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Albeit a somewhat overused term in sport, there is no other way to describe the year Confederates’ Jess Healey had in 2018.
So much so, when asked of her last 12 months she needs a minute to try and remember how many tournaments she’s played in and where they’ve been, in both indoor and field hockey.
The 13-year-old’s made appearances at the under-13 and under-15 field hockey state championships along with the under-13, under-15 and under-18 indoor equivalents, representing Orange in all of them except the last where she played for Dubbo.
On top of that she also helped NSW’s Stars outfit to a fourth finish at the Hockey Australia Under-13 Girls’ Field Hockey Championship.
She’s got no plans to slow down in the new year either, she heads to Goulburn on January 2 to once again represent her state’s Stars side at the indoor equivalent.
“It has been a big year,” Healey laughed.
“I just love hockey though. I couldn’t choose between indoor and outdoor. They're very different games, everyone thinks they’re very similar but the only thing that’s the same really is what the goalkeeper wears.”
What she wears, actually, Healey is one of the state’s premier under-age shot-stoppers and will once again stand in goal for NSW at Goulburn.
She was named in the NSW squad following the state championships at Orange earlier this year, where her Orange side finished third in division two.
If we try our hardest that’s enough but if can breach the top three that would good.
- NSW goalkeeper Jess Healey
“There was selectors watching and they picked the squad, then there was a training camp at Wollongong and they picked the two sides from that. I didn’t think I’d get picked,” Healey, well known as one who just plays, enjoys it and lets selections take care of themselves, said.
“[Playing above my age group in the under-15 and under-18] state championships was good experience, they all offer different levels.
“I just want to have fun (at the indoor nationals). If we try our hardest that’s enough but if can breach the top three that would good, we’ll see what happens though.”
Healey’s side, which also includes Bathurst’s Macey Fulton and Charlize Fitzpatrick, faces the Queensland Fire in their opening game on January 4 and, incredibly, there’s a chance she’ll turn out at the under-15 nationals as well.
Healey is also on the pick-up list for the under-15 indoor championship, which starts on January 8 at Goulburn as well, which means she could be picked up by NSW or even another state if needed.
“I’m cool just being on the pick-up list, I wasn’t expecting that so I’m not expecting to get picked up,” Healey, sponsored by Blackwell Short Lawyers and John Carpenter PTY Ltd, said.
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