Eastham sheds tears for room-mate

Teenager Casey Eastham has experienced her share of Olympic disappointments this year, even though she made the 16-strong women's hockey team for Beijing.The reality of how fickle sport can be was rammed home to the Albion Park 19-year-old when her Perth and Olympic room-mate Fiona Johnson tore her left hamstring in a practice match against Argentina on Saturday. "It's really hard because we have all worked so hard to get here and to see Fi sitting there crying in the dressing room was very tough," Eastham said. "I sat there with her and cried as well and we are just hoping she will get a medical clearance to play (today)."However, Hockeyroos officials confirmed last night that Johnson had been ruled out by the injury and would be sent home. The team list for the Games has to be finalised tomorrow.Fortunately, coach Frank Murray can bring in someone from outside the Olympic squad of 18. The shadow field player, Shelley Liddlelow, is a striker and probably not the best fit to replace a strong defender like Johnson.Eastham's other Perth house-mate Rebecca Sanders, who hails from Campbelltown, could be the lucky player to get the call-up if Murray decides to fly in a replacement. "Fi has been one of my best friends since I went over to Perth," Eastham said. "It's been so exciting since getting here, but this has really put a dampener on things." Eastham said she went through similar emotions when the team was named and Sanders missed out. "But this is more disappointing, because the Games start in less than a week and we are here," she said.Eastham was once again one of the better midfielders for Australia against Argentina and set up the Hockeyroos' second goal, scored by Hope Munro.