Tasmania’s historic first national hockey title of 2014 has created an air of expectation in the state.
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The Tassie Tigers backed up last year by beating Victoria to claim third place in the Australian Hockey League and Tasmanian Institute of Sport coach Andrew McDonald is confident the results can continue this week in Perth.
“There’s no intimidation,” said McDonald, who will again assist head coach Glenn Freeman in the 10-day tournament.
“I think there is an expectation now. We expect to do well and that’s resonated by the players’ own expectations, not necessarily the coaching staff’s.
“We’ve been working together for a while and put together some solid training sessions
“It’s good to have some senior players back in the group.”
World Cup-winning Olympians Eddie Ockenden and Tim Deavin again form the backbone of a formidable Tigers side packing plenty of experience.
Jeremy Edwards and Kurt Mackey are both involved in the national set-up while Launceston’s Kieron Arthur has now moved from Hobart to Sydney.
Another Launceston product, Perth-based former international Nick Budgeon, has chosen to play for Western Australia.
The tournament, at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley, runs until October 9.
Tigers: Kieron Arthur, Will Shaw (Ryde), Hayden Beltz, Lewis Short, Jack Welch, Grant Woodcock (Diamondbacks), James Bourke, Eddie Ockenden, Julian Vittorio (NWG), Angus Bolton (Derwent), Tim Deavin (Tamar), James Dick, Jayden Pearson, Ben Read (University), Jeremy Edwards, Kurt Mackey, Sam McCambridge (OHA), Ian McHugh (Canterbury).