Strong Lower Great Southern Hockey Association contingent ready to push for gold with WA Country men’s team

A strong WA Country men’s side are shooting for gold as they prepare to take on the best teams from around Australia next week. The Lower Great Southern Hockey Association has four players named in the WA Country men’s outfit and a fifth has been listed as their train-on player. WA Country are competing in the Hockey Australia Country Challenge, which is returning after a two-year hiatus, and will be played in Albany from August 6-13. The host State will face off against New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Defence Force in their bid to win a medal at the national country championships. Manypeaks’ Chris Metcalfe, Spencer Park duo Brodie Sarre and Darren Parkes, and former Tigers and Peaks player Heath Cremasco are in the 18-man WA team. Peaks youngster Hayden Mills is the train-on player and will come into the side if a player withdraws before the start of the week-long carnival. Metcalfe was picked in the WA Country team last year but the tournament was cancelled and he will make his State debut at senior level. The highly skilled midfielder said he was going to enjoy the chance to play in the championships in front of family and friends. “I’ve been away to national underage tournaments before, but this being at home was a big factor to put my hand up,” the 31-year-old said. “I’m getting a bit older and this was a good opportunity to push myself while I still can against some of the best country hockey players in Australia. “There will be some Rolls Royce players here, not just from the sticks but players that have been at a high level so it will be quality hockey. “It’s a really big thing for Albany. “We have a new turf and a new set of lights and great facilities so it will be cool to have a top-end tournament like this.” Parkes, a former Australian indoor and WA Thundersticks player, will pull on the WA Country strip for the first time. “You can play at a high level and get all the top coaches but this is still the best in Australia,” the 34-year-old said. “My body is getting a bit older but I still want to see what I can do and test myself. “I’m still looking forward to it and there is always things to learn no matter where you go. It’s going to be awesome for (the LGSHA). “We’ve been waiting a couple of years for it and to bring it here and show country kids what that high level is will be a big boost for the town. “The aim is gold — you always want to win and I think we have the team to do it. “New South Wales and Queensland are always strong but I think we have a sharp team.” Parkes will play in central defence and will assist Albany goalkeeper Cremasco. Cremasco lives in Perth and plays for Modernians in Premier League division two. The 23-year-old will be in WA Country colours for the third time and was selected for the last two tours that were cancelled because of COVID-19. “I’m excited to play at home in front of the community that helped me get to where I am now,” Cremasco said. “It will be great to have my friends, family and LGSHA team mates supporting me. “The team is looking strong and a lot more experienced than previous years.” Sarre moved to Albany last year after more than a decade of division one hockey with Vic Park. He played for the Burras, the Australian junior under-21 men’s program, and was a State junior representative, but said this was a unique challenge. “It will be good competition and what you enjoy about these tournaments is being up against the best players in the country,” the 31-year-old midfielder said. “There has been bit of a change this year and the team is really pushing the professionalism of it. “Gold is obviously the goal and (we) should be in for a good shot at it.” Mills is the youngest player in the WA Country squad at 17 and will still get to be a part of the team, but he won’t take to the field if he remains as a train-on. “I can be involved in most of it, the warm-ups and meetings,” he said. The speedy forward has been playing A-grade hockey locally for the last four years and is ready to go if called up. Lawrie Tylor is the head coach of the men’s side, with Keith Old his assistant. WA Country men’s team Jason Vuletich, Ryan McGeoch, Logan Burgemeister, Raine Fisher, Sam Brown, Lachlan Overton, Jarrod Booth, Brayden Dalton (Bunbury), Heath Cremasco, Darren Parkes, Brodie Sarre, Chris Metcalfe (Lower Great Southern), Johnathon Bates, Zane Soper, Chris Souchon (Eastern Goldfields), Nick Corner, Liam Sweeney (Upper Great Southern), Pierce Paynter (Avon), Train On: Hayden Mills (Lower Great Southern)