https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/what-drives-hockey-star-to-be-the-go-to-man/3886875/ Upon his selection in the Kookaburra's 2020 squad, Jacob Anderson has one main goal - to get a shot at Olympic gold. With the Tokyo showcase on the horizon, the Mackay product has begun his pre-season training to keep himself at the forefront of selection debates. Anderson has an opportunity to realise what millions of kids dream of - dreams he shared and still uses as fuel to this day. "I remember when I was a kid watching the Beijing Olympics and thinking how unreal it was, and I heard stories about the hockey guys that won in Athens - that still resonates," Anderson said. "You sort of play throughout the year and don't really think about it, but all your training and games are for selection again. "There were a couple of guys from this year's squad who didn't get selected, and that was on my mind.
"When I originally made the squad I didn't want to be in there for one year, so that was always in the back of my mind. It was a big rush of relief." Now that he has grown accustom to playing against high quality opposition in the Pro League, Anderson wants to focus on his own game and how he can rise to the next level. But he does not just want to be making up the numbers, he said. Rather he wants to be a go-to player for the team. "Now, because all the defenders are world class it's a lot harder to maintain possession. I learned the hard way where I'd get the ball and turn it around early," Anderson said. "Coming to Queensland I was one of the best players for my age … whereas coming into the Australian team I'm there but we already have those big players. "I want to develop into one of those players. Hopefully I can do that and that can warrant Olympic selection." Anderson's maiden campaign in the green and gold was littered with highlights, namely scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final of a victorious FIH Pro League campaign. But it was not always easy stepping into the national fold, which made the presence of another Mackay talent all the more crucial. The 22 year old was joined by Kookaburra's stalwart Matthew Swann, and the veteran's influence was powerful on the up-and-coming forward. "I knew a couple of the guys, but because I came into the Australian side relatively quick I didn't know a lot of the older guys," Anderson said. "He was that nurturing, older person I went to for advice. With the squad, we have this thing where all the young players have a 'big brother' - and it was only fitting he was mine. "He would always come up to me if he thought I was ever down … having him has been really good."
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November 2019
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