WESTVIC Hockey representatives Nathan Hargreaves, Ewan Wallin and Nathan Burgess have been selected for the Australian Country Championships.
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The trio has been named in Victoria Country’s extended squad of 19 set to play in Toowoomba from August 2-9.
Hargreaves and Wallin have contested the championships before, while WestVic men’s coach Nathan Burgess will make his debut as one of two goal keepers at 39 years of age.
“It was a surprise for me,” Burgess said.
“I was actually qualified as a veteran and I’m probably about 15 years older than most of the players in the team.”
All three were nominated after impressing under the Ballarat banner during the Victorian Country Week Championships during the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Ballarat finished third in the championships, and Burgess said playing alongside the men he was most used to coaching provided a steep learning curve.
“It was very interesting,” he said. “It gave me a really good insight into how they play.”
Wallin plays as a striker for WestVic’s state league two side, while Hargreaves mixes striker and midfield roles.
Meanwhile, Eureka Golden City’s Chris Vaughan has been named as coach for the senior team.
Vaughan has reportedly set a high standard in training in the lead-up to the titles, with two major skills sessions to be held at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.
The team will fly to Toowoomba three days before the championship schedule to finalise its preparations.
The first session at the SNHC will take place this Sunday.