KEY STATS:

Name:

Penny Mather

NICKNAME: Pen

POSITION: Goal Keeper

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

- Victorian U18 team 2009

- Victorian U21 team 2009, 2010

- Victorian Vipers squad 2010

- 2011 VIS Hockey Scholarship 2010

KEY STATS:

NAME:

 James Munro

NICKNAME: Munez

POSITION: Mid-Field / Defender

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

 - Victorian U/18 Men’s Outdoor Team (2012)

- Victorian U/21 Men’s Indoor Team (2011)

- Mike Craig Medal (2011 )

For the selectors, will the Penny drop?

FUTURE HOCKEY ASPIRATIONS:

Victorian Vipers Team and the ultimate goal would be to represent Australia in the green and gold.

HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOURSELF?

I get the best out of myself by ensuring I prepare myself fully for training and match days by eating sensibly,hydrating, getting plenty of sleep, doing extra running and gym sessions if I feel I need to and also utilizing pool sessions when I am feeling sore or tight.

ADVICE FOR ANY YOUNG HOCKEY PLAYERS OUT THERE?

Hockey is a wonderful team game and there is much to gain from the sport in both sporting and social contexts, continue to enjoy the game and take the time to perfect your skills as you develop so you can become the best you possibly can be. It’s the small 1% things that will make you better than the rest!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT HOCKEY THAT MAKES YOU TICK?

Hockey is an incredibly powerful team sport; I have made so many great friends for life through hockey as well as been involved in wonderful club atmospheres. Originally coming from the country the welcome I have felt through hockey is what keeps me playing week in week out. I love the atmosphere of a big club day and of course the challenge of being a goal keeper, constantly striving to improve myself, pushing harder, being stronger, lunging and diving further, running quicker and jumping higher.

FUTURE HOCKEY ASPIRATIONS:

My general aim is to be the best player I can be. Specifically, over the next few years I would like to represent Victoria at U/21 level in both outdoor and indoor.

HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOURSELF?

 A number of things help me to perform at my best:

• Setting long-term and short-term goals relating to taking my game to the next level
• Listening to the advice and ideas of others
• Making the most of team training sessions
• Supplementing team training sessions with my own physical conditioning and stick skill development sessions
• Being very conscious of the importance of a good diet and hydration.

ADVICE FOR ANY YOUNG HOCKEY PLAYER OUT THERE?

Enjoy the game and all that it has to offer: playing a fantastic game, improving your fitness, being part of a team and making great friends. Push yourself to be the best you can - it is amazing what a person can achieve through hard work and perseverance.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT HOCKEY THAT MAKES YOU TICK?

Hockey is one of the most challenging games in the world to play – it requires a player to constantly work on their skills, endurance, speed, strength, game awareness and technical knowledge.  This need to push oneself to improve makes hockey extremely rewarding sport. In addition, playing with a sport that depends on teamwork to achieve success offers great opportunities to develop lasting friendship.  Furthermore, hockey – unlike many sports – provides many opportunities to get to know people beyond your own team or club.