Hockeyroo comes home for clinic
To Ashleigh Nelson it’s no surprise that most of her Hockeyroos teammates are from the bush.
Having started her career in regional WA, the Wagin-born striker was happy to be home to teach the next generation of hockey stars as up to 80 young players jumped at the opportunity at a two-day clinic in Narrogin last weekend.
Nelson and five of her Hockeyroos teammates stopped in Narrogin on their way to Kalgoorlie, where they will take on Japan in the World Series.
The 26-year-old said the opportunity to inspire players from her region was something she still looked forward to doing.
“It’s great being back home and seeing that country hockey still puts in the effort to train their players well,” she said.
“It’s no accident that most of the Hockeyroos are country girls.
“Regional sporting teams have the advantage of having people care and take the time to teach you.”
Since beginning her professional career with the Hockeyroos in 2008 as a striker she has played more than 100 games as well as representing her country at the Olympic and Commonwealth games.
After the World Series games in Kalgoorlie and Perth, Nelson will follow her team to the Netherlands for the World Cup where she hopes the team can gain two points and position the side up to second on the ladder ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
“We’re looking forward to seeing where we stand in the world,” she said.
“We are training hard to make sure we bring solid competition to the Commonwealth Games.”
Nelson said she enjoyed taking the time to come back to Wagin and reminisce about her years as a junior hockey player in the district.
“The pitch has certainly improved since my time here,” she said.
“I come back when I can, last year I held a coaching clinic in Wagin but that was more low-key and about being in the right place at the right time.”
