Kookaburras selection puts James Collins a step closer to his Olympic dream

After picking up a stick for the first time as a five-year-old at Minkey, James Collins is no stranger to the sport of hockey. However, the now twenty-two-year-old, is now part of the Kookaburras squad for 2022, after receiving a call from head coach, Colin Batch earlier this week.

“I found out on Monday after receiving a call at work actually – I was pretty ecstatic when I got the call. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’ve been training pretty hard, and I’m stoked with the outcome.”

“Mum teared up and my dad and sisters were really happy for me.”

Collins will now graduate from the WAIS program, after four years in the making, and has already joined the Kookaburra squad with training commencing earlier this week.

“It’s been pretty cool having Chris O [Chris O’Reilly – WAIS Hockey Coach] as my coach the whole time I’ve been at WAIS. He’s been massive in my development and has been a big mentor of mine, he really cares about the players.”

“We also had Dobbo [Michael Dobbin] and PT [Paul Turk] as our strength and conditioning coaches, as well as Steph [Andrews – WAIS Hockey Head Coach] this year, which brought a professional feel to the program.”

“It’s been a pretty cool journey, so it’s going to be sad to leave the program, but also very exciting as well.”

Having come through the ranks of the Western Australian hockey pathway, Collins has had plenty of junior exposure on the international stage after competing at in the World Youth Olympic Games as well as being selected in the Australian U/21’s team.

However, with a disrupted two years to the sporting world due to COVID-19 impacts, much of Collins recent national exposure has been based here in WA.

“There hasn’t been a lot going on in term of competition these past two years, but it’s been pretty good for those of us who are based in WA as we’ve been able to train with the Kookaburras a little bit, which has been pretty good exposure.”

“Making the Kookaburra squad and one day playing at the Olympics has been a massive childhood dream of mine.”

For the next few weeks, Collins will continue to train with the squad as they prepare for this year’s Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Birmingham at the end of July.

“As for the next few weeks, I think the news will probably sink in a little more, still feels a bit unreal. Just going to take it session by session. I’m really looking forward to getting amongst it all.”

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, Collins’ also hopes to commence his Masters in Finance while training towards his Olympic ambition.

“I’m pretty keen to start my Masters, but hockey is definitely my priority for the year.”