Mascot is a motivator

By Peter Sweeney
THIS little fella won’t make it to the big league like the big boys he admires so much…but ask any one of the Casey Scorpion players, and the lad motivates them like no other.
Berwick’s Brayden Ackers is a severe epileptic, suffering from uncontrollable seizures. Not even operations have fixed the 13-year-old’s condition.
However, one trip to the Royal Children’s Hospital in the city was well worth it.
It was when Brayden was visited by some Scorpions. A friendship developed and on Sunday, Brayden was not only a guest at the game – but he led the Scorpions out with their captain and his friend, James Wall.
“Brayden was so excited and the team (Scorpions) really looked after him,” mum Lyn Ackers said.
“James (Wall) is good to Brayden when he goes into the rooms.”
Out on the field, the Scorpions were 43 points too good for the Box Hill Hawks – on a day more suited to Eskimos.
There was just 10 points between the teams at the final change, before the Scorpions kicked five goals in the final stanza.
Box Hill only kicked three goals, none in the opening term and just one in each of the final three quarters.
Though pleased with the win, Casey coach Brad Gotch knows there is much room – and more importantly, there has to be should they wish to be more than eye-candy come September – in the Scorpions.
“We worked hard, very hard, on Sunday and are developing a bit of consistency,” Gotch said.
On Sunday, the Scorpions are at Frankston Park – which boasts a new grandstand built on the historic lines which the old one that was burnt to the ground two years had.
And though the Frankston Dolphins can only boast of one win in 2011, Gotch isn’t expecting a “gimme”.
“Their ground is much smaller, tighter than Casey Fields and we must get used to that,” Gotch said. And he may have to get used to a few player changes.
Melbourne, Casey’s AFL ‘dad’, play Port Adelaide in Darwin on Saturday night and the Dees will probably take a couple of travellers. That’s extra players, not booze.