CAMPERDOWN coach Dan Casey will fight to keep his clean playing record intact after being reported in the Magpies’ 38-point win against Port Fairy on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Casey is maintaining his innocence after rejecting a one-match set penalty suspension offered to him following the 11.9 (75) to 4.13 (37) victory.
Casey, who had never been reported or sent off in a decorated playing career, suffered the fate in the second quarter of the Magpies’ win at Gardens Oval.
Last year’s league leading goalkicker miscued a set shot out of bounds on the full and was reportedly sledged by Port Fairy’s Jaydon Stiles. Casey was booked for allegedly striking Stiles.
The first-year coach is desperate to lead the Magpies in Saturday’s must-win clash against Hamilton Kangaroos at Leura Oval, with both sides just a game outside the five in sixth and seventh positions.
Casey is likely to face the tribunal on Wednesday night.
Magpies assistant coach Neville Swayn said the club was delighted to take the points after losing Casey under a yellow card and wingman David Young to a shoulder injury in a dramatic second term.
“The first quarter they (Port Fairy) had a fair bit of the play and Dan kicked a couple of goals late but the scoreboard probably flattered us at quarter-time,” he said.
After trailing by two points at quarter-time, the Magpies, a man down on the bench and one less on the ground, turned around the deficit to lead by a goal at half-time.
Swayn said his side’s ability to hold Port Fairy out but score under the circumstances was significant as both defences dominated.
The Magpies had a two-point lead at the last change but they broke the match open with some clinical centre clearance work to kick 6.3 to 0.3 in the final quarter.
“Our onballers were really good and our good players were really good,” Swayn said.
The Magpies forward set up that included three marking options — Casey, Jack Hickey and Liam Darcy — was pivotal, kicking nine of their 11 goals.
Young is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks with an A/C joint injury.
Port Fairy coach Sam Rudolph was disappointed with his side’s final term.
“I would say we had the majority of the momentum all day but we missed some crucial goals and a couple of undiscipline acts cost us,” he said.
“We gave away two goals through free kicks early in the last quarter.
“One was a ruck infringement and then a 50-metre penalty and then another ruck infringement.
“We were down by three goals and then they had the momentum.
“The third quarter we had all the play, had a few shots and just couldn’t kick goals.”
Rudolph said the Seagulls were keen to repeat their round seven win over third-placed North Warrnambool Eagles when they meet at Bushfield on Saturday.
“Obviously we are not going to make the finals this year but it’s about getting around the group and making sure the group is looking forward.
“You have to get something out of the year, there is no point giving up.
“We might change up a few things that haven’t been working.”
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au