The dual Brisbane Lions AFL premiership defender/tagger was thrown from his customary spot at centre half back for Aspley to play at full forward by coach Evans.
At halftime it shaped as a master-stroke when Copeland had kicked five goals, but an hour later an outstanding individual performance in a much-improved team performance amounted to nothing.
After scores were level at quarter-time and the Lions led by eight points at halftime the Lions out-scored the Hornets 10-8 to 5-5 in the second half to grab four premiership points which Aspley so desperately needed.
Yet, the result aside, Evans wasn’t too disappointed. Not after his side had been embarrassed by 89 points by Southport in the rain at Graham Road seven days earlier, kicking only two goals and registering the lowest score in club history.
“I was pretty pleased with the way we bounced back against quality opposition and in fact I was quite relieved to get a bit of confidence back into the group,” he said.
“They were rocked a fair bit the week before (against Southport) and I thought they were pretty intense for most of the day.”
Evans explained the decision to swing Copeland forward had its origins in the depressing aftermath to the game against Southport.
“We’d been playing too wide and I thought ‘maybe it’s time we changed things up a bit’,” he said.
“It was a big risk, moving Bushy (Copeland) from centre half back, but I figure he demands the ball so well that he might be the one to straighten us up.”
It was a move that worked beautifully until Copeland was required to help shore things up down back after the Lions had added three quick goals midway through the third term.
The decisive burst followed an important and ill-disciplined free kick reversal against the Hornets which turned the momentum of the game and allowed the Lions to set up a 17-12 to 13-7 lead at the last change.
The damage was done, and even though Aspley split the final quarter three goals apiece there was no pegging back a Lions side which found itself on top of the NEAFL ladder after Round 7.
The game was lost and Aspley, with a 2-4 win/loss record, were left in eighth spot on the ladder
Yet the Hornets found a supportive ally in Lions Reserves coach Nathan Clarke.
“The game wasn’t played exactly how we want to play it – and that’s to Aspley’s credit,” said Clarke.
“They’ve got a lot of quality and they were well-coached. They were able to get the game played pretty much on their terms for a lot of it – particularly in the first half.”
“I know we copped them on the rebound but I thought they were really good. They’ve got a lot of hard bodies and a lot of skilful players, and they’re just a good football side.
It wasn’t just the players’ confidence that needed work after the loss to Southport. It was discipline, too. Especially when it came to interaction with the umpires.
So, in an unusual step, Evans, forever looking to improve overall standards at the club, invited two senior NEAFL umpires to address his playing group mid-week.
“The umpires told it as it is and I thought it was a good idea to help our players understand what the umpires are going through,” Evans explained.
“And I’ve got to say our blokes were 1000 percent better in that regard this week.”
Micah Buchanan, with Copeland, was a standout for the Hornets. Leading vote-winner in last year’s Grogan Medal when ineligible to win due to a suspension, he returned to his prolific best through the midfield, while Matty Payne topped off a busy day with three goals.
Dylan Reid, set next week to become the fourth player behind Reece Toye, Copeland and Matty Davis to play 50 AFLQ/NEAFL games for the club, was a solid contributor in the ruck, while Mitch McKee continued his good form up forward and Jimmy Linton stood out on the wing.
Evans also reaped a significant dividend from another selection gamble with saw him slot versatile and athletic big man Declan Bevan into a new role at centre half back.
“I asked him during the week where he wanted to play and he said he’d play anywhere the team needed him to play,” said Evans.
“I just thought for the long-term good of the club he (Bevan) had to take on greater responsibility. And moving Bushy (Copeland) forward I needed a new centre half back so he was it,” he said.
“He certainly has all the attributes to play there so that’s where he’s going to play.”
Evans said Bevan, a standout junior who had been a part of the original training squad with the Gold Coast Suns, had told him prior to the game that he’d never been more nervous before a game than he was this week.
“I was pleased … it just tells you his heart is in it. He cares and he wants to do well for the team. I thought he was really good for us … I had him in my top five,” the coach said.
Evans also singled out 21-year-old ex-Yeppoon junior Tim Higgins, who had his first taste of senior football since a 2010 campaign in which he played once for Aspley and seven times as a top-up player for the Lions Reserves.
“He played half back / back pocket and did some nice things, and a couple of really desperate smothers sent a message that he really wants to be in the side,” Evans said.
There was another positive sign for the Hornets – albeit in the opposition side.
Highly-rated Sandgate junior Isaac Conway, who crossed to the Hornets this year and is set to play with the State U18 side in the upcoming Australian Championships campaign, played as a top-up player with the Lions and was a handy contributor with two goals.
Aspley, who last week had Brendan Colch, Reid, Adam Hughes, Ryan Thomson and Linton named in the Queensland/NT U21 squad for the 26 May clash with the NSW/ACT U21s, will also lose James Ives to the Queensland U18 program ahead of their Round 8 clash with Mt.Gravatt at Graham Road next Saturday.
Match Details
Aspley 5-3 11-5 13-7 16-10 (106)
Brisbane Lions 5-3 12-7 17-12 20-18 (138)
Aspley Goals: Copeland 6, Payne 3, K Bucovaz 3, McKee 2, B Bucovaz, Ives.
Aspley Best: Copeland, Buchanan, Payne, Reid, Bevan, Higgins, McKee, Linton.
Last Modified on 08/05/2012 09:46