By JARROD POTTER
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 14
IT TOOK everything they had, but a dying-seconds kick allowed Casey Scorpions to finally prevail over the dogged Bendigo Gold.
Beaconsfield champion Austinn Jones has his Bendigo battlers geared up for their last match against Casey as a VFL team and the Gold shone brightly.
Former Morrish Medallist Jackson Sketcher and Beaconsfield Eagles alumnus Jake Aarts both toiled across Queen Elizabeth Oval for Bendigo to keep the Gold ahead leading into the final change.
Bendigo led for most of the match and looked en route to claim its first VFL victory in its two year history as a standalone team.
Gold forward Che Walls could have iced the game for Bendigo, but a couple of sprayed shots allowed the Scorpions to fight back into the match.
It came down to the last few minutes as Garfield hard-nut Eddie Morris drilled his second goal of the final term. His match-winning kick came from a hard-ball get under a scrum to snap the winner in the 30th minute as Casey scraped home for a two-point win.
Putting his hand up for AFL senior list elevation next year – James Harmes starred through the centre to earn his first best on ground performance.
Evan Panozza showed why he’s the Casey captain – defending strongly in his usual manner – while Max Gawn, Mitch Clisby and Viv Michie all impressed.
Casey currently sits 13th and faces Frankston at home on Saturday.
VFL SCOREBOARD
BENDIGO GOLD 3.5 6.6 10.9 12.12 (84)
CASEY SCORPIONS 4.3 5.8 8.13 12.14 (86)
Bendigo Goals: A. Pollock 2, C. Walls 2, T. Downie 2, M. Farrelly, S. Stroobants, J. Aarts, A. Magin, J. Redfern, D. Toman. Best: D. Toman, A. Magin, C. Walls, B. Hayes, J. Redfern, T. Downie.
Casey Goals: D. Barry 3, E. Morris 2, J. Fitzpatrick 2, S. Blease 2, M. Gawn, J. Strauss, V. Michie. Best: J. Harmes, V. Michie, E. Morris, M. Gawn, M. Clisby, J. Strauss.
