The opener’s duck and delayed concussion were rare setbacks this week for SA, who dominated Victoria to win by an innings and 40 runs in the Shield opener at the Junction Oval.

Nic Maddinson’s first-innings Test failure in South Africa again highlighted the brittle Australia Test top-order. Weatherald was dropped from the Test side two months ago after the shock loss to Bangladesh in Darwin.

His domestic season started brightly enough last month with 92 in the one-day win over Tasmania. But while fielding on day one of the Shield game, Weatherald slid into the Junction Oval boundary fence and hit his head.

Captain Ben Manenti and coach Ryan Harris said Weatherald had reported no issues before batting.

Manenti also strongly backed Weatherald to be a key contributor in their bid for a third-straight Shield title.

“He was pretty unlucky – he kept sliding and next thing you know, he clipped the fence,” Manenti told AAP, “But Weathers has been batting really well, he’s been great to have back around the group.

“We know what a class player he is and also how hungry he is to try to get back to that Test level.

“For his sake and for our sake, if he’s going well, he’s going to get that opportunity and if he’s doing well we’re seeing him score a lot of runs for us.”

Manenti and debutant Noah McFadyen scored their maiden first-class centuries as SA amassed 508, after Victoria opened the game with 244.

Victoria ended day three on 175 for 7 and were bowled out before lunch on the final day for 224.

“We judge ourselves pretty harshly and hold ourselves to really high standards,” Manenti said. “We felt we missed the mark a little bit with the ball on day one … but then we countered that and did really well [in Victoria’s second innings].

“We were ruthless in our line and length and our plans in what we wanted to do. It’s a great start.”

Manenti (128) and McFadyen, who top-scored with 134 and took the final wicket of the game, piled the pain on Victoria with their lower-order knocks.

“I’ve thrown away a couple of bites at it, so it was nice … and Noah batted awesome,” Manenti said.

“Not ideal … but there’s a positive in what we found out of Harry Hoekstra – he gets the opportunity and shows what he can do, both with bat and ball,” Victoria captain Peter Handscomb said.

“SA are back-to-back champions, they’re the benchmark at the moment, so to come up against them, first round, is tough.

“But we know how close we are to it, to playing the way we want to play.”