It may not be under ideal circumstances but Launceston's Alissia Pearson is flying to Austria to represent Australia's indoor hockey team.
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Unable to take her playing spot due to a recent surgery, the 22-year-old goalkeeper is still excited for what the opportunity has to offer.
"I ended up going into hospital last Tuesday and had surgery on Friday, which has ruled me out from playing in this upcoming tour but still going along which will be an awesome opportunity," she said.
"I'll hopefully be going to go over and do a bit of helping behind the scenes with video footage and coding of that and being able to provide feedback to players, working with the management team."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
A mainstay of Tasmanian hockey circles, Pearson booked her flights to Austria off the back of a strong performance at nationals in January before a group was selected by Hockey Australia and a Wollongong training camp got the side ready for action.
Juggling hockey commitments in both ends of the state for Launceston City and University of Tasmania while playing club and representative football for South Launceston, it has been a busy time for the teacher's assistant.
"It's been a challenging season playing in both areas and playing throughout a number of teams but it's really put me in a good position for my hockey overall.
"Indoor is more of a focus for playing [than outdoor], unfortunately it is a shorter season and we don't have as much opportunity especially throughout Tasmania but yes, that is my focus."
Pearson has previously toured America with the Australian indoor development squad, playing in Pennsylvania back in 2017.
Getting into hockey around the age of five, the game has certainly been a family affair, with mum Andrea, dad Colin and siblings Courtney and Jayden all involved in the sport in some way, shape or form, with Jayden umpiring at the national Hockey One league.
Showing her maturity in an off-field capacity, she is poised to take over the presidency of her Greater Northern League club for next year's season.
"Growing up around here [at St Leonards] now I'm involved in nearly every aspect: umpire at a national level, coach at a national level, played at a national and international level and then just local stuff from there."
Visiting the surgeon again on Thursday, the former Riverside Primary and High School student is expecting a four-to-six week recovery time before she steps back into a normal, full-on routine.
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