FOR most athletes the move to Perth is one of the hardest things to do, as you have to leave family and friends behind.
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For me I was lucky enough to have my mum, dad and boyfriend join me on my journey of becoming a Hockeyroo.
The move to Perth was a refreshing start to the year that I needed, with a new environment, coach, city and players around me. I was nervous but excited to finally give myself a chance of being selected as a Hockeyroo, something I have dreamt of since I was six years old.
That dream came true in Argentina in February at a stadium packed with Argentine fans in my debut tournament at the Four Nations in Mendoza.
So many thoughts and emotions ran through my mind while the national anthem played. I couldn’t believe it. I had finally pulled on the famous green and gold bodysuit.
I played my 10th match for the Hockeyroos in front of my family and friends in Sydney in April. This was very special, as all the people who support me were able to share and be in the moment with me.
The Australian Hockey League had a lot at stake with reselection into the Hockeyroos, AIS scholarships, the Champions Trophy team being announced and a national title up for grabs - and for me an anatomy exam the day after the tournament.
We (NSW) finished second and I was on my way to Amsterdam in a week’s time to play at the benchmark tournament of the year, the Champions Trophy.
We had a total of 11 games in four weeks during the Champions Trophy campaign with a Four Nations tournament and two practice matches played before the first game of tournament against home team and eventual winners, the Netherlands.
The Champions Trophy was a great learning experience. The most valuable lesson I learnt was each match at international level in these competitions is crucial and all are must-wins.
You need to be mentally tough and switched on each time you walk on the pitch, otherwise teams will punish you for being off the mark.
A highlight of the tournament was being able to play with our captain Madonna Blyth in her 200th game for Australia.
We had progressed as a unit throughout the tournament and we believe in our training and style of play.
Despite finishing sixth we are confident in our training and preparation and believe we can win a medal at the London Olympics next year.
❏ Jade Warrender is a scholarship holder at the NSW Institute of Sport. Her column will appear in the Central Western Daily on the last Thursday of each month in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics.
