Virus hits ambitions Keeper waiting in push for top

INJURY has come at the perfect time for Mitchell Nicholson, and the Townsville hockey product’s return is set to coincide with the sport’s comeback to the turf.

But armed with a desire to eventually crack the Kookaburras squad, the postponement of the national Hockey One competition presents some hurdles for the Brothers junior to overcome.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper is currently overcoming stress fractures in his shin, which have kept him to bike and body weight exercises for the past two months.

The coronavirus pandemic has enabled him to diligently overcome the injury without missing any on-field time, putting in 50 hours of bike sessions throughout May to regain his strength.

Nearing full fitness, Nicholson said he would be ready to return to full training and play within a few weeks.

However, with no elite level tournaments for him to strive for in the near future, the Brisbane Blaze’s last line of defence has limited options to push for selection in the National Development Squad.

“I think it was a pretty good decision (to postpone the Hockey One), slightly premature but from an organisation standpoint it would have been a logistical nightmare,” he said.

“I think it’s going to make it very hard for us athletes who are pushing the cusp of the development squad.

“For athletes like me the Hockey One would have been a good chance to stake my case and push into that squad.”

The disappointment of the suspended national season was compounded by the fact Nicholson and his side were still smarting from their grand final loss to New South Wales.

There was additional motivation to go one step further, and use that title charge to push for national selection.

Prior to COVID-19, Nicholson was set to travel to Perth and train with the national team and its goalkeeper coaches in the hope he could be in the frame for future Olympic Games campaigns.

Arguably the pinnacle of sport, achieving selection was “the main goal for any athlete”.

However, with experienced goalkeepers Tyler Lovell and Andrew Charter to get past, Nicholson sees his most realistic option as the 2024 showcase in Paris.

“It would be very hard for me to get into that Olympics mix, especially when they have two very senior goalkeepers there that have been there for eight to 10 years,” he said.

“They’re on the end of their careers, so it would be very hard to get to 2021 but anything is possible for the next Olympics.”