IF at first you don’t succeed, try, try again – it is an idiom which Bathurst hockey talent Tamsin Bunt has lived by over the last decade.
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She’s lucky she did.
After injury setbacks and close calls, Bunt’s persistence and perseverance has paid off as the 27-year-old cracked the ranks of the Australian Hockeyroos.
Bunt was a late call up into the national side which contested the International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne late last month, playing three matches against India.
After playing for the national junior side the Jillaroos, and wearing the green and gold as an Australian indoor hockey representative, Bunt’s dream of lining up for the Hockeyroos came true.
“This has been the dream, I have been in the Australian A team, the development team, I have been over to Perth training with them – so I have been there but never actually played a game,” Bunt said.
“To finally play was perfect. Whatever else happens now, I’ve played for them, I’ve played a tournament and I’ve done myself proud, so I am very happy.”
While most players have time to take in the gravity of making a national debut, Bunt’s late call up meant she had little time to contemplate becoming a Hockeyroo before she stepped onto the turf.
As it worked out, Bunt thinks the situation helped her.
”There was an injury so I got the phone call Tuesday afternoon. I flew down very early Wednesday morning, had training on Wednesday in Melbourne then played Wednesday night,” she said.
“I found out and then I was just like crying and I was just so excited, but I think it was good that way. If I had a lot of notice I think I would have been nervous and overthinking it because it had been long time coming for me.
“I thought I would be sick with nerves, those uncontrollable nerves, but because it was such a quick thing I wasn’t nervous at all. I was more excited and there was a fair bit of relief for me.”
Bunt was named as a substitute for the first game, which India won 1-0, but only had to wait three minutes before being injected into the contest at centre half.
She started game two which the Hockeyroos won 4-1 and in the deciding match when Australia clinched a 3-1 victory, Bunt again came from the bench.
“I had even game time with the centre halves, we were on even rotation. It was great, the whole tournament never did I feel like that I was the person that was brought in last,” she said.
“I came straight in, was on even rotation and felt very comfortable.
“I have played a fair few international matches in terms of practice games and this year in the AHL [Australian Hockey League] we played Malaysia, so I have had a taste of it before.
“I was ready to play, it felt like a step up, but I was fine. I know I am a late debutante, but that makes it even more special for me. I know I’ve stuck in it and kept pursuing and I’ve got the reward.
“Other people in my position probably would have given up. I have achieved what I wanted to do.”
This week Bunt will join the New South Wales indoor squad for training ahead of the indoor nationals in January. Then in late January 2017, Bunt will head to Europe as part of the Australian indoor team.
