Casey swoops to the Gold Coast Hawks
Gold Coast Hawks will have a fresh and formidable line up when they make their second appearance in the Australian Premier League with their local international star Mark Casey returning home after a two year stint with Queensland rival APL franchise XXXX Brisbane Gold.
Casey will be a huge boost for the Gold Coast Hawks having been a valuable member of Club Helensvale for nine years.
Compatibility will be an assured strength for the Gold Coast Hawks with the trio Mark Casey, Brett Wilkie and Lynsey Clarke playing regularly together for their powerhouse club, state and international level.
Mark Casey has tasted success at the Australian Premier League and says his victory with the XXXX Brisbane Gold in their inaugural year was one of the highlights of his career.
“I would like to thank the Brisbane Gold for the opportunity to represent their team for the past two years; I still say the feeling after winning APL01 was equal to anything I have been able to achieve in the game,” Mr Casey said.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist has worked his way back into the Australian team to contest the annual Trans-Tasman in March which he says would not be possible without the support of Club Helensvale.
“It has been an amazing journey so far and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to play for such a great club; I know I would not have been able to achieve what I have in the sport without the full support of the entire club,” Mr Casey said.
The APL has attracted the best players from around the globe including the ‘King of the Indoor’ and world’s best player Alex Marshall MBE; a member of the Murray Steamers who lived up to expectations as pre-tournament favourites to claim the 2014 title.
Casey says that being able to represent his home club in such a high profile event is great and the support that all Helensvale players get from the members is fantastic.
“To repay the club with a victory in the APL would be extremely satisfying and I can’t wait for APL03 to start; go the Gold Coast Hawks,” Mr Casey said.
“Nothing compares to the APL, the atmosphere is electric and the event is like nothing else in the world.”
Australian Captain and Gold Coast Hawks team mate Lynsey Clarke says the Gold Coast Hawks will be a powerful force in their second APL and is thrilled to have Mark Casey back in the Hawks colours.
“We’re very excited to have Case back in the colours he belongs, he is such a classy player, he possesses such a dominating presence on the green and he thrives on playing the crucial shots that can turn a match,” Mrs Clarke said.
“Our team learnt a lot from our APL debut; we were only two wins short of making the finals so this year with the inclusion of Case (Mark Casey) and a more informed outlook on the tactical side of the APL, we will certainly be gunning for one of those finals spots.”
Clarke says the Gold Coast Hawks were definitely the most colourful, vibrant and well supported teams last year and a lot of that support and energy stemmed from their passionate coach Anthony Fantini.
Once again Club Helensvale’s Anthony Fantini will control proceedings in the Hawks nest and hopefully lead the accomplished team to their first finals series.
As a result of Casey shifting back to the Gold Coast, XXXX Brisbane Gold is in the market for a replacement player with rumours circulating of a Commonwealth Games gold medallist currently in discussions with the franchise.
