With David Ellard, Richard Hadley and Robert Warnock all unavailable for selection against the Scorpions through injury, the Bullants went in with Josh Donaldson, Caleb Tiller and the two internationals Peter Labi and Zach Tuohy amongst the call-ups.
Teague said that while all those players undoubtedly benefitted from the call-up, “we were very undermanned in terms of games played” - as was reflected in the final scoreline. But he stressed that while injury and circumstance thwarted the match committee’s plans to field its strongest possible team for Casey, there were positives to emerge from the game in the lead-up to the encounter with Coburg.
A welcome recall to the Bullants outfit was ruckman Shaun Hampson, in what was his first hit-out for the home and away season. Hampson, who has had to deal with two separate hamstring injuries in recent weeks, got 60 per cent game time and got through unscathed.
“He got through that and actually wanted to play more, but by the time the final quarter came around he was fairly stuffed,” Teague conceded. “But he won most of the hit-outs in which he competed, took a couple of marks around the ground and the boys really loved having him out there.”
Other players to impress were Mitch Robinson, Lachie Henderson and Joe Anderson.
“Robinson was very good around the contests, which we’ve always known, but he’s now working on other areas of his game,” Teague said. “Lachie Henderson found his feet first-up, which is sometimes tough at this level, finished with four goals and took some really good, contested marks, and Joey Anderson was really good through the midfield.”
Casey Scorpions 3.5 8.10 13.11 20.12-132
Northern Bullants 3.4 3.6 8.9 12.12-84
Casey Scorpions
Best Players: J. Macdonald, M. Stockdale, B. Miller, A. Maric, J. Gysberts, D. Nicholls
Goal Kickers: B. Miller 4, C. Morton 3, M. Newton 3, A. Wonaemirri 2, M. Stockdale 2, N. Jetta 2, J. Macdonald, A. Maric, J. Gysberts, D. Nicholls
Northern Bullants
Best Players: L. Henderson, M. Robinson, R. Kerr, S. Wiggins, J. Cachia, J. Anderson
Goal Kickers: L. Henderson 4, S. Wiggins 2, J. Anderson, L. Morgan, L. Casboult, M. Robinson, P. Labi, T. Biffin
