By Peter Sweeney
RYAN McGOUGH performed his first “great escape act” for the Casey Scorpions in the first game of 2010.
The Scorpions followed the Geelong Falcons to the ball – and on the scoreboard – for all but the last few seconds of the season opener under lights at Casey Fields on a Saturday night.
Then McGough – who repeated the act mid-season in Bendigo against the Bombers – found running space and more importantly, the big opening, and gave the Scorpions a win many said they didn’t deserve. And one which everybody believed was improbable.
The Scorpions had eight more scoring shots than the Falcons – yet won by just eight points – 9.18.72 to 9.10.64. They trailed at every change, by 12, 22 and seven points respectively.
The Scorpions kicked five points in the first and second quarters. Just two second term goals helped – before a last half of 7.8 was enough to give them a win.
“Yes, it was a tight one,” coach Bradley Gotch said yesterday. “We were most wasteful early in that game.
“Yes, Ryan really stood up a couple of times last year. He put us in front in the dying seconds against Geelong and Bendigo.”
Guess when, where and who, the Scorpions meet to start their 2011 campaign?
The Geelong Falcons at Casey Fields under lights this Saturday night. Could history repeat itself?
Gotch has spent much of this week studying the Geelong “talls”.
“I don’t think (Cameron) Ling and (Paul) Chapman will play. They should be promoted to the AFL team after how they played last weekend (against North Ballarat),” Gotch said.
“But we will wait and see on that. They (Geelong) have plenty of tall blokes who concern me.”
Another who has been concerning Gotch this week has been Brendan Fevola.
Arguably, little known to many football followers five minutes ago, the Casey Scorpions have been one of the most publicised clubs in the pre-season – all because of Fevola.
“Yes, he’s certainly gained the club some publicity,” Gotch said of Fevola’s short, sweet-sour time at Casey Fields.
Earlier this week, Fevola said he’s out if he’s not in the Scorpions side on Saturday night.
Earlier this week, Gotch said Fevola would be better off – fitness wise and respect wise – in the reserves for a few weeks.
Whether Fevola plays or not on Saturday night is anybody’s guess. He didn’t train on Tuesday night, but according to a club insider, “we’re still talking to him … and he’s talking to us.”
Actually, whether or not he is still at Casey come the weekend, is anybody’s guess.
But there’s no guessing that there will be a big crowd – with even bigger expectations – at the first game at Casey Fields.
Who knows, it may be another nail-biter. And that’s when Ryan McGough stands up.
