are excellent VFL players. I hope the coaching staff remember the quality of their AFL performances.
Gwilt and Fiora are both players who should be dominating VFL footy but just make a few too many simple errors. Neither were terrible though.
McQualter was solid, but not outstanding. Don't think he can hurts teams at AFL level.

By 'Solar'
only saw the final quarter but impressed by what I saw.
Gwilt looks too good for VFL level. Could play a wing position in an AFL team. Good hands in the wet when most others were fumbling.
Geary does good thing expected of an AFL standard player. Well worth pumping some games into this bloke, from next week onwards.
Bigmac is a booming kick and good contested mark. Good skills below his knees. Will have all this year to learn the rucking trade. Would be happy to see him as a back up ruck in 2009.
Howard is starting to impress, reading the ball better and using it well.
Fizz looks like he is struggling.
Allen is the type who will benefit from getting some game time in the level up. Can kick bags of goals so has form early in the season. Everyone needs to remember he is a second year player.
CJ is just at the bottom of packs and has the football smarts. Shame he is one sided and not great with the kicking skills. IF he could kick a goal he would be a monty.
On the scorps, it was good to see the captain back in and around the packs. Wall is continueing his good form at CHB and Sos is a great second back down there also. Dunn is going from strength to strength. He and garruba seem to be enjoying the extra responsibilities of midfield roles since the retirement of a bag of senior players last year.
I must say Casey is looking great, awesome tackling pressure and ball movement. Just shows what a little belief and confidence can do.

Round 6

Scorps lethal sting on Bullants
... Led by a seven-goal haul from St Kilda-listed Matthew Ferguson and a 32-possession best-afield performance by Clinton Jones, the Scorpions led by 25 points at quarter-time and by 76 at the main break. The Bullants kicked their first goal at the 26-minute mark of the second quarter. The Scorpions had 14 goalkickers, but it was Jones, Leigh Fisher (25 disposals) and St Kilda rookie Andrew McQualter (24 disposals) who led the midfield dominance. Ferguson was damaging as a deep forward with 14 kicks and seven handballs, Jason Blake was dominant around the ground with 26 possessions and Aaron Fiora had 22 touches in a variety of roles. Adam Iacobucci, with 27 disposals, tried hard for the Bullants, while youngster Joe Anderson also impressed. The win lifted Casey to third on the ladder, while the Bullants drop to 10th ... St Kilda-listed ruckman Ben McEvoy, who won the Murray Bushrangers' best-and-fairest last year, again put his hand up for senior selection with an eye-catching 14-possession display that impressed coach Greg Hutchison. "If he keeps playing like he did today, he's not going to be far away (from making his AFL debut)," Hutchison said. Hutchison was also impressed with Ferguson, playing in his new role as a leading forward. "He leads well, he's a good mark. He probably should have kicked another four or five because he missed some easy ones. I hope he gets the opportunity at AFL level again soon. If the door opens, he's going to be a chance," he said.
SS match report - Scorps/Bullants Snrs R6
I was at the game today, Ferguson was much more impressive down forward than Allen, Fergy did well in contested situations whereas Allen seemed to be struggling to get into the game ... McEvoy takes a nice grab and appears to be a good player, he seems to have a build similar to Josh Fraser so I don't see why he won't debut soon for the Saints ... Even big Rixy looked ok and he took some good marks in a contest and kicked ok, if only he could play like that in the AFL ...

L.Fisher wasn't bad, Geary looked ok, Howard doesn't look the player Steven is and Steven has a great build for a young lad, could step up this year as well if his commitments allow it ... Gwilt has a great kicking boot, I hope he can develop his game a bit more but i don't know how long they will persevere with him..

