One of the Greater Northern League's brightest prospects has been given his chance to shine at a national level after being named in Tassie Tigers' foundation squad for the inaugural Hockey One season.
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South Launceston's Kurt Budgeon is among four Northern faces in the 35-player men's squad, joining vice-captain and two-time Olympian Tim Deavin, Kieron Arthur and Jai Walker-Kidd.
Coach Andrew McDonald said the side was selected from international, national and club events with Budgeon's selection a credit for his hard work.
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"We believe we have a committed group of athletes with a good spread of experience and the vibrancy of youth," McDonald said.
"I'm very pleased to see Kurt Budgeon named in our squad. He is a real live-wire and will undoubtedly unsettle an opposition defence.
"Hopefully he will earn the chance to make his debut after convincing us in our preparation trainings."
I'm very pleased to see Kurt Budgeon named in our squad
- Andrew McDonald
Set to feature Tasmanians with international experience such as triple-Olympian Eddie Ockenden, Joshua Beltz, Jack Welch, Jeremy Edwards and current national squad members in Hayden Beltz, Sam McCulloch and Gobindraj Gill, the squad will also feature a Northern Territory star.
Joining the Tigers will be 26-year-old defensive midfielder Jeremy Hayward, who has represented the Kookaburras on 147 occasions, scored 62 goals and is renowned for his hard-running and drag flick abilities.
"Hayward is one of the best players in Australia and could easily have played for any franchise given that the Northern Territory have not entered a team in the inaugural version of the Hockey One competition," McDonald added.
The squad will be trimmed to 20 before the beginning of the season with 14 to be selected on match day.
Full Squad:
Kieron Arthur (N), Benji Austin (S), Joshua Beltz (S), Hayden Beltz (S), James Bourke (S), Graham Brennan (S), Thomas Broadby (S), Joshua Brooks (S), Kurt Budgeon (N), Henry Chambers (S), Tim Deavin - VICE CAPT (N), Jeremy Edwards (S), Gobindraj Gill (S), Daniel Harper (S), Jeremy Hayward (Northern Territory), Nick Leslie (S), Joshua Mardell (S), Sam McCambridge (S), Linden McCarthy (NW), Sam McCulloch (S), Ian McHugh (S), Joseph Murphy (NW), Eddie Ockenden - CAPT (S), Keegan Popowski (NW), Benjamin Read (S), Oliver Smith (S), William Smith (S), James Thomas (S), Aiden Van Staden (S), Jai Walker-Kidd (N), Brenton Watson (S), Jack Welch (S), Alistair White (S), Grant Woodcock (S), Angus Yeates (NW)
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