By Marc McGowan
BERWICK hockey star Claire Messent was in shock last week.
The 23-year-old had just made the Hockeyroos’ squad for the first time after playing a starring role for the Victoria Vipers in the recently completed Australian Hockey League (AHL) season.
Messent, a striker-midfielder, has played eight games for Australia over the years, but has not competed for her country since 2007.
She joins five other Victorians in the program.
“I was surprised. I didn’t think I scored enough goals – I thought there were quite a few attackers in the other states, but I’m pleasantly surprised,” Messent said.
“It’s a nice feeling to know I have a chance to prove myself over the next year.”
But Messent was disappointed that the Vipers finished fifth and failed to make the AHL finals.
“We bounced back and thumped Northern Territory 6-1 and then South Australia 5-2 (in the bottom four sides’ play-off), which I guess proved to ourselves that we should have been a finals contender,” she said.
“But it was a bit too little, too late.
“(Coach) Toni Cumpston has been around for eight years at the VIS and it was her last year – so it’s disappointing we couldn’t win it for her.
“I think she reiterated that we’ve got a lot of promise and it’s about time we lived up to it. I think everyone took that on board and we’ve got even more to prove next year.”
Messent even went as far as to say it would be a national title or bust for the Vipers in 2010.
“I want us to win it next year. It’s about time and I think the group knows that as well,” she said.
Messent missed out on a spot for the Four Nations tour in South Africa from 1 to 6 June, but still has high hopes of making Australia’s Champions Trophy side.
The international showcase is being held in Sydney from 11 to 19 July.
Hockeyroos’ head coach Frank Murray confirmed Messent was still in the Champions Trophy mix, despite being overlooked for the South African trip.
“She played well in the AHL and scored a few goals, but gave the Victorian forward line a bit of a spark,” he said.
“She’s got a bit of pace and strength about her game and she’s continued to improve over the last few years and deserves her spot back in the squad.
“It doesn’t harm her chances (that she is not going to South Africa), but quite obviously if the players who are on that tour do really well, it makes it harder for ‘Messy’.
“But, at some point in time her opportunity will come.”
Murray will oversee a Hockeyroos training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport’s Perth base at the end of May and is planning a visit to Victoria at some stage.
He is also hoping for Messent to travel to Perth in the next couple of weeks.
Messent was unaware of her upcoming schedule when contacted last week, but hopes to make the most of her opportunity. “I think it’s great that they’ve shown faith in me and given me a chance,” she said.
“To know I’m in the squad is exciting and I hope I get the chance to prove myself.”
