Cole’s burning hot: Shepparton Strikers’ Emme Cole has been picked in the Victorian side heading to the 2024 Hockey Australia under-16 Championships in Hobart.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
From Strikers to state duties Shepparton’s Emme Cole is currently pursuing her wildest dreams on the hockey turf.
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The 15-year-old is readying herself to represent Victoria at the Hockey Australia under-16 Championships from April 4-11 in Hobart, slingshotting from Shepparton to Melbourne three times a week to sharpen herself for national competition.
Cole hails from a hockey-mad clan with her brothers going down the state route prior to her, so it seemed inevitable she too would suit up for Victoria.
Yet even she couldn’t quite believe it when she read her name aloud.
“When the team first came out, I looked at the development team because I thought I’d just made that one again this year,” she said.
“I didn’t see my name so I got a little bit nervous, like ‘oh did I not make it?’.
Blue heaven: Emme Cole sharpened her skillset at Shepparton’s ‘‘Smurf Turf’’ under the Strikers’ banner.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“But then I scrolled up and saw my name in the top team.
“My dad was with me when I was doing it and it was just pure excitement when we found out.”
Cole progressed through an academy pathway where she was selected from a rigorous training program at Melbourne’s State Hockey Centre.
From there, it was pedal to the metal — both literally and figuratively.
Her weekly ferrying back and forth to Melbourne is now part and parcel of the trade, but before Cole began tearing it up in the city, Shepparton was her springboard.
The talented half-back began her junior career for Strikers, which became somewhat of a second home for Cole as her family honed its craft at the club.
“I grew up a lot around hockey; my two older brothers played it before me,” she said.
“I was down here most Saturdays around the hockey community and then my brothers made state, which put me on towards trying to make state too.
“Strikers has been a good base for my hockey; we have good coaches and everything we need.
“The comp is really good for starting as a child, but then as you get older, the comp might get harder or easier.
“There are other opportunities, you could go and play in Bendigo, but Shepparton’s a good place to start your roots.
Oustretched: Emme Cole in action for Strikers.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“I enjoyed playing down here and I kind of miss it sometimes — playing seniors. The people here are just so welcoming, everyone is so nice and you get to know each other really well.”
Cole now eyes off her next task, Hobart’s nationals, with victory front of mind.
Victoria’s under-16 squad finished last year’s championship in second and the newly-elected state representative is crossing her fingers and toes for her side to go one better in 2024.
But the teen isn’t stopping there.
“Everyone’s goal in hockey would probably be making the Australian National Olympic team which is probably one of my goals, but it’s always good to have other goals,” she said.
“I really want to continue playing in Melbourne in comps there and then I also want to stay here in Shepp and help out the younger generations so they can improve and come through.”
Finally, Cole signed off with a couple of acknowledgements to those helping make her dream a reality.
“I just want to thank Primary Care Connect because last year they gave us a good grant for fuel for our trips to Melbourne,” she said.
“And I also want to thank my parents because of the amount of time they spend in the car taking me to Melbourne.”
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