Former Saints captain Aaron Hamill made a successful return from a persistent knee injury to kick four goals before exiting the game just prior to three-quarter By Marc McGowan
ST Kilda stars Aaron Hamill and Matt Maguire made much-anticipated returns in the Casey Scorpions’ 88-point victory over the Northern Bullants at Casey Fields on Sunday.
Hamill in particular made a triumphant comeback to the game with four goals – including three in the first quarter – to have a strong influence on the result.
He has suffered an assortment of injuries over the years, but an ongoing knee problem has been the prime issue over the past few seasons.
In an impressive performance, Hamill leapt for marks, moved freely and attacked the ball with gusto.
“I wanted to focus on a couple of things to see how the body would respond, and respond to the second and third efforts,” he said.
“I was pretty happy with how I pulled up. I got a little bit tired towards the end of the third (term), but I felt that I hadn’t lost any pace or anything like that, and I got through okay.”
Maguire broke his left leg in a sickening incident against West Coast in round 18 last year, and after playing in the opening match of 2007 for the Saints, was found to have developed a stress fracture in his left foot.
His meagre match haul of three kicks were inconsequential, with more importance placed on him successfully negotiating the contest, and he was all smiles while sitting out the final stanza.
Despite Maguire keeping young Blue Josh Kennedy goalless, most of the interest focused on Hamill’s brilliant showing, but the St Kilda forward was keen to deflect the attention to his team-mates.
“We pumped the ball in there long and I was on the end of the midfielders’ good work,” Hamill said after the match.
“Our back six were super today. I felt that they set us up and our midfielders propelled us forward.”
Not surprisingly, pre-match nerves more familiar with a debutant besieged Hamill as he made the journey out to Cranbourne.
“I didn’t really know what to expect coming out here. I was just rapt to put the boots back on, but the boys were really embracing,” he said.
“They certainly made it easier for Goose (Maguire) and myself coming out here to a foreign environment.”
Both Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna were in attendance to see Hamill and Maguire play, and will hope to have the duo alongside them in the senior side sooner rather than later.
“It could be two or three (weeks) and it could be none. I don’t know. I feel okay,” Hamill said.
“Obviously, I have to see how the knee pulls up and see what Ross (Lyon) and the match committee has in mind, but I’ve got no idea how long.”
