Livestream Australian U15 hockey championships: Victorian players to watch
Victoria’s finest young players will test themselves against the best at the national championships. Here’s the players you should be keeping an eye on.
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Victoria’s most talented junior hockey players will be on display at the Australian Under 15s boys and girls championships in Bathurst starting on Friday.
An agreement between Hockey Australia and News Corp will see matches from the tournament in Launceston from April 8-16 and the U15s competition in Bathurst from April 9-15 shown on News Corp’s various mastheads, including the Herald Sun.
The Vics will be aiming to defend their girls title won in 2019 while the boys are hoping to improve on their fifth place finish from two years ago.
With the help of Victoria’s High Performance Manager Lachlan Anderson, we take a look at some of the Victorian players expected to turn heads during the competition.
“We’re really excited about the teams we’ve been able to put together for this competition,” he said.
“We will send two boys and girls teams for each competition. They will all play in separate pools and it gives us a great chance to see the stars of the future.
“Everyone was disappointed when the 2020 tournament was cancelled and Hockey Victoria put on a program for those players who were selected in November but it’s just not the same as playing on a national level.”
Under 15 Victorian girls to watch
Amelia Dethridge: A midfielder who can dictate the tempo of the game, this Powerhouse Hockey Club young gun, is set to play a huge role for the Vics. Despite having missed some of the lead-up training sessions due to school commitments, the word is she hasn’t missed a beat.
Bianca Zurrer: This versatile midfielder from the Gippsland region hasn’t allowed the COVID-19 pandemic to slow her down as she developed at an exciting speed in the past 12 month. Strong on the ball, the top age talent will play a big role in the Victorian’s title defence.
Frankie Dawkins: Following in her father’s footsteps, young Frankie is well and truly on her way to becoming an elite level talent. A growth spurt in the past year has helped the Powerhouse player to become one of the most exciting talents in the state.
Under 15 Victorian boys to watch
Callum Pickford: From the Greensborough Hockey Club, the 13-year-old is a multi-talented sporting athlete as he also spends time at National Premier League level for soccer. But he doesn’t let that get in the way of him controlling the show in the centre of the park.
Duncan Jackson: A player who has been around the Victorian pathways for several years, Duncan has followed in the footsteps of his brothers who have also represented the state. The midfielder has wonderful ball control for a player his age.
Henry Laussen: The Camberwell product is a half-back who coaches and teammates will always be able to rely on. Everyone associated with the team will tell you if he is asked to do a job there’s no doubting Henry will be able to carry it out.
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