Casey Cannons juniors Matthew Light and Scott Cullen will face the country’s elite hockey players at the Australian Under 15 Outdoor Hockey Championships in Perth in October after both were selected for Victoria.By Marc McGowan
CASEY Cannons Scott Cullen and Matthew Light have been chosen to represent Victoria at the Australian Under 15 Outdoor Hockey Championships in Perth in October.
The 15-year-olds were selected to try out for the team after quality displays for representative side the Southern Sharks at the junior state championships in July.
Once the squad was slashed to its final 16 members, both Cullen and Light remained.
Cullen also found out last week that he had made the cut for the state under 16 indoor team for the national championships in Wollongong in January.
“I got into the top 30 in the 14s, but they didn’t have a state team then – it was just a development camp – but this year they chose teams and it was a bit more exciting,” Cullen said.
“I was hoping to make the cut, but not expecting to – just hoping.”
Light, who lives in Cranbourne East, was shocked at his nomination in the team and is looking forward to justifying his spot.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think I’d make it through,” the year nine Kambrya College student said.
“It will be a lot of fun and we should win a couple of games.”
The teenagers are also team-mates in the Cannons’ number one side, which plays in Men’s State League Four, but they differ on which competition they find more difficult.
Cullen, who attends St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School in Warragul, finds the fitness of the juniors trumps the experience of his senior opposition, whereas Light believes the latter gives the seniors the edge.
They do agree on one matter, however – the need to develop their fitness – and Cullen also believes he has much to learn about his role in defence.
“This year my Sharks coaches put me into a new position, full-back, which I haven’t played before,” the Bayles resident said.
“I used to play centre half and inner. It just fitted in better with the team because we didn’t have many defenders.
“It is a lot more defensive position and I have to stay back a bit more. I don’t really shoot on goals so much as when I played inner and centre half.”
Improvement is also a buzzword for Light, who feels he is becoming a much better player since beginning training with the Victorian team last month.
He is keen to play with others of the same ability as he prepares to take to the field against the cream of the junior hockey talent in the country.
“It will be a bit different because you know there are people just as good as you in the team and you can rely on them a lot better than you can at club level,” the striker said.
Cullen agreed, and highlighted his bond with Light as being a major factor in his success.
“It is a lot better to have someone there with me at club training instead of me stuffing around, and we push each other to keep improving,” he said.
