Lachie Hansford Sophie Martin get green and gold call up

Eureka and Golden City Hockey Club players Lachie Hansford and Sophie Martin were named in the men and women's under-21 Australian Country squad.

They toured Asia in January to play a series of exhibition matches against representative teams from Borneo and Malaysia.

It marked the first international tour for Martin, who put her hand up for the squad after an exceptional showing at the Victorian women's country championships in Shepparton.

She said the selection came as a huge thrill.

"I was shocked but at the same time I was excited because you don't get to play for your country everyday," she said.

"It was really fun and the girls were really nice. Everyone was really supportive which was great."

Martin's squad were undefeated across eight games, winning six and coming away with a draw in the other two. After overcoming some initial nervousness, she said she adjusted well to the standard.

"It's a different style of hockey over there," she said.

"They were really quick and aggressive and would crowd you, but their skills were quite loose.

"But I found it less stressful than playing for my club team.

"I was really comfortable, we all got along really well and everybody picked up how everyone played very easily."

Currently in her second year at Eureka, Martin played most of her hockey in metropolitan areas.

Hansford meanwhile, began his career at Eureka as a 12-year-old.

It was the second Australian selection in as many years for Hansford after touring Fiji in 2019.

"Normally you have to play in the country national championships but I didn't have to this year because I got selected based on my performance last year," he said.

After being selected as a reserve the year prior, Hansford said he embraced more of a leadership role in his second go-around in the side.

"I liked having more of a senior role," he said.

"They were a great bunch of blokes, I wasn't as nervous this time so I got around more and talked to more people."

Hansford won seven out of eight games in the green and gold, which included a 6-0 victory in the squad's first game together.

He was one of three members to return to the side, which was filled with first-time players.

He said Olympic selection was a long way off, but he would pay for as long as he could.