Scorpions miss finals chance

By Cam Scott
ONE poor quarter of football has ended the Scorpions’ chances of featuring in this year’s VFL finals.
In a must-win game against the Box Hill Hawks at the Box Hill City Oval last Sunday, the Scorpions outscored the Hawks in every term except the third, when they were blown away by an eight-goal barrage by the rampaging Hawks.
Led by captain Clinton Alleway, who kicked three third-quarter goals and took the mark of the day, the Hawks grabbed a 32-point break on the Scorpions at the last change, which proved to be insurmountable in a wet last quarter.
The Scorpions were efficient on the scoreboard early, taking small leads into the second and third terms, but an early injury to dominant ruckman Ashley Eames forced him to leave the ground permanently just before half-time.
After half-time, the Hawks dominated the centre clearances through ruckman Brendan Rinaldi, Cam Howat and John Holmes, continually pumping the ball long and fast inside the forward 50 metres and allowing Alleway to capitalise. The Scorpions managed only two goals.
At the final change, Scorpions coach Peter Banfield implored his players to run, take chances and come out of their shells to win the quarter.
“We’re not going to die wondering now,” he said.
The Scorpions refused to give in, attacking the goals relentlessly in the last term, but misguided shots at goal and at times a lack of vision upfield cost them and the Hawks hung on for a hard-fought 15-point victory, 12.13.85 to 10.10.70.
In a sombre and dejected Scorpions changeroom after the match, attention turned towards this Sunday’s historical clash with Port Melbourne, the last match at traditional home ground Newcomen Road before the side moves to Casey Fields.
In an ironic twist, the two sides faced off in round 15 of 2003, then touted as the last ever VFL match at the ground, before the Scorpions moved back there this year.
On that occasion, Stephen Milne kicked eight goals for the Scorpions, Aaron Davey kicked four goals for the Borough and the scores were tied at the end of every quarter except the second, the match ending in a 110-point draw.