XAVIER Bailey and older brother Finn have a lot in common.
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But one thing that is most like-for-like is their hockey potential.
Finn, 17, has starred for Tasmania at the 2016 Australian under-18 championships in Launceston, while Xavier, 11, is one of two Launceston boys selected to represent the state at the national schools sport under-12 championships in Cairns come August.
Furthermore, Finn coaches Xavier’s under-14s Queechy outfit without any favouritism or leniency.
When asked if the coach was any good Xavier replied: “He’s Ok”.
However, you could say the Launceston Church Grammar students are brothers in arms.
“It is very exciting to be heading away,” Xavier, a left-half, said.
“I just hope to improve and learn from the experience.
“I got involved in hockey because of Finn and like how fast-paced it is.”
Fellow Launceston player Joe Short will join Xavier on a July 30 flight bound for North Queensland for the tournament.
Meanwhile Tasmanian take on New South Wales State in the first semi-final at St Leonards on Saturday for a place in the gold medal play-off on Sunday.
Should they lose, a fight for the bronze medal awaits.
Seasoned Tasmanian striker Finn is confident about the state’s chances heading into the business end of the tournament.
“The tournament so far has been really successful, we are just hitting our peak form and are working for each other,” Finn said.
“The work rate for each other has been great.
“Tassie is often under underestimated but when we come together as a unit and play as a team, we can show the bigger states what we are made of.
“As a group we are pretty keen and excited for Saturday.”
The group held a training session during Friday’s scheduled rest day to fine tune a few key areas in preparation for the Blues.
“Today was about giving ourselves the best chance going into the game,” Finn said.
“Our strength is definitely our reverse pressure in defence, our strikers are often sprinting back and getting back and getting into the circle to prevent the opposition from scoring goals.”
Tasmania only lost one group match to Victoria and finished second in Pool B, while NSW State sat atop Pool A with two wins and two draws.
Saturday fixture
- Tasmania v NSW State at 3pm.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
