JEREMY Brockie was working in a coffee shop on Friday when he heard a radio news report that the COVID-19 lockdown in Townsville had been lifted.
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The former New Zealand international messaged Edgeworth coach Michael Bridges: "I'm booking a flight, can you squeeze me into the XI."
On Sunday, Brockie produced a stunning, first-time, left-foot tracer bullet to open the Eagles' account in a 2-1 win over Newcastle Olympic at Darling Street Oval.
The 33-year-old splits his time between Townsville, where he lives with his family, and Newcastle. He had returned home after the clash against Lambton on June 24 was washed out.
The Eagles' battle against Lake Macquarie was also postponed due to players being unavailable due to the COVID lockdown in Sydney and Central Coast.
Townsville then entered a lockdown, meaning Brockie was stuck at home.
"It was nice to have a bit of family time but the wife was keen to get me out the door and get some football because I had itchy feet," he said. "I was working in a coffee shop and heard the news on the radio. I messaged Bridgey, booked a flight and got into Newcastle Saturday night."
Brockie has scored seven goals in 10 games for Edgeworth.
"It took me a little bit of time to get going," the former Newcastle Jet said. "I had to get to understand how the league works and how my teammates play. I owed Olympic a goal after the last time we played them. I did everything but score so it was nice to get one early."
Edgeworth, playing in a 3-5-2 formation, bossed the first half. Brockie put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute and Will Bower, playing his first game back from injury, added a second on the half hour.
Hamilton coach Joel Griffiths introduced Dino Fajkovic and Jarred Muller at the break and altered their shape.
It changed the complexion of the match. Olympic started to win their duels and flyer Fajkovic found space in behind.
Muller tapped in from a Rhys Cooper cross in the 87th minute, but the home side couldn't buy an equaliser.
"They had a game midweek and our plan was to be really aggressive," said Edgeworth assistant coach Gary Wilson, who deputised for a locked down Bridges. "I thought it worked well in the first half. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team. Their coach made changes at half-time and it took us a while to work through it."
The loss was Olympic's fourth straight, but they remain fifth on 16 points, a point ahead of Weston.
"It is tough at the moment," Griffiths said. "COVID has killed us. It is hard to replace the players we have lost in a squad that was already light compared to other teams. I said to the boys, I'm learning so much from the scenarios that the universe is throwing at us. The second half was different to the first. That is what I wanted. I just want us to get to the play-offs. If we are there, we will be the most dangerous side. I will make sure we are humming."
In the other game Sunday, James Thompson continued his breakout season in front of goals, scoring a double to help steer Maitland to a 4-2 triumph over Charlestown Azzurri at Lisle Carr Oval.
Thompson opened the visitor's account in the 18th minute and then sealed three points with six minutes remaining to take his season tally to eight.
On Friday night, Lambton Jaffas accounted for Lake Macquarie 3-2 at Macquarie Field to be a point behind leaders Broadmeadow, whose clash with Weston was postponed due to COVID.
The Adamstown-Valentine clash was also put back.
