Keeper holding the gloves for Australia
HOCKEY: After the squad was cut by seven earlier this week Matthew Finn has moved a step closer to playing with the junior Kookaburras at the World Cup in India later this year.
The Highfields keeper made his debut in the green and gold last year and has been a mainstay in the side ever since.
Chalking up a number of appearances for the under 21s both at home and abroad, Hockey Australia has had faith in Finn to hold the gloves between the sticks for the Kookaburras on a regular basis over the past 12 months.
“It is another step closer to that final team,” he said.
Despite his experience with the national team, Finn is fully aware that the World Cup in India will present him with a completely different challenge.
His rise through the ranks in the Hockey Australia set-up is something that surprises even him.
“It will be perhaps another level than last year when I played in Malaysia, but this one there are more European teams going and all the teams have the best of their age group,” Finn said.
“I guess in a way I have proved to myself that I can actually get myself to that level.
“Some of my junior years I never thought that I would ever get this far, at least not this quickly and now I’m here.”
Finn’s next opportunity before junior World Cup selection comes in October when he heads to Malaysia with the junior Kookaburras for the Sultan of Johor Cup.
I guess in a way I have proved to myself that I can actually get myself to that level.
— Matthew Finn