Tara Murray
Great mates Connar Otterbach and Cooper Burns have played many games on the same pitch for Altona Hockey club.
Now the two are hoping to pull on the green and gold together after making the 27-man under-21 Australian squad.
The two were part of a larger squad the last couple of years with 40 athletes picked in September last year, before being reduced to 27.
It’s the first time two Altona players have been selected in the same Australian under-21 team since the Duff brothers, Jason and Darren, were selected in the 1990s.
The two said it was pretty special to be picked in the squad.
“It was pretty cool and a great opportunity,” Otterbach said.
“It felt pretty cool to be in the best 20 to 27 players in the country for my age. I’ve been battling injuries this whole year and it’s pretty cool they thought I was good enough to keep me in.”
Burns added, ”I’m happy to make the squad and I will do everything I can to make the team.
“I was in the squad last year and went away with the camp and I was focusing on it. Making the final team is one of my goals and it would be nice to achieve my goal to play for Australia and I’m now one step closer.”
The squad will be reselected after the Australian Under-21 Championships in Perth in late July.
A team will then travel to Malaysia later this year for a tournament, which the boys are hoping to be part of.
The fields in Malaysia is a long way from Altona, where both have played all their hockey.
Much of that has been together. Both said they have no plans to play elsewhere.
Both said it was amazing that they could share the journey together.
“He’s essentially my best mate,” Burns said. “We’ve played together since under-9s.
“To follow the pathway with him is really good.
“I’m not surprised that he was picked. To be honest he’s a pretty special talent and we can hopefully create history together.”
Otterbach added, “we’ve been great friends for a long time since we were six or seven. We’ve been close family friends the whole time.
“It’s very special to have been named for Australia together.”
Altona president Alex Tyrrell said it was a pretty big moment for the club.
“It is fantastic reward for effort for both players from Altona and made all the more special by having each other there, the two have played together all through the junior ranks at both Altona and state level. ”
Otterbach, who has been out injured this season, is focused on getting his body right and getting back out on the field.
Burns has starred so far for Altona in the Hockey Victoria Premier League competition.
The striker has scored 16 goals in seven matches, the most in the division.
Altona currently sits seventh. On the weekend, they had a 3-3 draw with Toorak East Malvern.
