MILLIE Fulton has achieved the first step towards an appearance at next year’s Under 15s Girls Field National Championships after being named in the 2019 NSW squad.
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Fulton, 14, impressed at Bathurst’s recent Under 15s State Championship campaign with Bathurst and the striker was named among the 45-strong squad.
The St Pat’s club player is one of six Central West representatives and is the sole Bathurst selection.
Fulton will work hard over the next year to try and book her place in the final team of 32, which will then be split into tier one and two sides.
This isn’t new territory for Fulton.
The Bathurst junior gained automatic entry to the under 15s squad last year, courtesy of being a top age player in the previous under 13s state team.
However, there was no guarantee of a place this time around and that made the latest selection extra satisfying.
“It feels really good,” Fulton said.
“I played with most of the girls in my first year of under 13s but there’s a lot of new people who have got into the squad this year.”
A regular place in the Saints’ first grade team – just one step below Premier League Hockey – has helped Fulton play in a more physical and faster-paced environment.
Fulton’s father Brad said it’s great to see Millie’s commitment to game paying off.
“Obviously not everyone makes it every year to this squad so still being in that loop is good to know,” he said.
“District is now over but with the amount of club hockey we’ve got there’s going to be no shortage of game time. We’re a year-long sport now, so working on skills and fitness is something that continues all the time.
“Under 15s is where things start to get a bit brutal. That’s where they really start to say ‘We’re here to win an Australian Championships’, and that means they’ll pick a firsts and a seconds as opposed to picking two even teams.
“Hockey NSW has a great pathway from minkey, which is under 7s, right through to the Australian senior side. They try and keep these kids on the pathway for as long as possible before they maximise their potential.”
The final cuts won’t be made until two trial weekends and the city versus country clash this summer.
The long until final selections doesn’t mean there’s time to take it easy.
“If you’re not doing the work required then someone else is,” Brad Fulton said.
“The city-country championships is where they’ll announce those final teams. With that and the trials you can be found out easily.
“Millie’s got a couple of sisters, so there’s no lack of competition. It’s not like she’ll be hitting a ball against the wall.”
