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Subscriber only BEING one of six Hancocks players in line for Queensland Country duty, Abby Eleison was glowing with pride. The fearless defender has been chosen for the first time to represent Queensland at the Australian Country Championships in Albany from August 7-14. She was selected along with Hancocks teammate Natalie Davison. Long-serving Hancocks and Ipswich A-Grade captain Sara Rogers was added as a shadow player with Wests talent Jess Wilkinson also on standby. Hancocks trio Sam Morgan, Jay Pavitt and Jackson Willie were chosen in the Queensland Country men s side competing at the same tournament in Western Australia.
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Subscriber only PREPARING to return to part-time teaching, Wests sharpshooter Amy Kickbusch delivered a wonderful lesson in playing sport when you can, while you can. Despite feeling the effects of her first game back in A-Grade this season, the popular Ipswich mum was pleased to have returned. The body has definitely changed but it was nice to come back and have a game with the girls, Kickbusch said. I really enjoyed it. The aches she was feeling today were eased by the former Australian striker netting a hat-trick in her team s 7-0 victory over Easts on Saturday night.
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Subscriber only HAVING made the Australian under-21 squad for the first time, Zac Profke knows he has a huge challenge ahead. That is to promote his name up the list of 44 hockey players chosen for a week-long national training camp at the Gold Coast starting on Sunday. Being one of the newcomers, the Ipswich sharpshooter has a chance to show what he can do with a goal of representing Australia at the FIH 2021 Junior Hockey World Cup scheduled for later this year. Profke, who turns 20 in August, is realistic about his prospects. He understands other players vying for national team spots have been in contention for longer.
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Subscriber only CELEBRATING her first national success as head coach, Sara Rogers also has a better understanding of what the NRL and AFL teams are enduring during COVID restrictions. After initially fearing the Queensland under-18 women would miss the latest Australian hockey tournament in Tasmania, Rogers oversaw the team s unbeaten performance. Queensland won the gold medal match against Victoria after sudden death shootouts. That was Queensland s sixth victory to go with a 0-0 draw with NSW in the qualifying rounds. But just to get to Launceston to contest the championships was a feat in itself. Just before Easter, the Greater Brisbane area including Ipswich went into the three-day lockdown.