Anna Flanagan masking pain of missing Hockeyroos’ Olympic team

ANNA Flanagan is both a star and a shadow of the Hockeyroos, the highest profile female player in the country but nothing more than a non-playing reserve at the Olympics.

Anna Flanagan failed to make the Hockeyroos team but is travelling as a reserve. Picture: Cameron Tandy

ANNA Flanagan is leading a bizarre double life but knows she must mask the pain.

She is both a star and a shadow of Australian hockey, the highest profile female player in the country but nothing more than a non-playing reserve for the Olympic Hockeyroos.

And the pain is accentuated because she knows it is all her fault.

Flanagan, 24, whose private endorsements include a deal with Red Bull, was on the cutline for the Olympics when she was suspended from two crucial tournaments due to a drink driving charge in Perth she initially failed to report to Hockey Australia.

Her absence cost her dearly because she missed a berth to Rio by a solitary spot.

“You learn a huge mount from that,’’ Flanagan said.

“I would never want to be in that situation again. I tried to prepare for the fact that there will be some tough times. I still feel I can play a really important role for the team.’’

Anna Flanagan failed to make the Hockeyroos team but is travelling as a reserve. Picture: Cameron Tandy

Flanagan, once ranked the best young player in the world, has one of the most deceptively challenging roles of her career as a travelling reserve for the Hockeyroos and not officially part of the squad.

She is staying 400m outside the Athletes Village, in some ways it seems a short ride from where she wants to be, in others as far away as the moon.

Flanagan’s challenge is now to compartmentalise her own misfortune and stay upbeat for the sake of those chosen ahead of her.

She talks fluently about her plight but the occasional slight quiver of emotion in her voice tells of the magnitude of the challenge.

“It is really difficult being on the outside but also you can enjoy it in a different way,’’ she said.

“There is less pressure on me to perform and I can help others out.

“It (the drink driving charge) was a total error. I had dinner at a friends house and made a really, really poor decision to get behind the wheel.

“That decision has probably cost me a chance to play at the Champions Trophy and then the Olympics.’’

So she must juggle her own disappointment with the need to rally her teammates.

Anna Flanagan at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“It is exciting for them. I know that feeling,” Flanagan said.

“Those sorts of things are really hard. At the same time you have to pay the price of things you do. You just want to be there for them and ready if needed.

“I want the girls to do so well and I am still a part of that. We are still training and if there is an injury I will be ready.

“It was a total error. I had dinner at a friends house and made a really, really poor decision to get behind the wheel. That decision has probably cost me a chance to play at the Champions Trophy and then the Olympics.’’