Corey craving spot
LABRADOR midfielder Corey Piggin is treating every game as a Queensland Blades selection trial as he closes in on his Australian Hockey League dream.
Named in a preliminary Blades squad for the third time during the week, the 23-yearold is still waiting for the chance to represent his state at AHL level.
One of 35 players chosen in the Queensland squad, the Ormeau resident will have another golden opportunity to push his selection case when Labrador tackle table-topping Commercial in Round 5 of the Brisbane Hockey League today.
“I’ve played with the Blades, like when the Commonwealth Games were on I played against the Indian and Scotland Games teams, but never in the AHL. I was going to I think a year ago but I went over to Belgium to play so I king of flagged that one and did the tourist thing over there,” Piggin, a member of the South Coast team that finished fourth at last weekend’s Queensland Super League, said.
“For me, AHL is one step next to playing in the Kookaburras team. In the AHL, you’re playing at the top level representing Queensland and all the way through juniors that’s what you aspire to.
“Playing well at Super League does affect (selection chances) but they also look at, throughout the whole year, how consistent you are. You’ve got to play well in your club hockey, that’s what I’ve been told. Hopefully the next step is to play for the Kookas.”
Labrador enter the 3pm battle with Commercial at Chermside in third spot, having picked up their third triumph against Valley in their last start on April 28.
Training routines for the Tigerstix have been hampered by the staging of the Commonwealth Games, but Piggin said they would be firing on all cylinders against a Commercial side riding a four-game winning streak.
“You always have that one team that you’re not big fans on. We’re not big fans of Commercial and it’s always good to get on top of them,” the bornand-bred Gold Coaster said.
“Everyone does lift for those games against them and gets geed up for it.”