Lake Grace’s Fletcher Taylor headed to Borneo in 2024 with Australian Country 21s after stellar year of hockey

Lake Grace hockey star Fletcher Taylor has been selected for the Australian Country 21s squad that will head to Borneo in January next year after a strong performance at the Australian Country Championship that saw WA Country reign supreme. Taylor proved an invaluable member of WA Country’s offence, scoring goals in the 19th and 35th minute of the semi that saw them better NSW 4-2. “That was the one to win, I’m very happy,” Taylor said. “We thought we had a small chance but I don’t think any of us thought we were going to win by that much. “It just kind of shows who wanted it more I guess.” The grand final match against hosts Victoria proved a tougher challenge as both sides struggled to make net until WA’s Brayden Dalton put one on the board from a penalty corner in the 40th minute. “It was a tight game up until then,” Taylor said. “That gave us a bit of breathing room but not much.” Victoria, unable to penetrate WA’s defence, finished scoreless. Following championship success and a solid year that saw the 21-year-old compete in Malaysia in April, Taylor was “stoked” to be selected for the Australian Country 21s squad. “It’s a big honour and a good end to the year,” he said. “It is a bit of a challenge coming back to work and having to tell the boss you have to go away again but they’re pretty good.” Taylor will spend 2½ weeks in Borneo facing off against teams, many of which will play in the Oceania Cup at the end of the year. “It’ll be hot and muggy and it’ll be good high-level hockey,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of training, I’m playing summer hockey here and whenever I’m not working I’m finding time to either be running or on the turf to keep fresh.” Based in Perth, the apprentice boilermaker has been enjoying the opportunity to train on turf after growing up playing on grass in Lake Grace. Only one other WA player, Raine Fisher, was selected for the squad and Taylor will take up the stick alongside some of the players he recently faced at the country championship in Shepparton. “We’ve had a few Zoom meetings and we met most of the team when we were at the tournament,” he said. “We’ve got a few training sessions before we start playing, I think three before our first game, so hopefully by the second one we’ll become a unit. “We’re all on the same page, we all have to play well and gel well if we want to have a chance.” After a rewarding year, Taylor is keen for 2024. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity and to bettering my hockey,” he said. “I am wanting to commit myself more to hockey next year.”