I went out to the huddle at quarter time and listened to Hutchison give his address, he singled out Fiora for his effort on Lappin in the first quarter and he told Fergy and Allen to present more, it turned out that Fergy got that message better than Allen. Has anyone seen Casey's physio, she is quite an attractive girl ... Teague struggled, I don't think the playing Coach role is working for the

... Ferguson stayed at Full Forward for most of the 2nd quarter but for the other quarters he seemed to roam between FF and the middle, I'm not sure if he moves further out when Allen goes off the ground and moves back when Allen comes back on, I didn't study it intensely. Rix played at FF or FP at times as well, when the 'Big Mac' was rucking

Bullants: Lappin seems to do a bit of coaching out there as well, mostly yelling at blokes to "MAN UP".
by 'bobmurray'

I only saw the first half but was very impressed with Ferguson in the forward line. Was flying for the mark everytime the ball came near him. Also missed a few set shots early on, so could have ended up with even more goals. As Cain Ackland was coming off the ground during the 2nd quarter he had a bit of a shove with 2 of the Casey players coming on. Must be frustrating playing for a side that at that stage didn't even have a major on the board. Got there just as the siren went to end the reserves & noticed the Eljay had an ice pack on his shoulder as they were walking off so not sure what he has done. All the coaching panel were there along with Archie Fraser.

Round 5

SS match report - Scorps/Tassie
Just a quick report from the game ... Raph was clearly scorps best player, chf for the first three qtrs ... into the middle for the last quarter ... Fiora did a few things in the second half ... Fraze tried but couldn't get into the game ... and CJ really can't kick ... Mcevoy looks like he will be a player, was good in the ruck ...
... I didnt notice Mini huge amounts ... to be truthful Tassie gave Casey a bit of a bath in the middle for a fair bit of the game, well, until Raph moved in there in the last. There was more than potential in todays game from Raph ... he gave off about five passes in the first half to a player who then kicked a goal. If players around Raph can clear him some space he will produce the goods ... I am a big fan after yesterdays performance.
Scorps go down to Tassie
... It was the Scorpions who started the match better. At one stage, the visitors opened up a 24-point lead in the first term kicking with a helpful breeze. From there, the Devils turned the game on its head with their pressure all over the ground, soundly winning the contested possessions and stoppages. The Devils kicked eight of the next 10 goals to turn the deficit into an 11-point half-time lead. Small forward James Charlesworth was the spark up forward with his tackling, harassing and ability to bring teammates into the play, while Cameron Thurley (27 possessions) played the quarterback role from defence and Nathan Street dominated the midfield. Returning to the team, fullback Brennan Savage blanketed St Kilda goliath Fraser Gehrig, keeping him goalless, while Aaron Cornelius was isolated forward and booted four goals. "The momentum swung a little bit and if we were able to nail a couple of goals we could have been a bit of a chance," Casey coach Greg Hutchison said. "To their credit, the Devils played pretty good footy. We made lots of mistakes, they used the ball a bit better than us and rolled their blokes back off the contest and got some good counterattack going." After Street kicked the first of the last quarter and his third for the game -- just one of 37 touches -- the sides traded goals as the Devils held on for a deserved victory and the Alec Campbell Cup.
Raphael Clarke picked up the medal for the Scorpions.
Savage Devils derail the G-Train
After being dropped from the seniors last round and rested from the VFL, Gehrig, 32, played his first game for Casey but it would not have been the return to form the St Kilda match committee was looking for. He had seven kicks, two marks and five handballs for the day, and was benched twice, with his sole shot on goal coming from a chase and tackle. Gehrig was rewarded with a free for the effort from which he played on and wheeled onto his left foot in customary fashion, only to miss the goal. The 195cm, 104kg forward did have three goal assists, but was held goalless by Devils full-back Brennan Savage. Casey coach Greg Hutchison said while he had hoped the G-Train would have delivered a few more goals, he was not disappointed with his effort.
Tassie sharpens axe for Scorps meeting
The Devils are going to eject some free-loading passengers for the Anzac Day clash against Casey on Friday, coach Daryn Cresswell said yesterday ... Cresswell said the axe would fall first on the Devils' forward line, which struggled to supply any avenue to goal on Saturday. Leading forward Alex Gilmour heads the Devils' goalkickers with 10, followed by Luke Shackleton and James Charlesworth, both on six ... St Kilda-aligned Casey had a 41-point win over Bendigo on Sunday, giving the Scorpions only five days' recovery before Friday's game. Cresswell said he was unsure if Casey would include St Kilda forward Fraser Gehrig, who was dropped from the Saints' side last round and was also rested from VFL action. "We've got a few options up our sleeve to play on him if he does," he said. "He is a class player, so knowing my luck he will probably play."