VFL preview for season 2010

By Paul Pickering
A FORTNIGHT ago, Casey Scorpions coach Brad Gotch had every right to be buoyant about his side’s prospects for the 2010 VFL season.
Everything seemed to have fallen into place since his appointment last October.
Casey and AFL affiliate Melbourne had both recruited well over the off-season and the Scorpions had just humbled 2009 grand finalists, the Northern Bullants, in an ultra-impressive practice match hit-out.
And one of Casey’s favourite sons, star defender Alex Silvagni, was about to make his AFL debut with Fremantle.
Then disaster struck, with the Scorpions’ captain and arguably best player Kyle Matthews being assaulted outside a Hawthorn pub on Sunday 28 March.
Matthews, who was knocked out and hit his head on the pavement after a fight continued outside the venue, was recovering slowly at The Alfred hospital this week.
His family, teammates and new coach remain unsure as to when he will return to full health, let alone the footy field.
Gotch is also unsure how the Scorpions will react to Matthews’ absence when they take on Geelong in Saturday night’s season opener at Casey Fields.
“It’s a bit of an unknown at the moment, because you just don’t know how emotionally drained they are,” he said.
“But he’s such an inspiring captain in the way that he plays, so we’re certainly going to miss him.
“They do play for each other here (at Casey), so I’m just hoping that everyone else will pick up the slack and be inspired by Kyle.”
Vice-captain and reigning best-and-fairest winner James Wall will be the acting skipper on Saturday night, following a stellar season in which he earned VFL Team of the Year honours.
Which brings us to the good news.
Despite losing Silvagni to the AFL and emerging key defender Peter Faulks to Williamstown, the Scorpions should be a deeper and more potent outfit than the group that Peter German took to an elimination final last year.
Much is expected of ex-Geelong draftee Scott Simpson, whose first crack at the big league was cut short by a serious ankle injury last season. The athletic key forward returned to full training last week and could play in the reserves as early as round two.
And 19-year-old Luke McDonald looks a ready-made target, having booted more goals than any other player in the TAC Cup last season.
Meanwhile, former Collingwood rookie-lister Danny Nicholls will add some pace and polish in a midfield/forward role. His practice match form has been ominous.
The Scorpions made light work of their clashes with the Bullants and Frankston, before being overrun by a near full-strength Bendigo Bombers outfit in their final tune-up against VFL opposition.
Gotch says it has been a constructive off-season, both on and off the track.
“I’ve been impressed with the quality of recruiting, and I’m pretty happy with our build-up, too,” he said.
“We’ve got some exciting prospects (up forward), and some real talent and depth in those key positions.
“We seem to have been able to cover the losses of Faulks and Silvagni, because Tim Mohr has stepped up at centre half-back, (Evan) Panozza is reliable anyway, and Melbourne has provided us with (Tom) McNamara, (Kyle) Cheney and (Colin) Garland.”
Gotch admits that Matthews’ absence could cause some concerns in the middle, where the rate of development of Melbourne-listed players will be crucial.
The lack of synergy within the Casey-Melbourne alliance was the talking point after the depleted Scorpions bowed out of the finals with a 115-point loss to Collingwood last September, but Gotch is confident that 2010 will be a different story.
“I think Peter (German) and I are similar in our philosophies and the way we coach, but I’ve tried to keep our game style and the way we set up a bit closer to what Melbourne are doing,” he said.
“It just makes it easier when there isn’t a dramatic difference.”
Gotch believes his Scorpions will improve, but says his experience with the AFL-VFL alignment structure has taught him not to look too far ahead.
“I always just set the target of making the eight. Then we’ll review how we’re going as (the finals series) goes along,” he said.
Casey hosts Geelong under lights from 7pm this Saturday.