From left, former captain and four-time best and fairest Steve Harrison, last year’s best and fairest David Biagi and Kangaroos recruit Troy Makepeace will be three of the keys to the Casey Scorpions’ success in 2007.By Marc McGowan
IMPROVEMENT will be the name of the game when the Casey Scorpions begin their Victorian Football League (VFL) campaign on the weekend.
Head coach Peter Banfield, who is in his third year at the helm, has not predicted a top-eight finish, but hopes his young squad can continue to move in the right direction.
“I took over in 2005 when the seniors and reserves were on the bottom and we’ve made significant inroads,” he said.
“We had no young talent and our reserves hadn’t won a game for five or six years, but we’re starting to get a good group of young players in the club and it is going to take time to get back on the right track.”
The Scorpions finished 11th last season, four wins and percentage behind the eighth-placed Coburg Tigers, as it called Casey Fields home for the first time.
With a year at the region’s premier sporting facility behind it, Casey will look to establish itself as a force at home.
“We’re now in our second year there and are more used to it and comfortable with it. The players understand how the ground plays and the wind blows,” Banfield said.
“Any club that plays at home in our competition likes to have their own ground as a fortress that is as unbearable as possible and where visiting sides struggle.”
That pursuit can only be helped with several of its younger core entering their second year and he named 19-year-olds Ben Fraser, Brad Scalzo and Steven O’Bryan, along with 20-year-old Chris Dunne as players to watch.
“We were the youngest team in the competition last year and had the highest number of first-game players of any VFL club,” Banfield said.
“I have no doubt that the players will develop a lot more this year.”
The Scorpions have also received a large injection of class with Kangaroos discard Troy Makepeace and former rookie-listed Swan Stefan Garrubba the best of the additions.
Makepeace, 28, will double as an assistant coach and is expected to be a dominant member of the side.
“His input is going to be invaluable. He is a great example to the young players just with how he goes about it and prepares himself,” Banfield said.
“I just want him to be a good player for us. He’s a beautiful kick of the footy and has a real ability to read the game.”
Casey also continues to benefit from its relationship with TAC Cup side Gippsland Power with midfielder Ricky Delphine, key-position player/ruckman Nigel Benn and half-back/midfielder Jaymie Youle the latest to join.
Reliable club servant Nigel Carmody has taken over the captaincy reins from four-time best-and-fairest Steve Harrison and will be one of the keys to success, along with last season’s best-and-fairest David Biagi and wiry 21-year-old Kyle Mathews.
One promise Banfield has made is that his side will be exciting to watch.
“We’ve got a really good game style. We play fast, attractive, bold football. We just need to be a bit more consistent over the course of four quarters,” he said.
As always, the Scorpions’ fortunes will have much to do with its AFL-affiliate St Kilda’s health.
Saints expected to shine for Casey this season include 2006 first-round draft pick David Armitage and left-footed midfielder Clinton Jones.
“At the end of round five last year, we were in the top three, but then St Kilda had an enormous number of injuries,” Banfield said.
“We’ve been severely restricted by injuries and bad luck. If that happens to St Kilda that can weaken our own team, given we are playing against aligned clubs week-in and week-out.”
The Scorpions open their season against the North Ballarat Roosters at Casey Fields on Saturday at 2pm.
