From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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CASEY Scorpions stepped out of one top-eight logjam and into another with a tenacious 31-point win against arch-rival Sandringham at Casey Fields yesterday. The Scorpions now join North Ballarat and Port Melbourne on equal points locked for second place.

Only percentage separated third-placed Sandringham and fourth-placed Casey before yesterday\'s VFL match of the round, and for three quarters little separated the two clubs on the field.

With Sandringham goal-machine Nick Sautner still sidelined with injury and St Kilda half-forward Charlie Gardiner a late call-up to the senior side only hours before the bounce of the ball, the game looked likely to boil down to a battle of the back lines. Casey\'s young defence, headed by Alex Silvagni and James Wall, was ranked No. 1 in the VFL before yesterday\'s game, having conceded only 741 points during the first nine rounds.

From the Pakenham Cardinia Leader
Reported by Paul Amy

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CASEY Scorpions president John Sharkie says it is not a given that his club will strike an alignment deal with the City of Casey-bound Melbourne.

With St Kilda ditching the Scorpions last week to enter a five-year agreement with Sandringham, there is an expectation in VFL circles that Casey and the Demons will get together.

But Sharkie said it was not a fait accompli and that the Scorpions would be prepared to go it alone next season. He said he had already discussed with VFL bosses a financial assistance package if Casey went without an AFL affiliate.

Sharkie said Melbourne first had to find about $350,000 to seal a move to become a co-tenant at Casey Fields, and then commit to a joint community projects program. "Don\'t assume anything. It\'s not over the line by any stretch," Sharkie said. "We won\'t be rushed into anything. It all has to be done properly."

  Casey Scorpions

Sandringham

There were plenty of tipsters that again picked all seven winners.

Former Bendigo Bombers chairman Warren 'Chairman' Driscoll who is with the Bendigo Bombers as a players welfare officer picked seven winners but was nearest the aggregate score for the ABC match (North Ballarat 129 Frankston 93) total 222 points. Warren had 223 points which was one point off. Warren collects $30. He would have been proud of Bendigo's win at Box Hill in the traditional Queen's Birthday clash. Another $30 will go to the tipster that picks seven winners for Round 10. If more than one tipster picks seven, it will go to the tipster nearest the aggregate score for the ABC match between Casey v Sandringham. If no tipster picks seven it will jackpot to Round 11.

SALLY MILLER, DARREN TUDOR AND ZEBRA MAN SHARE AGGREGATE SCORE

Box Hill supporter Sally Miller had little to cheer with Box Hill losing again but had some consolation winning a share of the aggregate score by selecting 222 points. North Ballarat 139 to Frankston's 93 (total 222 points). Sally shares the aggregate score with John 'Zebra man' Lysaught who has been at Beach Road oval for many a year (well before the days of Bob Murray and Ian Cooper) as well as Bendigo Bomber fan Darren Tudor.

Each will collect $15 each.

The next aggregate score match will be the Round 11 clash between Tasmania v Werribee which will be played at Bellerive Oval.

PAUL SAINTS AGAIN HAS SHARE OF LEAD

Waverley Panthers fan from the 70s Paul 'Saints' Martinez has joined the share of the lead with yours truly on 50 winners. Bobby Borough who travelled to the apple isle to see his team win by 3 points is on 49 winners. Just behind all on 48 winners are Phil 'Yobbo' Clark another zebra fan from the 70s era, Darren 'Bomber' Tudor, Arthur Paul a Camberwell Cobra fan as well as Port Melbourne/South Melbourne Hellas and Melbourne Storm fan Mark. He has seasons tickets for all three codes and is a diehard fan.

From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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THE Casey Scorpions set up a tantalising match-of-the-round clash with third-placed Sandringham next Saturday with a 39-point win over Geelong at Casey Fields yesterday.

Casey had endured a tumultuous few days off the field last week when AFL-aligned partner St Kilda announced it would begin a five-year partnership with VFL rival Sandringham from next season.

But, the young playing group showed professionalism beyond its years on the field, dispatching a strong Cats side despite the late withdrawals of James Gwilt and Leigh Fisher, who had been promoted to St Kilda\'s senior team.

Dominant in the first half, Casey failed to convert forward 50 entries into goals and Geelong remained in the game thanks to the hard work of Kane Tenace and forward Ryan Gamble, who was proving a handful for young full-back Alex Silvagni.

From the Bendigo Advertiser

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METRICON Bendigo Bombers coach Adrian Hickmott is taking no notice of the Box Hill Hawks\' ladder position ahead of today\'s annual VFL Queen\'s Birthday encounter.

Heading into today\'s match at the Box Hill City Oval against Bendigo, the Hawks sit on the bottom of the ladder without a win from their eight games.

But Hickmott certainly won\'t be falling into the trap of underestimating the Hawks, who have lost two of their past four games by margins of less than three goals against sides in the top eight.

``I\'m expecting it to be a close game because last round Box Hill went with (top of the ladder) Williamstown up until midway through the third quarter and they certainly have blokes who can play the game,\'\' Hickmott said.